Elder Care Initiative

Elder Care, Hospice and Palliative Care, Long Term Services and Supports

Palliative Care

Palliative care is care of the whole person, care that focuses attention on the relief of symptoms in the setting of serious and life-limiting illness and their treatments.

Hospice care is palliative care at the end-of-life, when all attention is making sure that every day of life is as rich and full and free of suffering as possible.

The World Health Organizations describes palliative care as "an approach that improves the quality of life of patients and their families facing the problems associated with life-threatening illness, through the prevention and relief of suffering by means of early identification and impeccable assessment and treatment of pain and other problems.

Online Resources for Providers

www.palliativedrugs.com Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov 

International palliative care formulary and newsletter for providers.

www.growthhouse.org Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov 

Full service site including international and national Web based links, book store and chat room options - award winning site for palliative care and end of life care.

www.eperc.mcw.edu Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov 

Premier site for physician educational materials including FAST FACTS for Palliative Care.

www.stoppain.org Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov 

Pain management and palliative care.

Online Resources for Patients and Families

http://www.getpalliativecare.org Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov 

for information about palliative care from the Center to Advance Palliative Care.

For more information on Elder Care, Hospice and Palliative Care, and Long Term Services and Supports, contact Dr. Bruce Finke, IHS and Nashville Area Elder Health Consultant:
413-584-0790 • bruce.finke@ihs.gov