It’s important to know the difference between hospice and palliative care. That way, patients and their loved ones can make well-informed decisions that best meet their needs. Though the two types of care often get confused with one another, there is a difference between hospice and palliative care.
Let’s take a closer look at each.
Palliative Care
Palliative care is holistic, in that it supports many things a patient and the patient’s caregiver and family members may experience.
The Palliative Team
Teams of medical professionals work with palliative specialists to care for the patient. These include nurses, pharmacists, social workers, chaplains, registered dietitians, and others.
Since each patient’s situation is unique, a palliative care specialist assesses the individual needs of each patient and makes recommendations for the type of care the patient should receive.
Here’s a short list of what palliative care does.
1. Provides Counseling
Counseling may be needed to address spiritual or emotional concerns helps patients and their family cope with anxiety, depression, and other stressful emotions.
2. Manages Side Effects
Physical pain due to symptoms of the disease, side effects from medicines and treatments may happen. In addition to pain, loss of appetite, sleep disorders, nausea, fatigue, and others issues may occur. Palliative specialists and doctors strive to relieve a patient’s pain while treating the disease.
3. Answers Concerns
The illness not only affects the patient, but also those who take part in providing care. Juggling family, work, and caregiving may become overwhelming. Palliative care addresses these concerns and provides support to those who care for the patient.
Hospice Care
Patients at end-of-life may want to consider hospice care if they become terminally ill and are diagnosed with a life expectancy of 6 months or less.
The Hospice Team
Healthcare professionals and trained volunteers work together to assist hospice patients in a holistic way.
Teams realize that having patients understand hospice care helps them provide the highest quality support in the following areas:
1. Medical Care
A team doctor, social worker, nursing staff and other healthcare specialists work together to provide medical support and care. Easing symptoms, and making the patient as comfortable as possible during this stage in life is the ultimate goal.
2. Trained Volunteers Help Hospice Patients
Volunteers who complete training to assist hospice patients greatly help them and their families. They may provide companionship by sitting and talking with the hospice patients.
Caregiver relief is something a trained volunteer can offer as well. Homemaking such as light cleaning and meal preparation assistance may be available too.
3. Spiritual
When requested, chaplains are ready to offer prayer and spiritual comfort to patients, caregivers, and family members.
4. Psychological
Social workers help patients clarify issues by looking at the situation independently, as a third-party. They help them realize how their decisions may affect their care.
Hospice and Palliative Care Have Some Things in Common
Both hospice and palliative care share a similar goal to improve the quality of life of patients with serious illnesses. They offer a holistic approach to addressing a patient’s needs and are available to answer questions of patients, caregivers, and family members.
Patients seek palliative and hospice care from private or public facilities that are Medicaid and Medicare-approved. These organizations typically accept Medicaid, Medicare, or private insurance. Since each provider has different policies, it’s best to ask first.
The Difference Between Hospice and Palliative Care
Palliative care addresses concerns from the beginning of diagnosis throughout treatment to minimize pain, increase comfort while in the quest to cure the disease within the patient. Patients who have been diagnosed with cancer, for example, may still be cured with treatments that destroy cancerous cells and puts the disease in remission. Palliative care treatments may include medication and surgeries to remove tumors to relieve pain.
Hospice, on the other hand, is for when there is likely to be no cure. The primary goal for hospice is to make the patient as comfortable as possible and improve their quality of remaining life. There is no aggressive treatment in hospice care. The mission is to make every day full and comfortable by providing the best quality care for end-of-life.
Common Myths About Hospice Care
Because it’s so poorly understood, there are many myths surrounding hospice.
Some people think that only the elderly can benefit from hospice care. The truth is that any age patient facing a life-limiting illness qualifies for hospice care.
Another myth is hospice care patients must receive care in one of three places: (1) a hospital, (2) hospice facility, or (3) nursing home. The fact is that most hospice patients can stay in their own home. While a physician and other medical professionals may make recommendations, patients always have the right to help decide where they receive care.
Palliative Care Patients May Require Hospice Care
Palliative care helps patients throughout their illness, such as in the case of cancer, where they may or may not be cured with treatment, for example. A patient may decide not to undergo aggressive treatments. In this case, hospice may be an option. It’s a personal choice that each patient must decide for him or herself.
Learn More About How We Can Help
Hospice care is compassionate care for end-of-life. It provides empathy, companionship, and emotional assistance for the patient. It assists the patient’s caregiver and family in caring for the patient too. Comfort, not pain is the key to understanding hospice care. If you or a loved one is facing a life-limiting illness, find out how we can help today.