Palliative care specialists?

[Anonymous]

Anyone have a rec for a dr or practice that could do an in home meeting or discussion with 90 year couple re palliative care options in DC and what it would look like?
My parents are healthy but steadily deteriorating in a range of ways (unsteadying gait and falling, age related cognitive decline, low vision, more need generally) and need support in terms of understanding what comes next and how to figure out living with their limitations in the coming months and years.
They are in independent living here and have an aide a few times a week but I think need somewhat of a larger term strategy/view.

Thanks in advance-

[Anonymous]

If they have a social services coordinator ask that person for recommendations and also ask their primary care doc to refer them for care and recommendations for companies. I don’t have a local recommendation but I just went through this with my parent in an area outside the DC region, I found the social services nurse to be the biggest help and the doctor put in the request for care.Good luck.

[Anonymous]

Palliative care implies something like Hospice, end of life care. I think you might be asking for what additional services they will need while they are aging but not at the very end and need help dying.

It sounds like they need more help, more than a few times a week, rather daily. Maid service, meal service (assuming dinner is provided by the facility) help getting dressed, ready for bed, help with bathing.

If you or they have the money to pay for it, I would find care providers (Visiting Angels is one) and put a plan together with them.

[Anonymous]

Palliative Care usually relates to goals of care in the context of incurable illness (not necessarily end-of-life); they focus on comfort and quality of life in the midst of active treatment. It might include planning for future needs as health declines, but that would more likely be the role of a geriatric care manager, which is like a community case manager who has a broad understanding of services that are available for people who wish to age in place (for example, they might send in an occupational therapist to do a home safety assessment and recommend equipment, etc) or seek potential placement (ALF, memory care, etc).