Palliative Care: Support for Living Well with Serious Illness
Palliative care is specialized medical care for people living with serious or chronic illness. It focuses on relief from symptoms, side effects, and stress – while helping people live as well as possible, for as long as possible.
The goal is to improve quality of life for both the patient and those who care about them.
Who Provides Palliative Care
Care is provided by a specially trained team that may include doctors, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, occupational and respiratory therapists, social workers, therapists, and spiritual care providers, along with other specialists as needed.
This team works alongside your existing clinicians to support symptom management, communication, and care planning.
What Makes Palliative Care Different
Palliative care treats the whole person, not just a diagnosis.
While medical specialists focus on specific diseases, palliative care teams look at the full picture—how symptoms, treatments, medications, emotions, relationships, practical concerns, and personal values interact. This approach helps people navigate complex care with greater comfort, clarity, and control.
Palliative care is not “giving up.”
It is about aligning care with what matters most to you.
When Palliative Care is Appropriate
Palliative care:
- Can begin at diagnosis
- Is appropriate at any age
- Can be provided at any stage of serious illness
- Can be received alongside curative or life-prolonging treatment
- May continue for months or years
It is not hospice care and does not mean someone is terminal or near the end of life.
Conditions and Symptoms
Palliative care may help people living with cancer, heart, lung, liver, or kidney failure; ALS, MS, Parkinson’s disease, stroke, dementia, and other complex or chronic illnesses.
Care teams help manage symptoms such as pain, fatigue, shortness of breath, nausea, dizziness, sleep difficulties, mood related changes such as anxiety and depression, and medication side effects.
Careful medication review is a key part of palliative care, helping reduce side effects and improve daily functioning.
Support Beyond Physical Symptoms
In addition to symptom relief, palliative care may include:
- Help clarifying care goals and priorities
- Education and advocacy
- Advance care planning
- Emotional and family support
- Referrals to community resources
- Spiritual support, based on individual beliefs and preferences
- Guidance on home modifications
- Help with practical concerns such as insurance questions, paperwork, and access to services
How to Access Palliative Care
Typically patients need a referral from their healthcare provider. In some cases, your clinician may suggest palliative care. If not, you can ask.
A simple way to start the conversation:
“I’m interested in learning more about palliative care and whether it might help me manage symptoms and plan my care.”
The more informed you are, the better equipped you are to make decisions that reflect your values and priorities.
How Palliative Care is Paid For
Medicare, Medicaid, and most private insurance plans cover palliative care services, though coverage varies by setting and provider.
A social worker or care coordinator can help explain coverage and options.
If cost is a concern, it’s still worth asking – palliative care teams are accustomed to helping people navigate insurance and financial questions.
Finding Palliative Care in New Hampshire
Palliative care availability varies across New Hampshire, depending on location and healthcare system. There is no single statewide directory, but the following approaches can help you find services near you:
- Ask your primary care provider or specialist
Most palliative care referrals begin with a clinician who knows your medical history. - Hospital systems
Many NH hospitals offer inpatient or outpatient palliative care programs, even if they are not widely advertised. - Hospital social workers or care coordinators
These professionals often know what services are available locally, including home-based programs. - Home health and visiting nurse agencies
Some provide palliative or advanced illness support alongside skilled nursing. - National resources with local search tools
Here is the link to NH within GetPalliativeCare.org.
Availability and scope of palliative care services vary by region and provider. Not all services are available in every community. Many – but not all – NH palliative providers are listed on GetPalliative.Care.org.
We are working to identify and share New Hampshire-specific palliative care and hospice resources. If you know of a program or provider, or are seeking help finding care, please contact us.