Palliative care and hospice care both focus on a patient’s needs and their quality of life. Palliative care manages treatment and other needs. Hospice care focuses on the period closest to death. Understanding the differences between the two can help someone decide what level of care is best. The care can change based on health changes.
Comparing the Two
Palliative care focuses on easing pain and discomfort, reducing stress and helping people have the highest quality of life possible. Hospice care focuses on quality of life when a cure is no longer possible, or the burdens of treatment outweigh the benefits.
Can I still get treatment for my illness?
You can receive palliative care while also receiving curative and therapeutic care for an illness, such as chemotherapy, dialysis or surgery.
With hospice, you will not receive curative treatment for your specific illness, but you will receive medicine that enhances quality of life, such as treatment for high blood pressure or anxiety.
What does this type of care include?
Palliative care services may include pain and symptom management, care coordination with your health care team, assistance with developing your plan of care, help with insurance forms and options for care and housing, help with advance directives, and spiritual care.
Hospice care includes pain and symptom management, emotional support, medications and medical supplies, coaching for caregivers, grief support, and special services like speech and physical therapy when needed. Medicare-qualified hospices must provide a 24/7 call service. Hospice care will also make short-term, inpatient care available when pain or symptoms become too difficult to manage at home or when caregivers need respite time.
Where can I get this type of care?
Palliative care may be provided in any care setting, such as a home, hospital, nursing home or outpatient clinic.
Hospice care can be provided wherever the patient lives, including nursing facilities and long-term care facilities.
Who provides the care?
Most palliative care is provided by a specially trained team of doctors, nurses and other specialists. They work with your primary care doctor and specialists.
Hospice care is provided by a team that focuses on the patient’s needs. The team usually includes clergy, home health aides, hospice physicians, nurses, social workers, trained volunteers and other specialized therapists as needed. A patient’s personal physician may also be included.
Although hospice provides a lot of support, if the patient lives at home, the day-to-day care is provided by the inner circle or paid home health aides.
Who pays?
Medicare, Medicaid and many insurance plans cover the medical portions of palliative care. Veterans may be eligible for palliative care through the VA. Check with your doctor and insurance to see what will be covered in your situation.
Hospice care is most often paid for as a benefit of Medicare. Hospice may also be paid for as part of a Medicare Advantage plan, by the state Medicaid plan or by private insurance. Discuss the source of payment and services covered with your hospice team.
How long can I receive this type of care?
Palliative care can be provided as long as it’s needed. Hospice care can be initiated and continued so long as your doctor believes you likely have fewer than six months to live. You can get hospice care for two 90-day benefit periods, followed by an unlimited number of 60-day benefit periods.
Source: National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization
