Palliative care, also called comfort care, is primarily directed at providing relief to those suffering from advanced illnesses through symptom management and pain management. The goal of Palliative care is to provide comfort and maintain the highest possible quality of life for as long as life lasts. Well-rounded palliative care programs also address mental health and spiritual needs. The focus is not on death, but on compassionate, specialized care for the living.

“The Circle of Life Palliative Care Team at St. Joseph Hospital involves a team-oriented approach, consisting of expert medical care, pain management, emotional and spiritual support of a patient’s and loved one’s needs and wishes,” said Donald McDonah, MD, board certified in family medicine and hospice and palliative care and Medical Director of the Palliative Care Team. “We also support the patient’s loved ones with their needs, concerns, and grief.” The Circle of Life Palliative Care Team believes that each of us has the right to to live our final days pain-free and with dignity, and that our loved ones will receive the necessary support to allow us to do so.

“The Circle of Life Palliative Care Team at St. Joseph Hospital works with the patient and loved ones to determine their needs and then develop a care plan that meets those individualized needs,” said Jean Montana, RN BSN, Director of The Circle of Life Palliative Care Program. This specialized team includes a dedicated physician, oncology and hospice nurses, a social worker, ethicist, chaplain and program coordinator.

Among its major responsibilities, the interdisciplinary team manages the patient’s pain and symptoms; assists the patient with the emotional, psychosocial and spiritual aspects of dying; provides needed drugs, medical supplies, and equipment; coaches the family on how to care for the patient; makes short-term inpatient care available when pain or symptoms become too difficult to manage at home, or the caregiver needs respite time; and provides bereavement care and counseling to surviving family and friends.

“Dying can be a positive experience,” said Kimberley Leets, RN, CHPN, OCN, Clinical Program Director for Oncology Services at St. Joseph Hospital. “It can happen in a way that, although there is a great sense of loss, the patient and family are supported through the entire process. Whatever we, as healthcare professionals, can do to facilitate the dying and bereavement process will make a significant difference in promoting healthy grieving and closure.”

For more information about The Circle of Life program or Palliative Care nursing at St. Joseph Hospital, please call 1-800-210-9000.

Ask the Doctor

I have been diagnosed with Plantar Fasciitis. What are my treatment options?

Plantar Fasciitis is a very painful condition of the heel that can extend into the arch, which is sometimes called heel spur syndrome. “The pain may range from mild to debilitating and often arises when getting out of bed,” explains Howard Bonenberger, DPM, board-certified in podiatry. A thorough evaluation of the nerves, muscles, tendons, bones, and joints by a podiatrist can lead to a correct diagnosis.

“In early to intermediate stages, successful treatment may include the use of ice, prescription anti-inflammatory medicines and proper prescription inserts. In moderate to severe cases, Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (ESWT) or Endoscopic Fasciotomy, both outpatient procedures, can provide significant relief for most patients,” said Dr. Bonenberger.

For more information please contact the office of Howard Bonenberger, DPM, PLLC, at 603-882-8866. Dr. Bonenberger’s practice, Ankle and Foot Care, is located at the Milford Medical Center, 442 Nashua, Street.