Palliative Care Program
Comfort, Care, Compassion
Palliative care is a medical specialty devoted to caring for the seriously ill by:
- Providing relief from pain and other physical symptoms
- Improving quality of life
- Providing support to the seriously ill and the family and friends who love and care for them
- Assisting the patient and family with difficult medical decision-making
Jewish Hospital & St. Mary’s HealthCare Palliative Care team offers patients and their families services that provide support and comfort. The goal of the Palliative Care team at JHSMH is to keep acutely ill or terminal patients as comfortable and pain free as possible, and to help them make the best possible medical decisions in the face of serious illness.
A multidisciplinary team approach is taken to promote comfort and compassion during this difficult time. Our Palliative Support team includes a physician, nurse, social worker and chaplain to work with the patient’s physician and caregivers. The JHSMH interdisciplinary Palliative Care team will:
- Help explain an illness
- Provide information to help with medical decision-making
- Clarify goals of care
- Offer symptom management for seriously ill patients, including pain management, shortness of air, anxiety, pain, agitation and more
- Address psychosocial issues, including any emotional, social, legal or financial needs
- Provide spiritual care
- Preserve a patient’s dignity
For more information, please call:
Jewish Hospital Palliative Care (502) 587-4391
Monday – Friday 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Sts. Mary & Elizabeth Hospital
Palliative Care (502) 363-7878
Monday – Friday 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Holistic Care
Here is some helpful information and supportive care tips to assist in meeting the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual needs of the patient and family during their time dealing with acute illness or end-of-life issues.
- Tending to the patient’s spiritual needs and relationships
- Have reflective time on relationships shared
- Share personal stories
- Discuss searching for hope, purpose and meaning in ones life
- Take the time to listen to one another
- Respect the patient’s wishes and dignity
- Assist the patient with spiritual rituals and practices that are of importance to them
- Seek pastoral care from a spiritual counselor, pastor or chaplain if needed
- Ask the patient if they may want to write an ethical will, or the sharing of personal and spiritual values, hopes and blessings, life lessons and special messages. For more information, visit www.ethicalwill.com.
- Humor is allowed. Share the funny moments. Take a laughter break.
- The gift of presence to one another. Just being, not doing or talking. Sitting quietly together reinforces you are not alone; you are loved and cared for, and shows respect and compassion while allowing the patient the opportunity and safety to silently reflect.
Self care for the caregiver
- Eat regularly, even if it’s just a nutritious snack to keep energy levels up
- Exercise with friends
- Make sure to have quiet time
- Engage in a relaxing activity such as listening to music, having lunch with friends, meditating, taking a walk, journaling, bathing or showering, quiet time for yourself, breathing exercises or guided imagery
- Find someone to talk to concerning issues
- Know yourself and what you can handle. Ask for help. People want to help but they might not know what to do. Let them know how to help.
Resources-Putting the pieces together
Supportive Care Resources
Gilda’s Club Louisville
(502) 583-0075
www.gildasclublouisville.org
Hosparus
Serving Louisville, Central Kentucky and Southern Indiana
www.hosparus.org
Hospice Foundation of America-Offering end-of-life resources
www.hospicefoundation.org
Psychosocial Needs
Guardianship Assistance
600 W. Jefferson St. Louisville, KY 40202 • (502) 574-7390
Burial Resources
For indigent patients in Jefferson County: (502) 574-6263
For counties outside of Jefferson County, please contact a funeral home in your area
Cremation Society of Kentucky
(888) 935-1040
Grief Counseling and Management Resources
Gilda’s Club Louisville
(502) 583-0075
Counseling and support for patients and families with cancer
www.gildasclublouisville.org
Hosparus Grief Counseling Center
(502) 456-5451
Grief counseling for children and adults
www.hosparus.org/counseling.php
Holistic Care
Additional Resources