When you or a loved one faces a serious illness, the journey ahead can feel overwhelming and uncertain. Palliative care offers a compassionate path forward, focused on improving quality of life and providing support at every stage of your experience. Whether you’ve just received a diagnosis or are navigating advanced illness, understanding the stages of palliative care can help you feel more prepared and supported. At Jansen Hospice, we walk alongside patients and families through each stage, offering expert medical care and emotional support during difficult times.
Explaining Palliative Care in Westchester County
Palliative care is specialized medical care designed to provide relief from the symptoms and stress of serious illness. According to the World Health Organization, palliative care improves the quality of life of patients and their families who are facing challenges associated with life-threatening illness, whether physical, psychological, social, or spiritual.
It’s important to understand that palliative care is not the same as giving up on treatment. The National Institute on Aging explains that palliative care can be provided alongside curative treatment and may begin at the time of diagnosis. This means you can receive palliative care while still pursuing treatments aimed at curing or managing your illness.
The first stage of palliative care begins with comprehensive planning and assessment. This stage can start at any point after a serious illness diagnosis and focuses on understanding your unique needs, values, and goals.
What Happens During This Stage
During your initial consultation, your palliative care team will talk with you about your symptoms, current treatments, and how your illness is affecting your daily life.
Your team will work with you to create a personalized care plan that may include:
- Pain and symptom management strategies
- Emotional and spiritual support resources
- Assistance with advance care planning and advance directives
- Coordination with your other healthcare providers
- Education about your illness and treatment options
The National Institute on Aging emphasizes that early palliative care conversations help ensure your care aligns with your wishes and values. This is also when many families discuss important documents like healthcare power of attorney, living wills, and do-not-resuscitate orders.
Stage 2: Treatment Palliative Care
Once your care plan is established, the second stage focuses on implementing that plan and actively managing your symptoms while maintaining the best possible quality of life.
Comprehensive Care Approach
Your palliative care plan will be tailored to your specific needs. Mayo Clinic explains that this stage addresses multiple dimensions of care, including physical comfort, emotional well-being, and spiritual support.
Treatment during this stage typically includes:
- Medications for pain management and symptom relief
- Therapies to improve comfort and function
- Counseling and emotional support for you and your family
- Spiritual care and guidance if desired
- Assistance with daily activities and mobility
- Nutritional support and guidance
The goal is to help you live as fully and comfortably as possible. Research shows that early use of palliative care services can improve quality of life, decrease depression and anxiety, and increase patient and family satisfaction with care.
Stage 3: Transition Palliative Care
As your illness progresses or if new symptoms develop, your palliative care team will adjust your care plan to meet your changing needs. This stage is sometimes called the “unstable” or “deteriorating” phase in medical literature.
Adapting to Changes
Your care team closely monitors your condition and makes modifications as needed. This might mean:
- Adjusting medication doses or adding new medications
- Increasing the frequency of visits from healthcare providers
- Adding new support services or specialists to your care team
- Modifying your care setting if needed
- Providing additional support for family caregivers
According to the National Coalition for Hospice and Palliative Care, quality palliative care involves continuous assessment and adjustment to ensure your comfort and dignity are maintained throughout your illness journey.
Many families find that increased emotional and spiritual support becomes especially important during this stage. Your palliative care team is there to help you navigate difficult decisions and provide the resources you need.
Stage 4: End-of-Life Palliative Care
When curative treatments are no longer effective or when you decide to focus solely on comfort, care transitions to the end-of-life phase. This stage is often referred to as hospice care when a physician determines you have six months or less to live if the illness runs its natural course.
Focus on Comfort and Dignity
The National Institute on Aging explains that hospice care focuses on comfort and quality of life rather than cure. The goal is to help you live your remaining time with dignity, surrounded by loved ones, and as comfortable as possible.
During this stage, your care includes:
- Intensive symptom management, especially pain control
- Emotional and spiritual support for you and your family
- Assistance with personal care and daily needs
- Guidance for family members on what to expect
- Help with end-of-life planning and arrangements
- Respite care to give family caregivers needed breaks
The World Health Organization emphasizes that palliative care at this stage treats the person, not just the disease, honoring your wishes and helping your family prepare for the loss to come.
Stage 5: Bereavement Palliative Care
Palliative care doesn’t end when a patient passes away. The fifth stage focuses on supporting family members and loved ones as they grieve and adjust to life after loss.
Continuing Care for Your Loved Ones
Bereavement services are an essential part of comprehensive palliative and hospice care. Most hospice programs, including Jansen Hospice, provide grief support services for family members for up to 13 months after a patient’s death.
Bereavement support may include:
- Individual grief counseling
- Support groups for bereaved family members
- Educational materials about the grieving process
- Memorial services and remembrance events
- Referrals to community resources and additional support services
- Check-in calls and supportive contacts throughout the first year
Research published in the National Library of Medicine shows that bereavement support helps families cope with loss and process their grief in healthy ways. We understand that losing someone you love is one of life’s most difficult experiences, and we’re here to support you through it.
Frequently Asked Questions About Palliative Care
When is the right time to start palliative care?
Palliative care can begin at any time after a serious illness diagnosis, and earlier is often better. According to Mayo Clinic, research suggests that early use of palliative care services can improve quality of life, decrease depression and anxiety, and in some cases even extend survival. You don’t need to wait until treatments stop working or until you’re facing end-of-life decisions. Many patients benefit from palliative care while still receiving curative treatments, as it helps manage symptoms and provides additional support throughout the illness journey.
What’s the difference between palliative care and hospice care?
While these terms are sometimes used interchangeably, there are important distinctions. The National Institute on Aging explains that palliative care can be provided at any stage of serious illness and can occur alongside curative treatments. Hospice care, on the other hand, is a type of palliative care specifically for people with a terminal illness who have a life expectancy of six months or less and have chosen to focus on comfort rather than cure. Both approaches emphasize quality of life, symptom management, and support for patients and families, but hospice represents the final stage of the palliative care journey.
Will choosing palliative care mean giving up on treatment?
Absolutely not. This is one of the most common misconceptions about palliative care. The World Health Organization emphasizes that palliative care is appropriate at any stage of serious illness and can be provided alongside curative treatments. You can continue chemotherapy, radiation, dialysis, or other treatments while receiving palliative care services. The palliative care team works with your other doctors to add an extra layer of support that focuses on managing symptoms, reducing stress, and improving your overall quality of life while you pursue whatever treatment approach aligns with your goals and values.
Key Takeaways About the 5 Stages of Palliative Care
- Palliative care can begin at any stage of serious illness and can be provided alongside curative treatment
- Stage 1 focuses on comprehensive assessment and creating a personalized care plan aligned with your goals and values
- Stage 2 involves active symptom management and implementing your care plan to maintain quality of life
- Stage 3 adapts care as your illness progresses, adjusting treatments and support services to meet changing needs
- Stage 4 shifts focus to comfort care when curative treatments are no longer effective or desired
- Stage 5 provides bereavement support to family members and loved ones for up to 13 months after a patient’s passing
How Jansen Hospice Supports You Through Every Stage
At Jansen Hospice, we understand that facing serious illness raises difficult questions and emotions for patients and families. Our compassionate team has walked alongside countless families through every stage of palliative and hospice care, and we’re honored to provide the support and expertise you need during this challenging time.
We believe that everyone deserves to live with dignity, comfort, and meaning, no matter where they are in their illness journey. Our interdisciplinary team includes experienced physicians, nurses, social workers, chaplains, and trained volunteers who work together to address your physical, emotional, social, and spiritual needs.
If you have questions about palliative care or would like to learn more about our services, we’re here to help. Contact Jansen Hospice today to speak with a member of our care team. We’ll listen to your concerns, answer your questions, and help you understand your options—with compassion, respect, and expertise every step of the way.
Sources
National Institute on Aging – What Are Palliative Care and Hospice Care
https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/hospice-and-palliative-care/what-are-palliative-care-and-hospice-care
Mayo Clinic – Palliative Care
https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/palliative-care/about/pac-20384637
World Health Organization – Palliative Care
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/palliative-care
National Library of Medicine (StatPearls) – Palliative Care
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK537113/
National Coalition for Hospice and Palliative Care – Clinical Practice Guidelines
https://www.nationalcoalitionhpc.org/ncp-guidelines/
