Palliative Care is a program provided by Saddleback Coordinated Home Care. Payment is provided by Medicare or other insurance under the home health benefit. Our program is a transitional program between skilled, non-palliative home care services and hospice.
Who Is Eligible?
Palliative care is for patients with a progressive, life-limiting condition
including cancer, heart or lung disease. The patient and family may not be ready for hospice. Patients are
eligible for Palliative Care if they:
- Have an average life expectancy of one year or less
- Have a skilled nursing need
- Are homebound
- Have a physician referral for palliative care
How Is Palliative Care Different from Home Care or Hospice?
Palliative care allows patients to continue on curative treatments such as, radiation, chemotherapy,
dialysis, or blood transfusions. Pain and symptom control related to physical, emotional and spiritual
concerns are evaluated and managed. The goal is to achieve comfort, improve quality of life
and provide support for patients and their caregivers. It is also to help patients understand and prepare
for the future course of their illness and think about the choices they
are likely to face.
The Palliative Care Team.
Palliative care is an interdisciplinary approach to care. The physician,
registered nurse, social worker, home health
aide, dieticians and physical, occupational
and speech therapists work together along
with the patient, the family and caregiver to
help direct and manage the patient’s care
which is provided in the patient’s home.
Registered nurses are on-call 24 hours-a-day,
seven days per week to provide scheduled
home visits and after hours phone consultation
if necessary. The frequency of the home
visits is determined by the patient’s needs
and the physician’s orders. Each team
member plays a unique role in caring for
our patients.
- The Medical Director collaborates with the team and as needed with the patient’s physician to ensure pain and disease related symptoms are managed effectively.
- Registered Nurses are educated in pain, symptom management and end-of-life care. They coordinate care, monitor ongoing treatments, assist patients in communicating their desires and help them make the transition to appropriate care settings.
- Social Workers provide emotional support, psychological counseling and assistance in making end-of-life decisions.
Payment Plans
We accept Medicare, HMO, PPO and EPO plans. We also accept workers’ compensation, private
insurance plans and private payment.