What Happens at Your First Palliative Care Visit at Home
Your first palliative care visit is a conversation, not a test. A LoveWell physician or nurse practitioner comes to your home to understand how you’re feeling, what’s been hardest, and what matters most to you. Most first visits take about an hour to an hour and a half.
What Happens at Your First Palliative Care Visit at Home
Your first palliative care visit is a conversation, not a test. A LoveWell physician or nurse practitioner comes to your home to understand how you’re feeling, what’s been hardest, and what matters most to you. Most first visits take about an hour to an hour and a half.
Before the Visit
Once you call us or your doctor sends a referral, our team checks your insurance and explains what you may owe. We’ll schedule the visit at a time that works for you, usually within a few days. If you live in an assisted living, independent living, or memory care community, we’ll coordinate with the staff there.
What We’ll Talk About
- Your symptoms: pain, breathing, fatigue, sleep, appetite, mood, and anything else that’s been getting in the way
- Your medications: what you take, what’s helping, and what may be causing side effects
- Your daily life: what a typical day looks like and what has become harder
- Your goals: what you hope your care can help you do, now and down the road
- Your support: who helps you at home, and what they need to feel confident
How to Prepare
A little preparation helps us make the most of the time together.
- Gather your medication bottles, including vitamins and over-the-counter products
- Have your insurance cards and a list of your doctors handy
- Jot down your top two or three concerns
- Invite a family member or caregiver to join, in person or by phone
- Have any advance directive or medical power of attorney nearby, if you have one
After the Visit
We’ll build a care plan with you and send a visit note to your primary doctor and specialists. Most patients see their team about once a month after that, and more often when symptoms change. Our phones are answered 24/7 if questions come up between visits.
Talk with Our Team
If you have questions before your first visit, call us. We’re glad to walk you through it.