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Care Choices Palliative Care (Bridge) Program
It can be confusing to know where to turn for help when coping with a serious illness and all the changes it brings. You may feel hopeful or discouraged from moment to moment.
For over a century, people have turned to VNA Care Network & Hospice when they need care and support for a serious illness and want to continue living at home. Our Care Choices Palliative Care (Bridge) Program is specially designed to alleviate the physical, emotional, practical, social, and spiritual problems people face when undergoing treatment for cancer, pulmonary disease, cardiac disease, and other chronic or life-limiting conditions.
It is for anyone with a serious or complex illness, whatever the diagnosis and throughout the course of the illness. Our goal is to assist individuals, caregivers, families, and loved ones whether or not the individual is receiving life-prolonging or curative treatment.
HEALTH CARE TEAM
Skilled clinicians caring for you may include nurses; physical, occupational, and speech therapists; social workers; dietitians; and home health aides. The patient is an important member of the team and plays an active role in the development of the care plan.
Service Area
Care Choices is offered in more than 200 communities in Eastern and Central Massachusetts. Services are provided wherever the patient calls home — private residences, assisted living, and more.
How Care Choices Palliative Care Can Help
The Care Choices team helps patients and their loved ones live as fully as possible during a serious, chronic, or otherwise life-limiting illness. Care is geared to the individual and begins with physical comfort so that other needs — emotional, social, practical, and spiritual — may be fully met. The Care Choices team remains sensitive to personal, cultural, and religious values, beliefs, and practices.
Clinicians work with patients to meet their goals and address their concerns, which may include:
- Managing pain, nausea, fatigue, shortness of breath, anxiety, and other distressing symptoms and helping to deal with side effects of therapies
- Improving ability to continue participating in day-to-day activities
- Achieving the best possible quality of life — most of our patients find that when their pain and discomfort are relieved, their quality of life is enhanced
- Offering a support system to help you and your family or caregivers cope
- Helping with identification of treatment options and care goals
- Guiding you through a sometimes complex health care system
- Assisting with advance care planning, financial issues related to illness and caregiving responsibilities, and insurance and financial paperwork
Comprehensive Care for Changing Needs
VNA Care Network & Hospice offers an extensive range of home-based health care services, giving patients and families greater flexibility and more options as their needs change.
Insurance Coverage
Care Choices Palliative Care is usually covered by Medicare, HMOs, and other insurance plans. Services are also available on a private pay basis for those who choose additional care not covered by insurance.
Information and Arranging Care
Contact VNA Care Network & Hospice's Referral Center at 800-728-1862 or info@vnacarenetwork.org. For TTY access, call 508-751-6926.
When to Seek Care
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with or is undergoing treatment for a complex or serious illness, contact VNA Care Network & Hospice to see how we can help. You can also refer to our guide, When to Seek Home-Based Care for Chronic or Life-Limiting Conditions.