Palliative Care vs. Hospice Care

Posted in General

What is Palliative Care?

Palliative care is specialized medical care for people with serious illnesses. It is appropriate at any age and at any stage in a serious illness and can be provided along with curative treatment. Palliative care focuses on providing patients with relief from the symptoms and stress of a serious illness. The goal is to improve quality of life for both the patient and the family.

Palliative care is provided in the home, nursing homes, hospitals and outpatient settings by a specially-trained team of doctors, nurse practitioners, nurses and other specialists who work together with a patient’s primary care doctor to provide an extra layer of support.

What is Hospice Care?

Hospice care provides specialized medical services, emotional support, and spiritual resources for people who are in the last stages of a serious illness, with a life expectancy of six months or less. It is provided in the home, nursing homes and in hospice houses. Hospice care also helps family members manage the practical details and emotional challenges of caring for a dying loved one including bereavement. The goal is to keep patients comfortable and improve quality of life.