You can’t get to be my age without losing a few people along the way. It may be family or it may be friend but time catches up with all of us sooner or later. And it’s made me think about how important it is for someone to be able to make choices about the way their medical condition is treated as days grow shorter. The Motion Picture & Television Fund provides what’s known as “Palliative Care” that specializes in relieving suffering as it strives to provide the best quality of life for patients with advanced illness.
Palliative Care doesn’t replace existing medical treatments, it supports the patient and their families during this very emotional and stressful time.
Susan Poprock, MPTF Chief Nurse Executive who heads the Palliative Care team pointed out that illness and pain can be very isolating and often, “the patients and their families really need the team just to listen and understand what they¹re going through. We try to address both the illness and the isolation.”
Probably the best thing about MPTF Palliative Care is that it’s personal and individualized. Your Palliative Care team will give you clear and honest answers so they and your family can all work together to manage treatment, side effects, and daily activities. They’ll share information with each other and with you so no one is every left wondering, “what if?”
Call them. They can help.
- Joe
