Physicians, nurses, social workers, aides and chaplains work together to provide education, symptom management, and psychosocial and spiritual support to adults and children. This program supplements the care a patient is presently receiving from a physician or hospital setting.

Central to the Palliative Care Program is a concept of compassion taking into consideration the whole person's body, mind and spirit. The goal is to promote the best quality of life possible.

UMass Memorial was selected by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health as one of just 10 facilities to participate in its Pediatric Palliative Care Program.

Supportive care:

• Respects the goals, desires and choices of each person
• Respects the person's needs and wants, as well as those of family and other loved ones
• Assists one in understanding the illness and what one can expect in the future
• Helps one figure out what is important and assists with health care decision making
• Addresses medical, emotional, social and spiritual needs
• Provides pain and symptom management
• Allows the opportunity to say and do what is important

Staff can also support caregivers in the following ways:

• Offers emotional and physical support, including telephone advice as needed
• Plans ahead to prevent caregiver exhaustion
• Assists with financial issues related to caregiving costs

Supportive care helps gain access to needed health care providers and appropriate care settings, including:

• Individualized care plans
• Helping one access hospitals and other services, if needed
• Discussion of treatment of goals and advanced care planning
• Nutritional services
• Rehabilitation services, including physical, occupational and speech therapy
• Social workers who assist with counseling, insurance and other financial paperwork

Appointments
For more information, call 508-754-0052, extension 3084, Monday through Friday, 8 am to 4:30 pm.