VA Healthcare-VISN 4

Hospice and Palliative Care

Hospice Care is comfort care provided to you and your family if you have terminal condition, with less than 6 months to live, and are no longer seeking treatment other than palliative care. Hospice Care can be provided at home, in an outpatient clinic or in an inpatient setting.

Hospice Care uses a multi-disciplinary team approach working very closely with community and home hospice agencies to help Veterans live their life comfortably.

Palliative Care uses comfort care with a focus on relieving suffering and controlling symptoms so that you can carry out day-to-day activities, and continue to do what is most important to you. Palliative care aims to improve your quality of life – in your mind, body and spirit.

Palliative Care can be combined with treatment that is aimed at curing or controlling your illness. It can be started at the time of your diagnosis, and may be provided throughout the course of the illness. Palliative care does not require the Veteran have a terminal condition.

Veterans can get VA palliative care at home or their place of care using their smartphone, tablet or computer under our Palliative Care Video Telehealth program. Ask your VA primary care provider for a consultation now.

For more information, visit Geriatrics and Extended Care website.