A few years ago, we changed our agency’s name to Centrica Care Navigators from Hospice Care of Southwest Michigan. It was a big change, but an important one. We did it because we want to emphasize that we provide more than just hospice care — we offer a range of services, including grief support, specialized therapies, and one you might not be familiar with yet: palliative care.

What is palliative care?

Palliative care is specialized medical care for people living with a serious illness such as cancer or heart disease. This type of care is focused on providing relief from the symptoms and stress of the illness. Patients in palliative care continue to seek treatment for their condition.

The goal of Centrica Palliative Care, like all Centrica Care Navigators’ services, is to help improve the quality of life and lower the symptom burden for patients and their family/caregivers.

A visit to the doctor can lead to a referral to palliative care. Talk with your physician if you feel you or a loved one is right for palliative care. He or she will reach out to us and start the process of partnering with us. Centrica Palliative Care providers will provide patients and their family/caregivers with a better understanding of the prognosis, their treatment options, and will help clarify their goals of care as the disease progresses.

Receiving palliative care is in some ways like receiving other kinds of specialized medical care — it’s intended to address a specific condition (in this case, a serious illness), and provide relief from the symptoms and stresses of the illness. You can still receive curative treatment, and your palliative care can be provided at the same time.

Part of your overall care

You’ll also still be able to meet with your physician like you always have; the Centrica Palliative Care team is there specifically to support you with your serious illness, and they’ll be in contact with your primary care provider so he or she is up to date on your condition. We want to share information, so everyone gets the care and attention they deserve.

What are some of the symptoms you might see related to a serious illness that calls for palliative care? They include but aren’t limited to:

· Constipation

· Difficulty sleeping

· Loss of appetite

· Nausea

· Shortness of breath

When you meet with our palliative care team, we’ll talk with you and your caregivers, so everyone understands what to expect in the future, and so that we’re all working together toward your priorities and goals. The most important thing to remember is that the Centrica Care Navigators team is here to help you and your loved ones get appropriate care, no matter what form that needs to take.

You can learn more about Centrica Palliative Care and all our services by exploring our website or calling Centrica Care Navigators at 269.345.0273.