Hospice vs Palliative Care: Understanding the Difference
A hospice nurse was recently asked, “How can you work in hospice – it must be so sad!”
She answered, “I love providing highly skilled, compassionate care because I know I make a huge difference in the quality of a person’s life. I love that I can use my training as a nurse to bring comfort and dignity to my patients, and see the relief on their faces and on the faces of those who care for them. I love that I can offer practical solutions to patients and families and help them find more meaningful moments at the end of life.”
Hospice isn’t about dying but is about living as fully as possible despite a life-limiting illness. In fact, according to the American Cancer Society, “hospice care focuses on a person’s quality of life as they near the end of life.” In this blog, we are going to understand the differences between hospice and palliative care and when you or your loved ones might need this type of care.
What is Hospice Care?
Hospice care provides pain management, symptom control, psychosocial support, and spiritual care to patients and their families when a cure is not possible. The nation’s hospices serve more than 1.5 million people every year – and their family caregivers, too.
Hospice care is also usually fully covered by Medicare, Medicaid, and most private insurance plans and HMOs. Many people only consider hospice care in the final days of life, but hospice is ideally suited to care for patients and family caregivers for the final months of life.
What is Palliative Care?
Palliative care brings the same interdisciplinary team care as hospice to people earlier in the course of a serious illness and can be provided along with other treatments they may still be receiving from their doctor. It is a specialized care for people living with a serious illness. Unlike hospice care, which is specifically for individuals with terminal illnesses, palliative care can be provided at any stage of illness, from diagnosis through treatment and beyond.
It’s also important to note that hospices are the largest providers of palliative care services and can help answer questions about what might be most appropriate for a person. Many hospitals also have palliative care teams available to provide services.
Hospice vs Palliative Care
Navigating the nuances between hospice and palliative care is crucial when making decisions about end-of-life care options. Whether you’re grappling with a terminal illness or seeking assistance in managing challenging symptoms, both hospice and palliative care offer invaluable support and services aimed at enhancing the quality of life for patients and their families.
Palliative and hospice care services are available to people of all ages with any serious or life-limiting illness. “Hospice and palliative care both try to provide a better quality of life and relief from symptoms and side effects for people with a serious illness,” the American Cancer Society explains, “Both have special care teams that address a person’s physical, emotional, mental, social, and spiritual needs. Hospice care often includes palliative care, but they are not the same thing.”
At Pathways, we recognize that contemplating hospice care represents a significant juncture for you and your loved ones. That’s why we extend personalized, empathetic consultations to delve into your specific needs and how we can provide optimal support during this sensitive period with compassionate hospice care and palliative care services. Get in touch with our team today for guidance.