Have you or a loved one learned that you have a serious illness that can’t be cured? If so, you may be feeling isolated and overwhelmed.

It can help to know what your options are for medical care and emotional support.

Carilion Clinic Hospice has prepared “Carilion Conversations,” a series of helpful questions and suggestions to help you plan and communicate your wishes to others.

Home health care is skilled care provided in a patient’s home by a Medicare-certified agency under a physician’s order. While many people imagine the typical home health patient as an elderly person, patients include pregnant women and newborns as well as people of all ages who are recovering from surgery or managing chronic conditions.

Working with patients in their home allows for more relevant discussions about their disease process, their medication and diet management, ways to prevent falls and learn safe handling techniques.