ALL

Main Content

What is Palliative and End-of-Life Care

Is it right for me?

Tak​e the Quiz: Is Palliative End-of-Life Care Right for You?

To help you decid​​​e if Palliative End-of-Life​ (PEOLC) is right for you, answer yes or no to these 5 questions. You can take this quiz for yourself or for someone close to you. Remember, you can get PEOLC at any point in your illness.

  1. ​​​Do you have one or more serious illnesses such as:
    • cancer
    • congestive heart failure
    • chronic ob​structive pulmonary disease (COPD), emphysema, pulmonary fibrosis, lung disease
    • kidney failure
    • liver failure (cirrhosis)
    • nervous system disease (e.g., ALS, Parkinson's)
    • dementia
  2. Do your symptoms make it hard to live your life and be active? These symptoms may include:
    • pain or discomfort
    • trouble breathing
    • feeling very tired
    • anxiety or depression
    • nausea or not wanting to eat
    • constipation
  3. Do you find it hard to manage your illness because you:
    • get very bad side effects from treatment
    • have problems eating because of your illness
    • go to the emergency department a lot
    • have been in the hospital 3 or more times in the last year with the same symptoms
  4. Do you have a lot of questions and need help:
    • knowing what you can expect in the future (your prognosis) because of your medical condition
    • learning what healthcare programs and resources are there for you
    • making decisions about treatments and where to get care
    • matching your Goals of Care Designation and values to your medical care
    • understanding the risks and benefits of treatments (e.g., dialysis, cancer treatments, surgery, etc.)
  5. Do you need more help:
    • dealing with the stress of your illness
    • finding emotional support
    • getting spiritual or religious support
    • talking to your family about your illness and what’s important to you

Check your answers.

If you answered no 5 times, you may not need PEOLC right now. But if you still feel you need it, talk to your doctor or healthcare provider.
If you answered no 3 or 4 times, you may need PEOLC. If you think it might help you, talk to your doctor or healthcare provider.
If you answered no 1 or 2 times, start by talking to your doctor or healthcare provider. Say you’re thinking about talking to a PEOLC professional. Find PE​OLC services​ near you.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​