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Supportive Care for Serious Illness

Supportive care, also called palliative care, eases symptoms and can continue beside treatment aimed at the illness. Hospice is for the final months, when curative treatment is no longer the goal and comfort is the focus; symptom-focused care continues. Palliative care can apply at any age, but this host is only for adults 50 and older. Younger adults use primary care. Viva offers a primary-care visit, not a hospice or care at home. Video is for stable questions, not a sudden decline. No named provider has signed this draft.

Symptoms and questions to discuss

  • Pain, nausea, or breathlessness that limits the day
  • Uncertainty about which treatments still match your goals
  • A sudden change such as worse breathing, confusion, bleeding, or a fall

What we check

  • Current treatments and what you hope to continue or reconsider
  • Pain, nausea, breathlessness, and the daily tasks that are harder
  • Who helps at home, and which written wishes you already have
  • Whether the need is supportive care now or a later hospice decision

Treatment options by class

Your provider reviews appropriate options and follow-up based on your assessment.

  • A visit for pain, nausea, breathlessness, and the goals of the plan
  • A medicine review for overlap and for effects that worsen comfort
  • Continued illness-directed treatment when that remains the goal
  • Questions prepared for an outside palliative or hospice team if one is chosen

When we refer

Viva offers primary supportive visits from age 50. Specialist palliative care, home nursing, respite, and hospice are outside. Viva does not operate a hospice or send a team home. Any ongoing role depends on the hospice selected. Under 50, use primary care. Breathing failure, chest pain, bleeding, head injury, and new weakness go to emergency care.

What the first visit covers

The visit covers the illness, current treatments, and symptoms that limit the day, especially pain, nausea, and trouble breathing. The provider asks what you still want to do and which treatments to keep or reconsider. A caregiver may join with your permission. Bring written wishes you already have. This is primary care. It does not replace the treating specialist or open a palliative service at Viva.

What this visit does not include

You do not stop illness-directed treatment to discuss comfort. This page starts no medicine. Viva does not provide home hospice, overnight nursing, a 24-hour line, home aides, or respite. Teams elsewhere may visit a home or a hospital. That is not a Viva home service. Ask which permission form is used before information is shared without you.

Who holds the plan while you wait

The same Viva provider reviews the next visit and results that return. Until an outside palliative or hospice team accepts you, that provider holds the plan. A sent request is not started care. Video is only for stable symptoms. A new legal document may need help outside this visit. No opening means call. Do not wait at home with danger signs.

A sudden change is not a goals visit

Call 911 for severe breathing trouble, chest pain, uncontrolled bleeding, sudden confusion, head injury, one-sided weakness, or trouble speaking. Do not save these for a goals visit. Hospice, if chosen later, is outside. Medicare generally needs the hospice and your usual provider to certify about six months or less if the illness follows its usual course, plus your signed choice. You may continue if renewed, or leave. Viva does not require hospice.

Frequently asked questions

Is supportive care the same as hospice?

No. Supportive care can continue with illness-directed treatment. Hospice is for the final months, when curative treatment is no longer the goal; symptom-focused care continues. Viva does not operate a hospice or send a team home.

I am under 50. Is this my program?

Supportive care and hospice differ at any age. This host is for adults 50 and older. Under 50, book primary care. The page does not lower the age.

Will symptoms be brought under control?

The aim is to ease pain, nausea, and breathlessness, then recheck. No visit sets full relief or a fixed time. A sudden surge needs emergency care.

Can my caregiver hear the plan?

Yes, if you want that person present. Ask which permission form is used before sharing without you. Viva does not assign a home aide.

What if the outside team has no opening?

Call the Viva provider who sent the request. That provider keeps the symptom plan. Severe breathing trouble, chest pain, or new weakness still needs 911.

Sources

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Supportive Care for Serious Illness | Viva Centers