July 2026
Older adults with chronic illness can find relief, comfort with a palliative care plan
Chronic diseases like kidney failure, cancer, dementia and heart failure can all create daily living challenges, but it is possible to live a full life while experiencing complex medical needs. For those looking to make the most of a frustrating diagnosis, palliative care stands as a supportive care option to manage symptoms, increase comfort and promote independence.
Palliative care goes hand in hand with PACE Southeast Michigan’s mission to empower older adults to live full, independent lives. Seniors living with chronic illnesses can find improved health outcomes and quality of life through palliative care.
Here’s everything you need to know if palliative care is right for you or your loved one:
Many people confuse palliative care with hospice. However, the two are very different.
Are palliative care and hospice the same?
Hospice is for someone needing comfort and transitional care at the very end of their life. Hospice is not intended to be administered long-term.
Palliative care, on the other hand, promotes comfort and symptom management for someone with a chronic condition like kidney failure or dementia. Palliative care can be administered alongside curative treatments and can be part of a patient’s care plan for years.
What can palliative care help with?
Palliative care is designed to work with any chronic condition, so care plans can vary greatly. The plan for a dementia patient, for instance, and the plan for a diabetes patient might look very different because their needs are very different.
Palliative care goes hand in hand with PACE Southeast Michigan’s mission to empower older adults to live full, independent lives.
As an all-inclusive care plan and provider, PACE Southeast Michigan’s team of interdisciplinary health professionals work with our participants and their families to create plans that prioritize comfort, medication management, caregiver support and more. Our care plans are just as unique as our participants.
Can I ever change my palliative care plan?
Chronic diseases can become more severe over time. As a participant’s condition changes, it’s likely their needs and goals will change too. Because palliative care focuses on comfort and daily symptom management, plans are regularly revisited and adjusted as needed.
Because our care plans change as our participants change, people receiving palliative care often experience lower hospitalization rates, fewer medications, better mental health and more.
Click here to see how palliative care plans can fit to your needs.
PACE Southeast Michigan’s passion for independence and dignity makes palliative care a method of choice for our team. To learn more about our program, visit our enrollment page.