Hospice vs. Palliative Care: What’s the Difference?
When someone is facing a serious illness, they may have questions about hospice and palliative care. These two types of care are often confused, but we’re here to help you understand the differences and choose the service that’s right for you and your loved ones.
What is Hospice Care?
Hospice care is specialized care for people who are nearing the end of their lives. It focuses on providing comfort and support to the patient and their family, rather than trying to cure the illness. Hospice care can be provided in a variety of settings, including the patient’s home, a nursing home, or a hospice facility.
What is Palliative Care?
Palliative care is also focused on providing comfort and support to people with serious illnesses. However, palliative care can be provided at any stage of illness, not just in the final stages of life. Palliative care can be provided alongside other treatments, such as chemotherapy or radiation therapy.
What is the Key Difference Between Hospice and Palliative Care
The key difference between hospice and palliative care is the goal of care. Hospice care is focused on providing comfort and support to people who are nearing the end of their lives, while palliative care can be provided at any stage of illness and focuses on pain and symptom management, while treatments can continue.
Who is Eligible for Hospice Care?
To be eligible for hospice care, a patient must have a life expectancy of six months or less if the illness runs its natural course.
Who is Eligible for Palliative Care?
Palliative care is available to anyone with a serious illness, regardless of their prognosis. This includes people with cancer, heart disease, lung disease, and other chronic illnesses.
Benefits
Both hospice and palliative care can provide a number of benefits to patients and their families. These benefits can include:
- Pain and symptom management
- Emotional and spiritual support
- Practical and financial assistance
- Support for family members and caregivers
How Do I Choose What Care Is Right for Me?
The decision of whether to choose hospice or palliative care is a personal one. There is no right or wrong answer, and the best choice for you will depend on your individual circumstances.
If you are considering hospice care, it is important to talk to your doctor about your prognosis and whether you meet the eligibility requirements. If you are considering palliative care, it is important to talk to your doctor about your illness and what your goals are for treatment.
No matter which type of care you choose, it is important to remember that you are not alone. There are many resources available to help you and your family during this challenging time.
Watch Mountain Valley’s chief medical director, Dr. Glenn Golaszewski, explains the benefits of hospice care.
When someone is facing a serious illness, they may have questions about hospice and palliative care. These two types of care are often confused, but we’re here to help you understand the differences and choose the service that’s right for you and your loved ones.
What is hospice care?
Hospice care is specialized care for people who are nearing the end of their lives. It focuses on providing comfort and support to the patient and their family, rather than trying to cure the illness. Hospice care can be provided in a variety of settings, including the patient’s home, a nursing home, or a hospice facility.
What is palliative care?
Palliative care is also focused on providing comfort and support to people with serious illnesses. However, palliative care can be provided at any stage of illness, not just in the final stages of life. Palliative care can be provided alongside other treatments, such as chemotherapy or radiation therapy.
Key Differences between Hospice and Palliative Care
The key difference between hospice and palliative care is the goal of care. Hospice care is focused on providing comfort and support to people who are nearing the end of their lives, while palliative care can be provided at any stage of illness and focuses on pain and symptom management, while treatments can continue.
Who is eligible for hospice care?
To be eligible for hospice care, a patient must have a life expectancy of six months or less if the illness runs its natural course.
Who is eligible for palliative care?
Palliative care is available to anyone with a serious illness, regardless of their prognosis. This includes people with cancer, heart disease, lung disease, and other chronic illnesses.
Benefits
Both hospice and palliative care can provide a number of benefits to patients and their families. These benefits can include:
- Pain and symptom management
- Emotional and spiritual support
- Practical and financial assistance
- Support for family members and caregivers
How do I choose what service is right for me?
The decision of whether to choose hospice or palliative care is a personal one. There is no right or wrong answer, and the best choice for you will depend on your individual circumstances.
If you are considering hospice care, it is important to talk to your doctor about your prognosis and whether you meet the eligibility requirements. If you are considering palliative care, it is important to talk to your doctor about your illness and what your goals are for treatment.
No matter which type of care you choose, it is important to remember that you are not alone. There are many resources available to help you and your family during this challenging time.
Watch Mountain Valley’s chief medical director, Dr. Glenn Golaszewski, explains the benefits of hospice care.
When someone is facing a serious illness, they may have questions about hospice and palliative care. These two types of care are often confused, but we’re here to help you understand the differences and choose the service that’s right for you and your loved ones.
What is hospice care?
Hospice care is specialized care for people who are nearing the end of their lives. It focuses on providing comfort and support to the patient and their family, rather than trying to cure the illness. Hospice care can be provided in a variety of settings, including the patient’s home, a nursing home, or a hospice facility.
What is palliative care?
Palliative care is also focused on providing comfort and support to people with serious illnesses. However, palliative care can be provided at any stage of illness, not just in the final stages of life. Palliative care can be provided alongside other treatments, such as chemotherapy or radiation therapy.
Key Differences between Hospice and Palliative Care
The key difference between hospice and palliative care is the goal of care. Hospice care is focused on providing comfort and support to people who are nearing the end of their lives, while palliative care can be provided at any stage of illness and focuses on pain and symptom management, while treatments can continue.
Who is eligible for hospice care?
To be eligible for hospice care, a patient must have a life expectancy of six months or less if the illness runs its natural course.
Who is eligible for palliative care?
Palliative care is available to anyone with a serious illness, regardless of their prognosis. This includes people with cancer, heart disease, lung disease, and other chronic illnesses.
Benefits
Both hospice and palliative care can provide a number of benefits to patients and their families. These benefits can include:
- Pain and symptom management
- Emotional and spiritual support
- Practical and financial assistance
- Support for family members and caregivers
How do I choose what service is right for me?
The decision of whether to choose hospice or palliative care is a personal one. There is no right or wrong answer, and the best choice for you will depend on your individual circumstances.
If you are considering hospice care, it is important to talk to your doctor about your prognosis and whether you meet the eligibility requirements. If you are considering palliative care, it is important to talk to your doctor about your illness and what your goals are for treatment.
No matter which type of care you choose, it is important to remember that you are not alone. There are many resources available to help you and your family during this challenging time.
