Palliative Care – Carewell Supportive Care

Supportive Care

What is supportive care?

Supportive care is a holistic approach for individuals of any age who have a serious illness. The Carewell Supportive Care team works with a patient’s physician to determine the best medical plan of care.

At this time, Carewell Supportive Care serves patients in Marion County, Florida, at the three local hospitals, in contracted nursing homes, and even in some patients’ homes

How does supportive care help?

The Carewell Supportive Care team can be called to:

Aid in pain and symptom management
Assist with relief of suffering – physical, emotional or psychosocial
Discuss the course of disease and goals of care
Assist attending physician, patient or family with clarification of development of supportive plan of care
Help establish the best possible quality of care as determined by patient and family
Offer emotional support to patient and family, including anticipatory grief and bereavement counseling
Review and complete documentation of advance directives
Explain pros and cons of forgoing specific treatment and/or diagnostic treatments
Facilitate transition to alternate care settings, such as home, nursing home or hospice when appropriate

Supportive care addresses the patient’s medical, emotional and spiritual needs. It offers support to patients and their caregivers. We encourage open discussion between patients, families and health care professionals in determining the patient’s goals and medical plan of care. As a patient’s disease progresses, the supportive care team adjusts its support services as those needs change. Supportive care makes a better quality of life possible for patients and their loved ones by providing the best possible plan of care.

Who can receive supportive care?

Patients with serious illnesses are appropriate for supportive care. It is available to help with pain management, relief of suffering and education on their disease progression and prognosis.

Family members are included in the plan of care. The supportive care team provides support and information to them as well as the patient.