Living Well with a Serious Illness

A practical guide for understanding how palliative care can improve quality of life for patients and their caregivers. Robin Bennett Kanarek was a registered nurse working with patients suffering from chronic medical conditions when her ten-year-old son was diagnosed with leukemia. As her son endured grueling treatments, Robin realized how often medical professionals overlook critical psychological, emotional, and spiritual support for people with life-threatening illnesses. Living Well with a Serious Illness is the culmination of decades of Robin's work to advance the field of palliative care. Although palliative care is often associated with hospice and end-of-life planning, Kanarek argues for a more expanded definition that incorporates palliative care earlier in patients' journeys. Living Well with a Serious Illness helps patients and their caregivers understand * what palliative care entails * how to access the support they need when going through a serious illness * what questions to ask medical professionals * how to navigate advanced care planning * definitions of common terminology used with end-of-life planning * the importance of spiritual care, coping strategies, and emotional support * how to become an advocate for palliative care This book illuminates the importance of seeing patients as individuals who can benefit from care for their body, mind, and spirit-the core tenet of palliative care.