Navigating Eldercare: Understanding Palliative Care — It's Not What You Think!

Episode Summary:

Are you or a loved one navigating a serious illness? Join elder care advocate Laura Daniels as she sits down with Monica Trust, CEO of Guiding Light Hospice, to demystify Palliative Care.

Too often, families mistake palliative care for hospice or "giving up." In this critical episode, Monica clarifies that palliative care is specialized medical support focused on improving quality of life and managing symptoms—and it can be sought alongside aggressive, curative treatment right from the moment of diagnosis.

What You'll Learn:


Palliative Care vs. Hospice: The crucial distinction—palliative care is not end-of-life care.


When to Start: Why palliative care should begin as soon as a serious illness is diagnosed (e.g., cancer, CHF, dementia).


The Care Team: Who is involved (doctors, nurse practitioners, social workers, chaplains) and how they coordinate with your current physicians.


Empowerment Through Education: How an hour-long in-home consultation helps families and patients set goals of care and advocate for themselves, cutting through the confusion of short doctor visits.


Real-Life Impact: A moving story of how palliative care supported a young patient and her family through a difficult transition.

Monica provides clear advice on how to start the conversation with your doctor and shares her team's contact information to help listeners navigate this essential part of the care journey.

00:00 Introduction and Host WelcomeLaura Daniels introduces herself as the host and founder of Care Advocates, focusing on guidance for families facing elder care transitions.

01:31 Introducing the Guest and TopicLaura introduces Monica Trust, CEO of Guiding Light Hospice, to discuss the often-misunderstood topic of Palliative Care.

02:49Monica Trust's BackgroundMonica shares her personal passion for elder care, which stems from assisting her own family with her grandmother's care journey.

03:32 Defining Palliative CareA precise definition: specialized medical care for a serious illness, focused on symptom relief and stress to improve the quality of life for the patient and family.

03:59 Palliative Care vs. Hospice: The Key DifferenceCrucial distinction: You can still seek aggressive, curative treatment while receiving palliative care.

04:25 When to Introduce Palliative CareIt should be introduced as soon as a serious illness is diagnosed to help families navigate the disease process.

05:46 Explaining Palliative Care to FamiliesIt is symptom management and support from an additional care team that comes to the home.

06:18 The Value of Time in Palliative CareUnlike rushed doctor visits, Palliative Care visits are typically one hour long to discuss goals of care and process information.

07:40 The Best Time to Consider Palliative CareMonica shares a story about a transplant team—palliative care should begin the first day of diagnosis.

09:07 The Palliative Care TeamThe support team includes a doctor, nurse practitioner, social worker, and chaplain.

09:50 Coordinating with Current PhysiciansThe palliative care team works in partnership with specialists, providing documentation and communication to coordinate care.

10:35 Location of CarePalliative care can be provided wherever you call home (home, assisted living, nursing home).

11:24 Common Fears and MisconceptionsAddressing the fear that palliative care means stopping curative treatment—it does not.

12:58 Palliative Care Support for FamiliesThe team assists the family by providing ongoing education, helping them plan ahead, and understanding what to expect from their loved one's journey.

14:18 Patient Success StoryMonica shares a story of how the team (including the chaplain) supported a patient and her husband in making a courageous decision to transition from curative treatment.

16:26 What the First Visit Looks LikeThe first visit is a deep, one-hour consultation focusing on understanding the diagnosis and having Goals of Care conversations.

18:04 How to Request Palliative CareAdvice for listeners: Ask your doctor, "Am I a candidate for palliative care?" Or call Guiding Light directly.

19:07 Qualifying ConditionsExamples of chronic illnesses that qualify include Cancer, Dementia, CHF, and COPD.

20:41 Monica's Final MessageDon't be afraid; Palliative Care is a proactive way to plan, improve quality of life, and match treatment to your personal goals.

21:25 Defining Goals of CareExamples of goals: deciding when to stop treatment, discussing ventilators, or feeding tubes, and setting up Advanced Directives.

23:19 Connecting with Guiding LightContact information for Guiding Light Hospice: (210) 585-2335 or guidinghospice.com.

24:14 Host Wrap-up and Contact InfoLaura Daniels offers a free consultation and provides Care Advocates contact information: (210) 669-2222 or advocatern.com.

Navigating Eldercare: Understanding Palliative Care &mdash; It's Not What You Think!
Episode Summary:
Are you or a loved one navigating a serious illness? Join elder care advocate Laura Daniels as she sits down with Monica Trust, CEO of Guiding Light Hospice, to demystify Palliative Care.
Too often, families mistake palliative care for hospice or "giving up." In this critical episode, Monica clarifies that palliative care is specialized medical support focused on improving quality of life and managing symptoms&mdash;and it can be sought alongside aggressive, curative treatment right from the moment of diagnosis.
What You'll Learn:
<ul data-path-to-node="5">
<li>
Palliative Care vs. Hospice: The crucial distinction&mdash;palliative care is not end-of-life care.
</li>
<li>
When to Start: Why palliative care should begin as soon as a serious illness is diagnosed (e.g., cancer, CHF, dementia).
</li>
<li>
The Care Team: Who is involved (doctors, nurse practitioners, social workers, chaplains) and how they coordinate with your current physicians.
</li>
<li>
Empowerment Through Education: How an hour-long in-home consultation helps families and patients set goals of care and advocate for themselves, cutting through the confusion of short doctor visits.
</li>
<li>
Real-Life Impact: A moving story of how palliative care supported a young patient and her family through a difficult transition.
</li>
</ul>
Monica provides clear advice on how to start the conversation with your doctor and shares her team's contact information to help listeners navigate this essential part of the care journey.
00:00 Introduction and Host WelcomeLaura Daniels introduces herself as the host and founder of Care Advocates, focusing on guidance for families facing elder care transitions.
01:31 Introducing the Guest and TopicLaura introduces Monica Trust, CEO of Guiding Light Hospice, to discuss the often-misunderstood topic of Palliative Care.
02:49Monica Trust's BackgroundMonica shares her personal passion for elder care, which stems from assisting her own family with her grandmother's care journey.
03:32 Defining Palliative CareA precise definition: specialized medical care for a serious illness, focused on symptom relief and stress to improve the quality of life for the patient and family.
03:59 Palliative Care vs. Hospice: The Key DifferenceCrucial distinction: You can still seek aggressive, curative treatment while receiving palliative care.
04:25 When to Introduce Palliative CareIt should be introduced as soon as a serious illness is diagnosed to help families navigate the disease process.
05:46 Explaining Palliative Care to FamiliesIt is symptom management and support from an additional care team that comes to the home.
06:18 The Value of Time in Palliative CareUnlike rushed doctor visits, Palliative Care visits are typically one hour long to discuss goals of care and process information.
07:40 The Best Time to Consider Palliative CareMonica shares a story about a transplant team&mdash;palliative care should begin the first day of diagnosis.
09:07 The Palliative Care TeamThe support team includes a doctor, nurse practitioner, social worker, and chaplain.
09:50 Coordinating with Current PhysiciansThe palliative care team works in partnership with specialists, providing documentation and communication to coordinate care.
10:35 Location of CarePalliative care can be provided wherever you call home (home, assisted living, nursing home).
11:24 Common Fears and MisconceptionsAddressing the fear that palliative care means stopping curative treatment&mdash;it does not.
12:58 Palliative Care Support for FamiliesThe team assists the family by providing ongoing education, helping them plan ahead, and understanding what to expect from their loved one's journey.
14:18 Patient Success StoryMonica shares a story of how the team (including the chaplain) supported a patient and her husband in making a courageous decision to transition from curative treatment.
16:26 What the First Visit Looks LikeThe first visit is a deep, one-hour consultation focusing on understanding the diagnosis and having Goals of Care conversations.
18:04 How to Request Palliative CareAdvice for listeners: Ask your doctor, "Am I a candidate for palliative care?" Or call Guiding Light directly.
19:07 Qualifying ConditionsExamples of chronic illnesses that qualify include Cancer, Dementia, CHF, and COPD.
20:41 Monica's Final MessageDon't be afraid; Palliative Care is a proactive way to plan, improve quality of life, and match treatment to your personal goals.
21:25 Defining Goals of CareExamples of goals: deciding when to stop treatment, discussing ventilators, or feeding tubes, and setting up Advanced Directives.
23:19 Connecting with Guiding LightContact information for Guiding Light Hospice: (210) 585-2335 or guidinghospice.com.
24:14 Host Wrap-up and Contact InfoLaura Daniels offers a free consultation and provides Care Advocates contact information: (210) 669-2222 or advocatern.com.

Navigating Elder Care

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