Palliative Care vs Hospice. What’s the Difference?
Understanding Palliative Care vs Hospice
When dealing with severe illness, either personally or in the family, it’s crucial to understand the differences and similarities between palliative care vs hospice. Both palliative care and hospice care focus on providing relief from the symptoms and stress of a serious illness
Defining Hospice Care
Hospice care, a vital aspect of the palliative care vs hospice comparison, is a specific type of care designed for patients nearing the end of life. Specifically, when a patient’s illness becomes incurable, hospice care focuses on comfort rather than cure, addressing symptoms and quality of life in the final months.
Palliative Care: A Comprehensive Approach
In contrast, palliative care can be provided at any stage of an illness. Its primary focus is not just on comfort but also on curative treatments. Importantly, understanding the distinction between palliative care vs hospice is crucial for patients and families making healthcare decisions.
Key Differences in Palliative Care vs Hospice
While both palliative care and hospice aim to provide comfort, they differ in their approach, timing, and eligibility criteria. Below, we delve deeper into how palliative care vs hospice stand apart:
| Questions? | Hospice Care | Palliative Care |
| Why do you need the care? | Hospice care is usually required for patients with terminal Illness that has a life expectancy of only a few months or so. A physician is often consulted, and his verdict is considered necessary while deciding the need for hospice care for the patient. | Palliative care seeks to relieve symptoms of a long-term chronic illness. The disease does not have to be life-limiting. |
| What are the goals of care? | The goal of hospice care is to relieve the debilitating or painful symptoms of the terminal disease. The symptomatology does not seem to be cured, and the only way out is to help the patients manage it.
Hospice care does not cure the disease; it only helps the patient manage it. |
The goal of palliative care is to seek curative treatment in addition to offering ways to relieve painful and debilitating symptoms.
Therefore, it cures the disease as well as helping the patient manage it effectively. |
| Eligibility Criteria | Only patients with a life expectancy of six months or fewer, can receive this care after prior consultation with the physician. | Anyone can receive palliative care regardless of one’s age and life expectancy. |
| Organizations | Certain Hospice Organizations are present outside the hospitals that provide hospice care therapies to patients with a terminal illness. | Many hospitals, hospice centers, nursing facilities, and healthcare clinics are present that offer the palliative care that the patient requires. |
| Service Providers | Hospice care is provided by a team of professionals consisting of a medical physician, nurse, social worker, volunteer, and a health aide. | Any doctor, nurse, healthcare worker, therapist, and spiritual counselor can provide palliative care to the patient. |
| Reason for Choosing | Patients sometimes no longer want to receive painful treatments that will not improve or extend their life. Therefore, they shift to a more relieving option. | Sometimes, as a result of medical treatment, the patients develop symptoms such as pain, fatigue, nausea, and stress. In order to relieve these symptoms, the patients often prefer palliative care. |
| Coverage | Medicare, Medicaid, and some private insurance companies cover the hospice care costs.
It includes everything ranging from pharmaceuticals, medical equipment, nursing, social services, and other care services. |
Medicare and some private insurance companies cover palliative care.
Generally, Medicare Part B and Medicaid cover some types of palliative care. However, you might have to pay for some treatments and medications. |
Making an Informed Choice
For more details on palliative care vs hospice and to determine the best option for your situation, consult with healthcare professionals who can provide personalized advice.
Interested in learning more about palliative care or hospice services? Please reach out to Sahara Hospice Care at your convenience.
SAHARA HOSPICE CARE
140 Eldridge Rd Suite B 1, Sugar Land, TX 77478
Phone:(281) 313-0085
https://saharahospicecare.com//