“It is so helpful to be able to call when I need something or have a question. My fear factor drops way down. Your care has kept me out of the hospital.”
—Trudy
Life doesn't stop when you get sick. Navigate the expected and unexpected impact of your illness with palliative care.
Palliative Care is there to help reduce your suffering during the treatment of your illness. Since 2013, Carelon Palliative Care has helped more than 200,000 people navigate their healthcare journey.
Watch this 3 min. video to learn what to expect from Carelon or continue reading below.
Welcome to Carelon’s Palliative Care.
We’re here to support you 24/7, 365 days a year, with everyday emotional, medical, and social needs.
You’ll be accompanied at every stage of your treatment, complementing your doctor’s role, not replacing it.
Think of it as an extra layer of support where it’s needed most, to help you feel less overwhelmed.
Enrolling in Palliative Care services from Carelon
Step 1:
We’ll reach out to you, by letter and phone. When we first connect our goal is to learn about you, your health, and your needs. This will help us design a plan just for you, that will help lessen your care burden.
This can also help prevent further complications, and reduce workday absences, ER visits, and hospitalizations.
You can also call us at any time.
Call us at 1-844-232-0500
Step 2:
When you’re contacted, you’ll be asked to participate in a short pre-assessment with your care team to review your health history and other information prior to your first visit — virtually or in person.
Step 3:
Meet with a nurse, also called an “Advanced Practice Provider” or “APP”, for a first visit, which can take up to 90 minutes.
Your visit helps your care team to gain an in-depth understanding of your needs.
In addition, your medications will be reviewed. From there we’ll discuss any side effects and get details of your doctors and specialists to help coordinate your care.
What comes next? After your initial visit.
Scheduled visits with the APP happen at least once a month and last about 30 minutes. With every visit, the APP will want to address all aspects of the patient’s health — from symptoms and medications to nutrition and emotional health.
Manage
During a care visit, the APP will talk to the patient and caregivers about:
- How to manage symptoms.
- How the illness may affect them in the days and weeks ahead.
- Nonmedical issues that may be affecting health such as nutrition, lifestyle, and family support.
- Mental health.
- Medications.
- Treatment options.
- How to cope with the unexpected.
- Goals of care.
Plan
Care visits can also include:
- Support in navigating the healthcare system.
- Working with the patient to ensure they are as active a participant in their care as they wish to be.
- Meaningful conversations with patients, care givers, their loved ones around the patient's goals and preparation for the future.
- Assistance in putting a patient’s preferences in writing by helping to complete legal documents called advance directives.
Coordinate
After every care visit, the APP will consult with other members of the care team, adjust the care plan as needed, and update the patient’s doctors.
24/7/365 support between appointments
When you are managing a serious illness, your needs won’t always come at a convenient time. Carelon Palliative Care includes clinician support at any time, day or night.
As a patient, you will be provided with our 24/7/365 support and advice line. Patients, their caregivers, and loved ones can call anytime, day or night, when there’s:
- A medical question.
- A care question.
- A need for advice when it’s thought the patient may need to go to an urgent care facility or hospital.
- An unexpected change in symptoms.
- A need for emotional support.
Arrange for an initial call
If you have not yet connected with Carelon, please complete the form to arrange for an outreach call from one of our representatives.
What people have to say about Palliative Care
“My nurse practitioner was terrific. She did everything and probably kept me out of the hospital a few times. It just changed everything. I felt better. I knew they’d be there. They gave me a magnet [with a 24/7 support number] to put on my refrigerator and said to call anytime, seven days a week, around the clock."
—Margaret
“It is wonderful to have home visits. It has relieved a lot of anxiety to know we can call whenever we need you.”
—Bob
“Our nurse practitioner is thorough and understands my husband’s needs. She is quick to see even the slightest changes — even those I might miss being with him daily. Carelon has been a blessing to us.”
—Susan, wife and caregiver
“I think the teamwork at Carelon is amazing. Everybody works together to provide the absolute best care that we can for our patients and their families.”
—Samantha, Palliative Care registered nurse
“After my cancer diagnosis…the discomforts, the pain, my whole thought process, my memory…it's hard to describe. My nurse practitioner told me to call at any time no matter what it is — no matter how small or how big. And I can only imagine what it would've been like not to have had these guys.”
—Ron
“If a patient has access to a smartphone, tablet, or computer, virtual care is something that allows us to be more available to them. A lot of patients have really embraced it.”
—Liz, Palliative Care nurse
“Having Carelon come to our home has been extremely helpful. The whole staff has been very helpful in caring for my father. We are so thankful to have them.”
—Ted
“My mom was able to stay at home and out of the hospital during her last few weeks, which were our family’s wishes. Mom was even able to dance at her grandson’s wedding. She really moved her feet — she didn’t just shuffle. That’s how we’ll remember her.”
—Kathy, daughter and caregiver
“They bring forth not only the additional medical care that might be needed, but also the emotional support. That was really important to me to know that he had that other anchor.”
—Terri, caregiver and friend
“My job is to advocate for my patient, regardless of what the doctors think. If my patient does or doesn’t want to do something, it’s my job to help them get to that point.”
— Emilee, Palliative Care nurse
