Episode 29: Insight for Aging Services Pros: Reimagining Palliative Care for Older Adults

Integrative palliative care is an approach to medicine that combines palliative medicine with integrative medicine to create a whole-person care approach for individuals suffering serious illness. This evidence-supported and comprehensive approach to care utilizes numerous tools and beliefs that enhance the work of Aging Services Professionals as they help families and patients navigate the intricacies of home care. 

As a holistic approach to care, integrative palliative care offers several advantages, such as improved quality of life, better symptom management, and enhanced emotional well-being. Learn more about this person-centered care approach from Delia Chiaramonte, MD, founder of the Integrative Palliative Institute.

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About Delia Chiaramonte:
Delia Chiaramonte (“Care-a-mon-tee”), MD, is an integrative palliative medicine physician, medical educator, and Positive Intelligence coach. She is the founder of the Integrative Palliative Institute and host of The Integrative Palliative Podcast. Dr. Chiaramonte is Board certified in Family Medicine and Palliative Medicine and is certified by the American Board of Integrative Holistic Medicine. She is an adjunct assistant professor at the University of Maryland, where she teaches both palliative care and integrative medicine.

Her prior positions include Associate Director and Director of Education at the University of Maryland School of Medicine’s Center for Integrative Medicine and Division Chief of Integrative Palliative Medicine at Greater Baltimore Medical Center/Gilchrist.

Dr. Chiaramonte has been voted a “Top Doctor” by her physician peers and has published textbook chapters in the fields of integrative and palliative medicine. She provides educational programs to physicians and other clinicians on integrative palliative topics and offers caregiver coaching to families. She is the author of Coping Courageously: A Heart-Centered Guide for Navigating a Loved One’s Illness Without Losing Yourself. More information about Dr. Chiaramonte’s work is available at www.integrativepalliative.com  or www.CaregivingIsHard.com.

Episode Notes:

• Understanding integrative palliative care and the advantages that it offers
• An anecdote that illustrates how this type of care benefits individuals 
• Considerations for aging services professionals when thinking about incorporating integrative palliative care into home care plans
• Ways for aging services professionals to approach mental health information when working with clients
• Ways for home care professionals to incorporate integrative palliative care into their daily work
• The evolution of palliative care, including changes for the future
• Additional tips and resources for aging services professionals regarding integrative palliative care

Helpful Resources:

• What Is Home Care? – ComForCare
• Documents to Prepare With Your Older Loved One – ComForCare
• Top 5 Reasons to Consider Home Care Assistance for Older Adults – ComForCare
• The Integrative Palliative Institute
• The Integrative Palliative Podcast Website 
• Listen on Apple to the Integrative Palliative Podcast 
• Delia Chiaramonte’s book Coping Courageously: A Heart-Centered Guide for Navigating a Loved One’s Illness Without Losing Yourself
• 5 Mistakes to Avoid When Caring for A Seriously Ill Loved One – Integrative Palliative Institute