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Find a palliative care provider who will be a good fit for your loved one by following these tips.
When you can no longer provide the health care and support that your loved one needs, it is time to start looking for a facility or provider that can do so. But you want to be sure that you take your family member to a place where the care and attention he will receive is at the level that you want for him. Here are some tips and suggestions to help you find the right palliative care provider for your loved one.
Step 1:

Start by talking to your doctor. Before you head out in search of a palliative care provider or hospice for your family member, approach your doctor first. He is likely the person most attuned to your loved one's medical and overall health needs. So he should be able to suggest some facilities that will meet your loved one's needs.

If he cannot do this, you will still need to get a bit of information from him so that you can make an educated decision about which palliative care provider to select. Some things that you need to know before you decide include:

  • The exact medical issues your loved one is experiencing
  • What treatment options are available (and at which facilities)
  • A list of palliative care facilities in your community (or if your family member has special care guidelines, which facilities provide these)
  • Which facilities your doctor believes offer the best quality of life to their patients
  • The timeline in which your doctor suggests you have you decision made (or how soon your family member needs to be in palliative care).
Step 2:

Locate the facilities that interest you. Armed with your list of information from your doctor, you should be better prepared to look into palliative care facilities near you. You can also look online at www.getpalliativecare.org/providers for a list of care providers in your state, as well as ones that provide the specific type of care you're looking for for your loved one.

Don't overlook the possibility of in-home palliative care either. If possible, your doctor may be able to approve home health care for your loved one, or at least a list of agencies that can provide this for your loved one. (Obviously, this is a huge savings compared to full-time, live-in palliative care facilities.) Search out palliative care facilities that are in the location you desire and offer the care and treatment options that you want for your loved one.

Step 3:

Interview and decide. With your list of palliative care providers narrowed down, make appointments to go and visit each facility. Talk to the director at each facility about the level of care provided, standards, how staff are trained, and so on. In addition, inquire about what information or decisions the care facility needs from you. And will they communicate with your doctor in order to determine the best palliative care for your family member?

Also, find out if services extend past your loved one's stay at the palliative care facility. Will they come to his home periodically even after he is discharged? It may also interest you to ask about programs provided for family members of those needing palliative care. After all, it's not just your loved one that is suffering. And of course, inquire about the cost of receiving palliative care from each facility. Take the time to interview several palliative care providers before you choose one for your family member.

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