Palliative care is specialized medical care for people living with a serious illness. The goal is to improve quality of life for both the patient and the family. MaineHealth palliative care specialists provide care in many different settings, including in the hospital, in medical practices, at home and via telehealth. Palliative care:
- Promotes quality of life
- Relieves symptoms and stress
- Helps at any age or any stage of illness
- Is provided along with other medical treatments
Where to find care
What can I expect?
Palliative care is provided by a team of specialists who work together with your other providers to offer an extra layer of support. You care team will:
- Treat symptoms
- Help you make decisions based on what’s important to you
- Prepare you for the future
- Offer emotional and spiritual support
Palliative care is based on the needs of the patient, not on the patient’s prognosis. It is appropriate at any age and at any stage in a serious illness, and it can be provided along with curative treatment.* Learn more.
Pediatric Palliative Care
Pediatric palliative care is for infants, children and adolescents with serious illnesses. Not all have terminal illnesses, but all suffer from a serious medical condition that affects their quality of life.
