Enhancing Quality of Life

With its comprehensive and sensitive approach to palliative care, Central DuPage Hospital does more for adults and children with chronic, terminal or life-limiting illness. Our palliative care program addresses the physical, emotional, social and spiritual needs of the patient and his or her family. The goal of palliative care is to make the patient as comfortable as possible as the disease progresses.

What is Palliative Care?

Palliative care may be recommended to relieve side effects and symptoms for patients who are undergoing treatment aimed at curing illness. Palliative care helps to optimize quality of life and relieve suffering and pain.

Palliative Care for Children

When a child faces a chronic, life-threatening illness or life-limiting condition, the family faces special challenges. Central DuPage Hospital is one of the few healthcare organizations in the U.S. with a comprehensive palliative care program designed specifically for the needs of pediatric patients and their families. We focus on the child’s comfort, addressing practical needs and respecting the family’s preferences. Our goal is to achieve the best possible quality of life for the child.

Our Pediatric Palliative Care program provides broad support for the child and family. Support addresses broad needs, including assistance with issues related to daily life such as feeding and bathing a child who is very ill. Children receiving palliative care also may continue to receive aggressive treatments and medications, such as chemotherapy, radiation therapy, surgery, dialysis or other appropriate treatments.

Palliative care for children is provided by an interdisciplinary team that includes:

• The child and family
• Physicians
• Nurses
• Therapists
• Pharmacists
• A counselor or chaplain

We work closely with the family and develop a plan of care that reflects the values, beliefs, wishes and needs of the child and the family. This plan may address physical, emotional, social and spiritual needs of the child and the family.

Palliative care for a child can:

• Optimize quality of life for a child with a chronic or life-threatening condition
• Relieve suffering and pain
• Control symptoms

For more information about palliative care for a child, please call (630) 933-4847.

Advanced Care Planning: Thinking Ahead

When faced with an untreatable or life-threatening condition, it’s helpful to plan ahead. The Palliative Medicine Team at Central DuPage Hospital can facilitate discussions with patients, families and physicians about treatment options and decisions that will need to be made. We also can assist with developing a Living Will or designating a Healthcare Power of Attorney. We encourage you to turn to our staff for support and guidance.

Our Services

Palliative care can be provided in any setting that the patient prefers, such as the hospital (inpatient or outpatient care), at home, in a nursing home or other long-term care facility, or a hospice  facility. Palliative services address the individual’s specific symptoms, which may include:

• Anxiety
• Constipation or diarrhea
• Depression
• Difficulty sleeping
• Dry mouth
• Loss of appetite
• Pain
• Shortness of breath
• Other symptoms

The Team

Palliative care is provided by a team of experienced and empathetic professionals. We coordinate care with the patient’s primary physician and work closely with the patient and family. We pledge to respect the wishes of the patient and family throughout this challenging time.

The Palliative Medicine team includes:

• Physicians board-certified in palliative medicine
• Registered nurses with expertise in palliative care, hospice and oncology (cancer care)
• Therapists
• Pharmacists
• Chaplains

Location and Hours

Palliative care services are available based on patient needs.

Call to for More Information

For more information about palliative care, or to make an appointment, please call (630) 933-HUGS (4847) or (630) 933-6204.