Palliative care, also known as palliative medicine, is about improving quality of life, providing an extra layer of support and having a team focus on patient care when facing a serious illness.

Palliative care services aim to improve quality of life by relieving the symptoms associated with serious illness. It can begin at any stage of a life-altering illness to help people:

• Live with illness
• Manage the effects of aggressive, curative treatment
• Find ways to handle day-to-day challenges

Palliative care can help shift the medical approach from crisis intervention to crisis prevention; for example, good symptom management may help avoid an unwanted hospitalization.

Palliative care also aims to provide support for you and your loved ones as you face the uncertainty that comes with serious illness. Whether it's questions about your treatment choices or advance care planning, we partner with you and your family to navigate your care.

If you have cancer, heart disease, multiple sclerosis, ALS, COPD or emphysema, or any other serious illness, uncontrolled symptoms can hinder your body’s ability to heal. The board-certified Northwestern Medicine Palliative Care specialists at Lake Forest Hospital:

• Work with your treatment team and caregivers to provide an extra layer of support to help you find relief from symptoms, pain and stress
• Provide care and assistance for a broad range of physical, emotional, spiritual and social concerns that you and your loved ones may face