What’s the Difference Between Hospice & Palliative Care?
Confused about the difference between hospice care and palliative care? Check out this post. It will help clear things up.
When considering end-of-life care options for a loved one, you must determine the most suitable options for you or your loved one. In this article, we will discuss differences between hospice and palliative care, and offer guidance to make this decision easier.
What is Hospice Care?
Hospice care is an end-of-life medical care program in which the patient chooses not to undergo further treatment. These programs provide emotional relief, including bereavement support and respite care, for patients and their families. Hospice care serves patients with an average life expectancy of 6 months or less, as their disease runs its natural course. Hospices must only provide comfort care; any preventative measures involving aggressive treatment are not permitted.
What is Palliative Care?
Over the past decade, palliative care programs have emerged as a type of care distinct from hospice care. In palliative care programs, patients may or may not receive treatment to cure their illness, while in hospice care, patients do not receive treatment. Any patient with a long-term disease, regardless of the stage of disease, may enter palliative care programs. Similar to hospice programs, palliative care programs include emotional relief, pain and symptom management, and other measures to improve quality of life.
Palliative care programs are designed for patients who are not yet ready to commit to hospice care. Once a patient’s health begins to decline significantly, they are eligible for hospice care.
Deciding Between Hospice Care & Palliative Care
Consulting with your physician and your family can help you decide which end-of-life treatment options are best. After all, since admission to hospice requires a written physician’s order, it’s best to start with a conversation with your physician. While strong evidence points to the benefits of both hospice care and palliative care, you should only make a decision after carefully analyzing your diagnosis.
Hospice Care vs. Palliative Care
Hospice Care
Prognosis of 6 months or less.
Curative treatments not permitted.
Values Shared by Both
Provision of emotional relief and symptom management to improve quality of life.
Palliative Care
Any stage of disease.
Curative treatments permitted.
Sources
Palliative Care vs. Hospice: Similarities, Differences and Costs
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