Understanding Palliative Care
Support When You Need It Most
Palliative care is specialized medical support for patients and families facing serious illness. Unlike hospice, which focuses on end-of-life care, palliative care can be provided at any age and any stage of a severe disease—alongside curative or life-prolonging treatments. It’s about improving comfort, easing stress, and enhancing quality of life.
What Sets Palliative Care Apart
Palliative care is provided by an interdisciplinary team that partners with your existing healthcare providers. Together, they address pain, symptoms, emotional needs, and complex decisions—helping patients and families navigate serious illness with confidence and support.
Care Where You’re Most Comfortable
One of the most significant benefits is that palliative care can often be provided in your home. There are no restrictive Medicare requirements, so care is based on need, not prognosis. This convenience makes it an accessible lifeline for patients and caregivers alike.
Who Can Benefit From Palliative Care
Palliative care is beneficial for people with dementia, frailty, functional limitations, or chronic conditions causing significant discomfort or stress. It also supports caregivers who may feel overwhelmed or exhausted.
Comprehensive Services May Include
• Pain and symptom management
• Guidance for medical decisions
• Emotional and spiritual support
• Advanced care planning
• Caregiver resources and education
• Social support for practical needs
• Coordination of care and rehabilitation therapies
• Medication review and management
Stillwater Hospice is proud to offer palliative care services—through our newest agency, Hestia Stillwater in Missoula, Montana—to help patients and families in that region feel supported through every stage of serious illness.
Your comfort, dignity, and peace of mind are our priorities. To learn more or see if palliative care is proper for you or your loved one, contact Stillwater Hospice today.
