Understanding Your Options – Hospice Care vs. Palliative Care.
When your priority is the best possible care for your loved one, understanding different care types shouldn’t be an added burden. Here’s a quick overview of palliative care and hospice care, how they’re different and which each are valuable.
About Palliative Care
The primary goal of palliative care is to provide relief from the symptoms and stress of illness. This specialized medical care can occur simultaneously with curative treatment.
Key characteristics of palliative care:
- Can start at any stage of illness: Unlike hospice, palliative care can be initiated as soon as a serious illness is diagnosed, even if the individual is receiving curative treatments.
- Focuses on symptom management: Palliative care addresses symptoms including pain, fatigue, nausea, and shortness of breath, as well as emotional, social, and spiritual distress.
- Multidisciplinary team approach: Palliative care teams typically include doctors, nurses, social workers, chaplains, and other specialists who work together to address the holistic needs of the patient and family. Palliative care teams work as added support in tandem with the primary medical team.
- Can be received alongside curative treatment: Individuals receiving palliative care can continue treatments to cure or slow the progression of the illness.
About Hospice Care
Hospice care is a specialized type of palliative care for individuals who are nearing the end of their lives. It focuses on providing comfort, support, and dignity to patients when curative treatments are no longer effective or desired.
Key characteristics of hospice care:
- Typically begins when life expectancy is six months or less: A physician must certify that the individual has a terminal illness with a limited prognosis.
- Focus on comfort and quality of life: The emphasis is on managing pain and other symptoms to allow the individual to live as fully and comfortably as possible in their remaining time.
- Provided in various settings: Hospice care can be delivered at home, in a hospital, or in senior living communities.
- Emphasizes a holistic approach: Hospice addresses the physical, emotional, social, and spiritual needs of the individual and their family.
At Friendship Village, we know the importance of having access to the right kind of care when you need it most. Our team can help you find the compassionate and comprehensive support you deserve. We are here to provide guidance and support every step of the way.
If you would like to learn about our home health or hospice services, reach out to our team.