Palliative Care

Saint Therese is a recognized leader in this compassionate and specialized method of care for the chronically and terminally ill. Similar to hospice, palliative care is provided to improve the quality of life at a time when the resident’s disease is not responsive to curative treatment. The difference is, hospice is available during the last few months of life and palliative care can begin anytime after diagnosis.

The focus of Palliative Care is to control the pain and symptoms of a disease while meeting each resident’s physical, emotional, spiritual, social and cultural needs. Caregivers are certified practitioners of palliative care and work as a team to provide for residents and their families. Even the environment — colors, sounds and smells — are designed to gently soothe and comfort.

Although somewhat different, hospice and palliative care share the same philosophies:

• Commitment to quality of life
• Treating the whole person, not just the disease
• Commitment to pain and symptom management
• Inclusion of loved ones regarding treatment and care
• Death with dignity