Jump To: What Is Palliative Care | What To Consider | Top Facilities | How We Can Help
End-of-life care can make an enormous difference in the experience of both the patient and their loved ones during this time. Ensuring proper care during the final days is a top priority, which is why many people choose to enter hospice or palliative care.
These end-of-life programs provide specialized care designed to make patients as comfortable as possible. Just as some hospitals are known for their work in specific specialties, many facilities stand out for their high-quality palliative care services.
Are you looking for the right place for yourself or a loved one? Use this guide to help you find the top palliative and hospice care facilities in the United States. If you need to travel by air to reach your facility of choice, AirCARE1 offers dedicated air ambulance flights for your peace of mind.
Palliative and hospice care are two vital end-of-life services that facilities can offer. Palliative care refers to specialized medical care provided to someone with a serious illness, like heart failure, dementia or cancer. It prioritizes the patient’s quality of life and makes them comfortable, often through symptom relief such as pain management.
Palliative care can occur at any time during the course of the patient’s condition alongside curative treatments. For instance, a doctor might prescribe anti-nausea medication to a patient undergoing chemotherapy. The medication does not treat the condition, but it does improve the patient’s comfort and quality of life.
Many different providers can be on a palliative care team, offering a wide range of services that support the patient physically, emotionally and spiritually. Examples of palliative care include:
Although palliative care is usually provided during hospice care, they are two different concepts. Hospice care only occurs when the patient is no longer being treated and they have a prognosis of six months or less. It can happen in hospitals or at the patient’s home, but it often occurs in outpatient hospice facilities. Finding a facility that helps fulfill the patient’s wishes and provides a positive experience can greatly improve end-of-life care.
Evaluating which end-of-life care facility is right for you involves weighing many factors, such as:
While hospice facilities are dedicated to this type of care, you can also find end-of-life hospitals with palliative care. In fact, more than 83% of hospitals with 50 or more beds have a palliative care program. This means that the patient can receive care without moving to another facility.
If you are looking for the best possible care for you or your loved one, it may be worth traveling. Going to one of the best-rated facilities in the country may help ensure excellent end-of-life care. Here are a few options to consider:
ProMedica, previously called HCR ManorCare or Heartland in some areas, offers comprehensive services to patients with many different conditions. ProMedica takes Medicare, Medicaid and some private insurances, and it has grants to help with costs, making it an affordable option for many patients. When it was still called Heartland Hospice Services, three locations earned spots in the top 5% of the 2022 SHPBest program, which assesses facilities across the country. Another three locations were in the top 20%.
Caris Healthcare is based in Bartlett, Tennessee, and has many locations throughout Tennessee as well as in Virginia, South Carolina, Missouri and Georgia. Caris even has special programs for veterans and pediatric hospice patients. SHP has named Caris a Consistent Excellence provider because it earned awards for five years in a row.
VITAS® Healthcare has palliative care facilities in 13 states, with many in California and Florida. It offers a large breadth of services, including emotional and spiritual care. The team has earned many awards, including recognition through the Quality Connections program from the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO).
Amedisys has over 500 care centers across the country, many of which earned a spot on the SHPBest list for 2022. This provider has exceptional ratings and multiple accreditations. It also has a special dementia care program.
Unity Hospice is a family-owned and operated provider with locations in the Midwest and Texas. It offers several unique programs like those involving music and serving veterans.
If you or a loved one is considering hospice, finding the right palliative care facility is crucial. Fortunately, you are not limited to only those in your area. An air ambulance flight from AirCARE1 offers advanced medical support similar to what you would find in a hospital’s ICU. These non-emergency hospice air transports are staffed by a skilled team trained in medical air transportation and holistic care principles to ensure a smooth, comfortable ride to your facility of choice.
We carry dual accreditation from the top certifying agencies in the industry, and we stay with the patient from bedside to bedside. Our team can also provide medical escort services during a standard commercial flight.
If you or a family member are ready to take the next step, reach out to us today to learn more about our services.
AirCARE1 received Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recognition of an accepted Safety Management System (SMS) Program…