Palliative Care Program

If you or someone you love has pain or other symptoms related to a serious illness, the Cooper University Hospital Palliative Care Program can help.

The Palliative Care Program is designed to be integrated as part of a patient’s care plan at anytime, to manage symptoms related to treatment such as chemotherapy, or for symptoms that linger or appear after treatment is complete.

What is Palliative Care?

Palliative care is the comprehensive treatment of the discomfort, symptoms and stress of serious illness. It does not replace a patient’s primary treatment, but works together with treatment at any point in a patient’s care.

Palliative care also addresses psychological, social and spiritual concerns – all to achieve the best quality of life possible for each patient.

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The Palliative Care Team works with patients to identify issues that have an impact on a person’s quality of life and eliminate or minimize these problems.

At Cooper, the Palliative Care Program can help patients manage the common side effects of illness such as: pain, fatigue, nausea, constipation, diarrhea, depression and anxiety, difficulty breathing, loss of appetite and weight loss, weakness, sleep problems, confusion and end-of-life care.

The Palliative Care Team

A board-certified Hospice and Palliative Medicine physician and clinical nurse educator lead a team of:

• Physicians
• Nurses
• Social workers
• Counselors
• Chaplains
• Dietitians
• Therapists
• Complementary medicine specialists

Patients benefit from this unique mix of skills as the team works together to identify each patient’s goals and develops individualized care plans that respect patient’s values, goals and lifestyle. This team works collaboratively with the patient’s primary medical care team to ensure seamless care.

Family members receive education and support to develop and strengthen coping strategies in the treatment and care of their loved one.

When appropriate, the Cooper palliative care team offers referral services to visiting nurse agencies, hospice programs, physical therapy and support groups to meet all patient and family needs.

Is Palliative Care the same as hospice?

The Palliative Care Program is available to patients along with treatment or on its own. Palliative care is not hospice care. Hospice care focuses on solely on a person’s final months of life. Palliative care can be added to a patient’s care plan at anytime, to manage symptoms related to treatment such as chemotherapy, or for symptoms that linger or appear after treatment is complete.

In Memoriam Donations

If you would like to support the Palliative Care Program at Cooper University Hospital in memory of your loved one, please click here to make a secure online donation to the Cooper Foundation.