When someone you love is living with a serious illness, ordinary days can become hard: pain that doesn’t settle, breathlessness, exhaustion, worry that keeps everyone up at night. Palliative care is about easing those things, so the person at the center of it all can feel as comfortable, and as much themselves, as possible.
I’m Kate, a family nurse practitioner, and I provide palliative support at home across the North Shore. I visit patients and families in their own homes, and I work alongside the doctors who are
Many people hear “palliative” and assume it means treatment is over. It doesn’t. Palliative support can begin at any stage of a serious illness, including right after a diagnosis, and it continues alongside the treatment you’re already receiving.
Hospice is a different kind of care, for the final stage of life. Palliative support is broader. It’s about comfort, symptom relief, and having someone to help you understand what’s happening, at whatever stage you’re in.
I start by listening. What’s bothering you most? What does a good day look like for you now? What are you afraid of? Those answers shape everything else. Then I check how you’re doing physically: your pain, your breathing, your appetite, your sleep, and your energy.
Together with your doctors, we look for ways to ease whatever is wearing you down. I go through your medications to make sure they’re helping and not adding to the problem, and I explain what I find in plain words.
I also make time for your family. Caring for someone who is seriously ill is exhausting, and the questions never stop. I’m there for them too, to explain what to expect and to help them feel less alone.
Pain and symptom relief
Emotional support for you and your family
Clear answers about what to expect
Coordination with your care team
Not sure if this is the right time? Call me at 617-299-9590.
You or a loved one is living with a serious or advanced illness
Pain or other symptoms aren’t well controlled
You want comfort and support alongside your regular treatment
I’m not here to replace your doctors or your specialists. I work alongside them. After each visit I pass along how you’re feeling, what’s bothering you, and what you’ve told me matters most, so your whole team is working toward the same goals. If something needs a decision, I contact the right doctor directly.
If hospice ever becomes the right choice, I can help you and your family understand what it means and talk it through with your team. That decision is always yours.
Serious illness often means many doctors and many medications. Coordination with Specialists helps keep them connected, Medication Management keeps your pill list clear and safe, and Patient Advocacy gives you someone to speak up for your wishes.
It's care focused on comfort and quality of life for people living with a serious illness. It includes easing pain and other symptoms, answering questions, and supporting the family.
No. Palliative support can begin at any stage of a serious illness and continues alongside your regular treatment. Hospice is for the final stage of life.
No. I work alongside your doctors, and your treatment continues.
There's no wrong time. Many people find it helps to start early, rather than waiting until things are hard.
My services are private duty and self-pay. Contact me for current rates.
Call 911 for severe trouble breathing, chest pain, sudden confusion, or any emergency. If you're already being treated for a serious illness and your symptoms suddenly get worse, call your doctor's office or their on-call number right away.
Navigating the healthcare system can often feel confusing and overwhelming, especially when facing a new diagnosis, managing chronic conditions, or recovering from a medical procedure.
