The Stillwater Hospice palliative care program is currently available in Kalispell, Montana and Missoula, Montana, with services coming soon to Helena, Montana. As this program expands, our goal is to bring supportive palliative care to more communities across the region.

Palliative care is specialized medical support designed to help people living with serious illness feel better and improve their overall quality of life. The focus is on managing symptoms, reducing stress, and providing additional support for both patients and their families.

Unlike hospice care, palliative care can begin at any stage of a serious illness and may be provided alongside curative treatments. Patients continue working with their existing physicians while receiving an added layer of support from a specialized care team focused on comfort, symptom management, and coordinated care.

Each patient receives a personalized care plan based on their medical needs, personal goals, and the level of support required.

How Palliative Care Helps

Living with a serious illness often brings physical symptoms, emotional stress, and complex medical decisions. Palliative care helps address these challenges by focusing on comfort, symptom relief, and improved quality of life.

Many patients experience symptoms that affect their ability to enjoy daily life. Palliative care works to relieve these symptoms while supporting both patients and families throughout the course of illness.

Palliative care may help manage:

• Pain
• Shortness of breath
• Fatigue
• Nausea or medication side effects
• Anxiety or emotional stress related to illness
• Complex coordination between healthcare providers

Our care team works closely with physicians and specialists to ensure patients receive thoughtful, coordinated care.

Services Included in Palliative Care

Stillwater’s palliative care program provides supportive medical services designed to help patients remain comfortable while navigating serious illness.

Services may include:

• Pain and symptom management
• In-home visits with a medical provider
• Medication management
• Lab work and diagnostic services such as x-rays
• Coordination with physicians and specialists
• Patient and family education
• Advocacy and guidance when making care decisions
• 24/7 telephone support for questions or concerns

Care plans are tailored to meet the individual needs of each patient and family.

How Palliative Care Is Different from Hospice

Palliative care and hospice care both focus on comfort and quality of life, but they are designed for different stages of illness.

Palliative Care

• Available at any stage of a serious illness
• Can be provided alongside curative treatments
• Focuses on symptom management and improved daily comfort
• Length of care depends on the patient’s needs

Hospice Care

• Typically begins when life expectancy may be six months or less
• Focuses on comfort rather than curative treatment
• Provides comprehensive end-of-life care and family support

Both types of care share the same compassionate goal of supporting patients and families with dignity and respect.

When Should Someone Start Palliative Care?

Palliative care can begin as soon as a person is diagnosed with a serious illness. Starting support earlier often improves comfort and helps patients and families better navigate treatment decisions.

Palliative care may be helpful when a patient is:

• Experiencing frequent hospital or emergency room visits
• Managing symptoms that affect daily comfort
• Navigating complex treatment plans
• Experiencing stress or uncertainty related to illness
• Seeking better coordination between healthcare providers

Early support can help patients feel more comfortable and confident in their care.

Conditions That May Benefit From Palliative Care

Palliative care can support individuals living with many types of serious or chronic illness. The goal is to relieve symptoms, improve comfort, and help patients maintain the best possible quality of life.

Patients receiving treatment for serious illness often benefit from the additional support palliative care provides.

Palliative care may be helpful for individuals living with conditions such as:

• Cancer
• Heart disease or heart failure
• Chronic lung disease or COPD
• Dementia or Alzheimer’s disease
• Parkinson’s disease or neurological disorders
• Kidney disease
• Serious infections or complex medical conditions

Patients do not need to stop treatment to receive palliative care. In many cases, palliative care works alongside existing treatments to improve comfort and help patients better manage the challenges of serious illness.

Our care team works closely with physicians, specialists, and families to ensure patients receive thoughtful, coordinated support focused on comfort and quality of life.

Learn More About Palliative Care

If you or a loved one is living with a serious illness and could benefit from additional support, Stillwater’s palliative care team is here to help.

Our team works with patients, families, and physicians to create care plans focused on comfort, independence, and quality of life.

Contact Stillwater Hospice to learn more about palliative care services available in your community.