Palliative Care

Our Services

The Palliative Care Team at UI Health provides comprehensive support to help patients and families manage the challenges of serious illness. Our goal is to improve comfort, communication, and quality of life through care that is centered on your needs and values.

• Expert Symptom Management: We help reduce pain, shortness of breath, nausea, anxiety, and other symptoms that may arise during treatment. 
• Care Planning and Decision Support: We hold family meetings to discuss treatment options, clarify goals of care, and help you make informed choices about interventions such as feeding tubes, breathing machines, or CPR. 
• Family and Home Support: We help you and your family plan for care at home or in other settings, including coordination with home health, hospice (when appropriate), and community resources.
• Medication Management and Geriatric Pharmacists: Our geriatrics program includes pharmacists who specialize in medication management for older adults. They help ensure that prescriptions are safe, effective, and coordinated across multiple specialists. 
• Support for Daily Living: Our team helps you maintain comfort and independence in daily life. We focus on activities and care plans that improve mobility, strength, and energy while supporting your personal goals and routines.
• Cognitive and Emotional Wellness: Palliative care also supports mental and emotional health. We collaborate with behavioral-health specialists and social workers to address memory changes, stress, and mood concerns that can affect quality of life.  

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the difference between palliative care and supportive care?
   Palliative Care is simply another way of saying Supportive Care.
   
   Palliative care emphasizes the broad scope of the services provided by a palliative care team and is helpful to people with the most serious illnesses. It is usually provided in the hospital or clinic but can also be provided in the home setting.
   
   
2. Is hospice the same as palliative care?
   Hospice is not the same as palliative care. Palliative care is another type of supportive care that is paid for by Medicare and many other health insurance companies to help patients with life-limiting illnesses. It is usually provided at the person's home, but can also be provided at assisted living facilities, nursing homes, and inpatient settings. Palliative care is available at any time during a person's illness. Hospice care focuses on a person's final months of life.
3. Who pays for palliative care?
   Medicare, Medicaid, and most insurance plans typically cover palliative care.
   
   
4. Can I keep my regular doctor if I receive palliative care?
   Yes, palliative care is an added service (provided by a specialized team) to help primary doctors and patients facing serious illnesses. Your regular doctor will continue to direct your care. The Palliative Care Team and your regular doctor will work as partners to provide you with the best care available.

Insights from Our Experts

Dr. Tanjeev Kaur, MD, Director of Palliative Care at UI Health, was featured in Caregiving Magazine, where she shared insights on how caregivers can better support loved ones who resist care.

Dr. Kaur emphasized that early signs of distress, such as changes in behavior, appetite, or mood, often signal unmet needs. She encourages caregivers and care teams to approach these moments with empathy, open communication, and shared decision-making.

Her guidance reflects the core of palliative care at UI Health: listening with compassion, building trust, and supporting both patients and families through every stage of serious illness