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Keiro and Providence partnered to create the first culturally-sensitive palliative care program focusing on Japanese American and Japanese older adults living with serious and/or chronic illness, or debilitating symptoms.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Click on the question to view the answer.
What is palliative care?
Palliative care is specialized medical care for people with serious and/or chronic illness and life-limiting symptoms. This type of care is focused on providing relief and comfort from the symptoms and stress of a serious illness, with the goal of improving the quality of life for both the patient and their family.
Palliative care is provided by a specially-trained team of doctors, nurses, social workers, and other support staff who work together with the patient’s current health care team to provide an extra layer of support. It is appropriate at any stage of a serious illness, including as early as the time of diagnosis, and it can be provided along with curative treatment. Please click here to view the fact sheet on palliative care.
What can I expect from palliative care?
Palliative care helps you and your family navigate the complexities of a serious illness and strives to improve the quality of your day-to-day life. A palliative care team will provide support and guidance through medical treatments and will also help you and your loved ones better understand your condition and the care choices available to you.
What is the difference between hospice and palliative care?
Click here to download the “Palliative Care & Hospice” postcard.
What is the difference between in-home care, in-home health care, and community-based palliative care?
Click here to download the “Options for Care at Home” postcard.
Does Iyashi Care only serve patients with certain diagnoses?
No. Iyashi Care most commonly serves patients with dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, heart conditions, and other advanced chronic illnesses, but eligibility is not limited to those diagnoses. If an individual does not have a medical diagnosis but is experiencing increasing general frailty, cognitive impairment, frequent falls, and/or declining mobility, Iyashi Care may be appropriate.
Can I receive curative treatment together with palliative care?
Yes, absolutely. Your treatment choices are up to you. The Iyashi Care team can work to treat your symptoms while you seek curative treatment.
Do I or my loved one have to be Japanese to enroll in Iyashi Care?
No. Iyashi Care is a culturally-sensitive palliative care program for those in Our Community.
What regions does Iyashi Care serve?
Iyashi Care is available to those who live in Los Angeles and Orange Counties. Limited services are available for residents of Ventura County.
Do I or my loved one have to give up my primary care doctor if we enroll in Iyashi Care?
No. The Iyashi Care team will work with your current primary care doctor and any specialists you may be seeing.
Do I or my loved one need to be a Providence patient in order to enroll in Iyashi Care?
No. Iyashi Care is open to those who receive primary and/or specialist care from another health system. However, there may be limitations on eligibility or services depending on the health system. Please contact Keiro to discuss further.
Is there a cost for Iyashi Care?
Patients who are enrolled in Iyashi Care will be eligible to receive ongoing consultations with the team—in person, or by phone, video conferencing, etc.—free of charge. The cost of any additional services will be discussed with you, the Iyashi Care team, and your insurance provider.
Public and private insurance reimbursement for community-based palliative care services is very limited. However, Keiro and Providence are committed to increasing access to valuable programs like palliative care for Our Community.
Can I call Iyashi Care on behalf of my friend?
Yes. However, you may not consent to enrollment on their behalf unless you are legally authorized to do so (typically as power of attorney for health care). Consent for enrollment must come from: the prospective patient, the patient’s immediate family, the patient’s doctor, or other responsible party.
How do I enroll in Iyashi Care?
Contact Keiro by calling 213.873.5791 or completing the online inquiry form here.