Judith Peres Discusses Misconceptions of Palliative Care

While some of the misconceptions of palliative care have been cleared up over the years, it is still very much associated with end-of-life care, explained Judith Peres, LCSW-C, clinical social worker and health policy consultant.

Transcript (slightly modified)

What are some of the misconceptions that still exist about palliative care and end-of-life care?

One of the things that has been important in recent years, over the last couple of decades, is the decoupling of palliative care from hospice. Hospice is the deliverer and provider of palliative care, but palliative care can also be delivered outside of hospice, alongside of concurrent care with acute care issues and really is that extra layer of care that would help people with their symptoms and their concerns.

What cultural challenges do you run into in palliative care discussions, and how can and are providers handling them?

I think people are very much still associating palliative care with end-of-life care without looking at it as being something that is that extra layer of support that they can use and need throughout the advance of a serious illness. And I think one of the things that is important is for people to recognize that it is something that can help them along the way.