Hospice Care or Palliative Care: What’s the Difference?

Hospice Care or Palliative Care: What’s the Difference?

Apr 05, 2013

Hospice Care, Palliative Care, Care Types

When family members decide some kind of care is needed for their loved ones, the decision comes hard enough. Yet with this change in lifestyle are many other unknowns and decisions which must be made. Among those is to decide what type of care the care receiver should obtain. Two of the main care options include hospice care and palliative care. But what’s the difference?

Hospice care and palliative care are understood as follows:

Hospice Care

Short-term, supportive care for the terminally ill (life expectancy of six months or less) that focuses on pain management, as well as emotional, physical, and spiritual support for the patient and family. It can be provided at home, in a hospital, nursing home, or a hospice facility. Hospice care is typically paid for by Medicare and is not usually considered long-term care.

Palliative Care

Specializes in the relief of the pain, symptoms and stress of serious illness.  The goal is to prevent and ease suffering and to offer patients and their families the best possible quality of life. It is useful at any stage of an illness. And it can be provided at the same time as treatment that is meant to cure you.

Both types of care may be appropriate at different times. To help you decide what care should be offered, you can always contact FamilyMeans and our Caregiver Support program with any questions to help you make the right decision for your loved ones.