Many of us in the general public have an instant understanding of Hospice care as being the end of life… as in within 2 weeks or 1 month… but although that has been a common conception for many reasons, it is more and more embraced as a beautiful way to comfort certain seniors who are needing services to improve their quality of life for various reasons and it can last for a year or more! Others who have been exploring more options as it relates to care for those who are struggling with illnesses, diseases, or pain from any number of sources also have learned about palliative care. So this blog is doing a quick look at Palliative care vs Hospice care
“Many people confuse palliative care with hospice care, but they are not the same. The goal of palliative care is to alleviate suffering and improve quality of life among people with serious illness. Palliative care specialists are experts in understanding and addressing the pain, symptoms, and stress that comes with such illness. They work with a person’s existing medical team to enhance care by focusing on living their best life for as long as possible. Palliative care can be provided in the hospital, clinic, or home setting.
Hospice care is an insurance benefit that focuses specifically on the care, comfort, and quality of life of a person with a serious illness who is approaching the end of life. Like palliative care, it provides comprehensive care for the patient and the family. A key difference is that patients and families receiving hospice tend to recognize that the illness is not responding to medical treatments as hoped. They and their doctors believe the person with illness has 6 months or less to live if the illness runs its natural course. For this reason, hospice patients and families may choose to forego additional treatments and instead focus on other priorities. Hospice provides support in the home, including pain and symptom management, plus emotional and spiritual support for both patients and families.”