Palliative care is specialized medical care that focuses on providing patients relief from pain and other symptoms of a serious illness, no matter the diagnosis or stage of disease. Iyashi Care is a palliative care program created in partnership with Keiro and Providence specifically for Our Community’s older adults and their families.

Palliative is specialized medical care for people with serious illnesses 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 specialists who work together with the patient’s current doctors 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 factsheet on palliative care.

Palliative care can be provided at any stage of an illness, including alongside treatment to cure the condition. Palliative care may be right for those suffering from pain, stress, or other symptoms due to a serious illness. Serious illnesses include dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, heart conditions, respiratory diseases, and many more.

No, this program has bilingual staff who can help both English-speaking and Japanese-speaking patients and family members.

Palliative care helps you navigate the complexities of a serious illness and strives to improve your quality of 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 choices available to you during your medical care.

No. The Iyashi Care team provides an extra layer of support and works in partnership with your primary care doctor and any specialists you may be seeing.

The Iyashi Care team works in partnership with your own doctors to provide an extra layer of support for you and your family. The team provides expert symptom management, makes extra time for communication about goals and treatment options, and helps you navigate the health system. A key component that the team provides is the space for patients and families to learn to advocate for themselves and ensure that their care is aligned with their goals. The team spends time with the patient, so they and their family understand all the options available to them, and feel what they choose is best for them in the moment.

Yes, absolutely. Your treatment choices are up to you. The Iyashi Care team can work to treat your symptoms while you seek curative treatment.

In order to enroll in Iyashi Care, you will need to have the patient, or their immediate family members’ consent. We can always provide more information, but the enrollment process will require either of the two to be present to start.

You can access palliative care at any age and any stage of an illness. However, it is recommended to consider palliative care from the day of diagnosis in order to receive assistance early and alongside other treatments.

The palliative care team will spend time talking and listening to you and your family. They will make sure you completely understand both your diagnosis and all of your treatment choices. By deeply exploring your personal goals and what is important to you, the palliative care team will help match those with your available health care options. They will also make sure that all of your doctors are coordinated and understand what your preferences are, giving you and your family more control over your care.

Patients who are enrolled in our Iyashi Care program will be eligible to receive ongoing consultations – in person, or by phone, teleconference, video chat, etc. – free of charge. The cost of any additional services should be discussed with the Providence team and your insurance provider.

Call us today at 213.873.5791 or email [email protected] to enroll in Iyashi Care or to clarify questions that you may have about this program.