Without knowing the actual difference, deciding on what to choose between palliative care and hospice care is never easy. Both look similar as they both focus on comfort and support but are used for different purposes and conditions. Understanding them can help families and caregivers make the right choice for their loved ones.
It’s quite difficult to decide how to provide the right care when you see your loved one suffering from a life-limiting illness. There are two care options available. Palliative care and hospice care. In a general view, both look similar. And yes, somehow they are similar as they both focus on providing comfort and support. But technically, they’re not the same. Most people and patients’ families get confused regarding their meanings, and about which will be the right choice for a particular situation.
In this blog, you’ll find the answer. We’ll look at palliative care vs hospice care, what each involves, how they differ, and which one to choose for what needs.
What Palliative Care Means
Palliative care is a type of support given to people with serious illnesses. Unlike hospice, it can be started at any stage of the disease, even from the start of treatment. The main purpose is to improve life while treatment is still ongoing. It’s not about quitting. Rather, it’s true that palliative care also helps patients deal with different other conditions, like:
- Pain
- Nausea
- Exhaustion
- Shortage of Breath
Doctors may recommend a palliative care consultation if someone is facing:
- Cancer
- Heart problems
- Lung disease,
- Or another condition that requires long-term care.
The team could include doctors, nurses, social workers, and counselors. Together, they work to ease physical discomfort and give emotional support.
The biggest palliative care benefits patients can get include:
- Relief from symptoms and pain
- Emotional support for both patient and family
- Better communication between doctors and families
- Planning for future care needs
This care is very common in hospitals, but also available in clinics or even at home in some areas. In the USA, palliative care services USA are expanding quickly as more families understand its value. It is truly about improving the quality of life care, not just extending time.
What Hospice Care Really Is
Hospice care is also called end-of-life hospice care. People whose illness has reached the stage where treatment is no longer effective, and who have been told to live six months or less, are prescribed hospice care. It is made only to provide comfort, dignity and mental support.
Hospice care services can be acquired staying at home or in hospice care centers, hospitals or nursing homes. The main objective of this care is to provide patients comfort and mental support in the final weeks/months of life.
One thing to remember is that hospice care is not just limited to the patient; it also gives support to family members and caregivers. Hospice care providers usually have a complete team, as the team has:
- Nurses
- Social workers
- Chaplains
- Volunteers
- And Counselors
What’s included in this care is:
- Pain relief care
- Symptom management
- Emotional and spiritual support
- Medical equipment and supplies
- Family Counseling
Most people think of hospice care as giving up. Absolutely wrong. It’s about choosing to provide dignity and peace to the patients who are going through their final days of life.
Want to know about hospice care in detail? Read our other blog post, “Heard of Hospice Care, But Still Unsure What It Really Means?”.
Key Differences Explained (Palliative Care VS Hospice Care)
Most people and families often get confused about the real difference between palliative and hospice care.
Here is a simple way through which you can understand the difference:
Timing
Palliative care can be started at any stage. Hospice begins when treatment is no longer working and life expectancy is short.
Purpose
Palliative care gives support when the treatment is undergone. At the same time, hospice care is only to give comfort without any medical treatment.
Services
Both types provide symptom management care, but hospice care only focuses on all the end-of-life needs and spiritual and family support.
Settings/Places
You can acquire both types of care at home, in a hospital or in any caregiving center.
In simple words, palliative care is to help a patient live better under the treatment, while hospice care is dedicated to letting them (near the end of life) live with peace and dignity in their final days. This is the main difference between curative vs comfort care.
Which One Should You Choose? Hospice or Palliative?
This decision is not as easy as it seems. This decision is often based on the patient’s condition and what they wish for.
If your loved one (under treatment) complains about the side effects and lower quality of life, the decision of palliative vs hospice care leans towards palliative. In this way, you can provide the treatment while maintaining the patient’s comfort.
But only, when no treatment is doable, hospice care becomes the only option. This is when a patient requires peace, dignity, and less suffering. Doctors usually suggest when to choose hospice care. Families or caregivers must not see it as a surrender to care. Hospice care is provided to allow patients to live their final days/months with less pain and more support.
Now, let’s talk about cost. Many people ask about how much hospice care costs. In the United States, Medicare, Medicaid, and most other private insurances cover it. In this coverage, you may acquire equipment, medication, and visits from the care team. Palliative care depends more on insurance plans and hospital policies. It’s always good to ask the service provider this during the consultation.
Both of these kinds of care help with advance care planning and make sure that your loved one’s wishes are considered during their treatment.
Why This Choice Matters
Caregivers and families have to be strong in front of their loved ones, but it’s often not possible. They face multiple challenges along the way. Why? Just because of not knowing what care option exactly their loved one needs in that particular condition. That’s why it’s very important for them to know about both options, and which one is right for now. Knowing the right option makes it easier to behave with confidence and love.
If you want to understand caregiving more deeply, visit Leslie Vick Books, get the copy of the book “Finding Our Way” by Leslie Vick in which she shares her own experiences as a caregiver.
And remember, being a caregiver, you also need care and support. Otherwise, you might get exhausted. Palliative care doesn’t only work with patients, but for families too. So, this simply shows that both medical treatment and mental ease are important, and the only way to have them is to make the right choice.
Conclusion
Knowing the difference between palliative care vs hospice care might help families avoid getting confused when things are difficult. People can live better while they are getting treatment with palliative care. Hospice care, on the other hand, lets patients live in peace and comfort when their illness can’t be treated anymore.
Both options are correct. Each offers care and support in its own way. You have to choose which one will give your loved one the best care and help them feel better.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: What is the main difference between hospice and palliative care?
The primary difference is when they happen. Palliative care can start at any point throughout therapy. When treatment is over, hospice care begins, and the focus is entirely on comfort.
Q2: Can palliative care turn into hospice care later?
Yes. A patient may start getting palliative care while they are still getting treatment. If the condition gets worse and medicine stops working, care can move to hospice.
Q3: Does insurance handle hospice care cost coverage?
Most private insurance plans and in the US including Medicare cover the cost of hospice care in full. This covers medicine, visits from the hospice staff, and any equipment that is needed. Always ask your provider for more information.
Q4: Who makes up the hospice care team’s support?
Most of the time, hospice teams have nurses, doctors, social workers, spiritual counselors, and trained volunteers. They help both the patient and their family by giving them physical, emotional, and spiritual support.
