What is the Difference Between Hospice and Palliative Care and How Do They Differ in Terms of Their Scope? A Comprehensive Guide
If you or your loved one has a serious illness, you may have heard of hospice and palliative care. These two types of care aim to improve the quality of life of people with serious illnesses, but they are not the same. What is the difference between hospice and palliative care and how do they differ in terms of their scope? How do you know which is right for you or your loved one? What are the benefits and challenges of each type of care? How can you access them?
In this blog post, we will answer these questions and more. We will provide a comprehensive guide on what is the difference between palliative care and hospice care and how to choose the best option for yourself or your loved one. We will also share some of the common conditions that may benefit from palliative or hospice care, such as cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), dementia, heart failure, and more.
The main takeaway of this blog post is that both palliative and hospice care aim to improve the quality of life of people with serious illnesses, but they have different availability and requirements. Palliative care can be offered at any time, from the moment of diagnosis, and can be combined with curative or life-prolonging treatments. Hospice care requires the patient to stop any treatments that aim to cure or reverse the disease and to accept comfort care only. Hospice care is usually reserved for people with a life expectancy of six months or less.
| Key Takeaway |
Description |
| What is the difference between hospice and palliative care? |
Hospice and palliative care are both types of care that aim to improve the quality of life of people with serious illnesses, but they have different eligibility, goals, treatments, and insurance coverage. |
| What is palliative care? |
Palliative care is a medical specialty that provides symptom relief, emotional support, and decision-making assistance for people with serious, long-term illnesses, regardless of the stage or prognosis. |
| What is hospice care? |
Hospice care is a type of palliative care that focuses on end-of-life care for people with terminal illnesses who have a life expectancy of six months or less. |
| How to decide between palliative care and hospice care? |
The decision to choose palliative or hospice care depends on the patient's preferences, values, and goals, as well as the doctor's recommendations and the availability of resources. |
| How to access palliative care or hospice care? |
Palliative care and hospice care are both covered by most insurance plans, but there may be some variations in the eligibility criteria, the scope of services, and the out-of-pocket costs. |
What is Palliative Care?
Palliative care is a medical specialty that provides symptom relief, emotional support, and decision-making assistance for people with serious, long-term illnesses, regardless of the stage or prognosis. What is the difference between hospice and palliative care and how do they differ in terms of their scope? Palliative care can be offered at any time, from the moment of diagnosis, and can be combined with curative or life-prolonging treatments. Palliative care does not mean giving up hope or treatment. Rather, it means adding an extra layer of support and care to help the patient and the family cope with the challenges and uncertainties of the illness.
The benefits of palliative care are numerous and well-documented. Palliative care can improve physical comfort, reduce stress, enhance communication, and coordinate care. Palliative care can also help the patient and the family make informed decisions about care goals and preferences and plan for the future. Palliative care can also improve the quality of life and the satisfaction of care for both the patient and the family.
Some of the services that palliative care can provide are:
- Pain management
- Symptom control
- Counseling
- Social work
- Spiritual care
- Advance care planning
- Caregiver support
- Referrals to other resources
Palliative care can be provided by a team of professionals, such as doctors, nurses, social workers, chaplains, and others, who work with the patient's primary doctor and other specialists. Palliative care can be delivered in various settings, such as hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, or at home. Palliative care is different from hospice care, although they share some similarities and principles. What is the difference between palliative care and hospice care we will explain in the next section.
What is Hospice Care?
What is the difference between palliative care and hospice care and how do they differ in terms of their scope? Hospice care is a type of palliative care that focuses on end-of-life care for people with terminal illnesses who have a life expectancy of six months or less. What is the difference between hospice and palliative care and how do they differ in terms of their scope? Hospice care requires the patient to stop any treatments that aim to cure or reverse the disease and to accept comfort care only. Hospice care does not mean giving up on life or hastening death. Rather, it means embracing the natural dying process and maximizing the remaining time.
The benefits of hospice care are also numerous and well-documented. Hospice care can provide dignity, peace, and compassion in the final stages of life, as well as bereavement support for the family. Hospice care can also help the patient and the family cope with the physical, emotional, spiritual, and practical aspects of death and dying. Hospice care can also reduce the burden and the cost of care for the patient and the family. You can read more in the article "What is hospice care means".
Some of the services that hospice care can provide are:
- Medical care
- Nursing care
- Personal care
- Respite care
- Medications and equipment
- Grief counseling
- Volunteer support
- Spiritual care
- Funeral arrangements
Hospice care can also be provided by a team of professionals, such as doctors, nurses, social workers, chaplains, and others, who work with the patient's primary doctor and other specialists. What is the difference between hospice and palliative care and how do they differ in terms of their scope? Hospice care can also be delivered in various settings, such as at home, in a hospital, in a nursing home, or in a hospice facility, depending on the patient's preference and situation. Hospice care is different from palliative care, although they share some similarities and principles. What is the difference between hospice care and palliative care? We will summarize in the following table:
| Criteria |
Palliative Care |
Hospice Care |
| Eligibility |
Any serious, long-term illness, regardless of the stage or prognosis |
Terminal illness, with a life expectancy of six months or less |
| Goals |
To improve the quality of life, to relieve symptoms, to provide support, and to coordinate care |
To provide comfort, dignity, and compassion in the final stages of life and to support the family |
| Treatments |
It can be combined with curative or life-prolonging treatments |
Requires the patient to stop any treatments that aim to cure or reverse the disease and to accept comfort care only |
| Insurance Coverage |
Covered by most insurance plans but may have some co-pays or deductibles |
Covered by Medicare, Medicaid, and most private insurance plans, with little or no out-of-pocket costs |
How to Decide Between Palliative Care and Hospice Care?
The decision to choose palliative or hospice care depends on the patient's preferences, values, and goals, the doctor's recommendations and the availability of resources. What is the difference between hospice and palliative care and how do they differ in terms of their scope? There is no right or wrong answer, as each patient and each situation is unique. However, there are some questions that the patient and the family can ask themselves and their healthcare team to help them make an informed decision, such as:
- What is the prognosis and the expected course of the illness?
- What are the benefits and risks of continuing or stopping curative or life-prolonging treatments?
- What are the patient's wishes and priorities regarding the quality and quantity of life?
- What are the patient's beliefs and values regarding death and dying?
- What are the patient's fears and concerns about the illness's physical, emotional, social, and financial aspects?
- What are the patient's needs and expectations for comfort, support, and care?
- What are the available options and resources for palliative or hospice care in the patient's area?
These questions can help the patient and the family clarify their goals and preferences and communicate them with their healthcare team. The healthcare team can then provide guidance and advice on the best course of action based on the patient’s condition, needs, and wishes. What is difference between hospice and palliative care and how to choose the best option for yourself? Hospice care is for people who have a terminal illness and a life expectancy of six months or less, while palliative care is for people who have a serious, long-term illness, regardless of the stage or prognosis. The decision to choose palliative or hospice care can also be revisited and revised at any time, as the patient’s situation may change over time. The most important thing is to respect the patient’s autonomy and dignity and to support the patient and the family throughout the process.
How to Access Palliative Care or Hospice Care?
Palliative care and hospice care are both covered by most insurance plans, including Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurance. Still, there may be some variations in the eligibility criteria, the scope of services, and the out-of-pocket costs. What is the difference between hospice and palliative care and how do they differ in terms of their scope? Hospice care is for people who have a terminal diagnosis, a life expectancy of six months or less, and a signed statement from the doctor and the patient that they choose hospice care over other treatments. Palliative care is for people who have a serious, long-term illness, regardless of the stage or prognosis, and who need symptom relief, emotional support, and decision-making assistance. For example, Medicare covers hospice care only if the patient meets the criteria for hospice care. Medicare also covers palliative care, but only for certain services, such as pain management, symptom control, and counseling, and only if the patient is enrolled in a Medicare-approved hospice program.
To access palliative care or hospice care, the patient and the family must find and contact the appropriate providers. What is difference between hospice and palliative care and how to choose the best option for yourself? Hospice care is for people who have a terminal illness and a life expectancy of six months or less, while palliative care is for people who have a serious, long-term illness, regardless of the stage or prognosis. Here are some tips on how to find and contact palliative or hospice care providers:
- Ask the primary doctor for a referral or a consultation with a palliative or hospice care specialist. The doctor can help determine the patient's eligibility, needs, and goals and recommend the best option.
- Search online for local palliative or hospice care programs using websites such as CaringInfo or Get Palliative Care. These websites provide information and resources on palliative and hospice care and directories of providers by state or zip code.
- Call or visit the palliative or hospice care providers and ask about their services, staff, policies, and fees. Some questions to ask are:
- What are the qualifications and credentials of the palliative or hospice care team?
- What are the types and frequency of services the palliative or hospice care program offers?
- What locations and settings are where the palliative or hospice care program provides care?
- What are the palliative or hospice care program's admission and discharge criteria and procedures?
- What are the costs and insurance coverage for the palliative or hospice care program?
- What are the quality and satisfaction ratings and reviews for the palliative or hospice care program?
- Compare and evaluate the options and choose the one that best suits the patient's needs and preferences. The patient and the family can choose their palliative or hospice care provider if they meet the eligibility and insurance requirements.
What to Expect from Palliative Care or Hospice Care?
Once the patient and the family have chosen their palliative or hospice care provider, they can expect to receive high-quality, personalized, and compassionate care that addresses their physical, emotional, social, and spiritual needs. What is the difference between hospice and palliative care and how do they differ in terms of their scope? Hospice care is for people who are in the final stages of life, while palliative care is for people who have a serious, long-term illness. The typical process and experience of receiving palliative or hospice care are as follows:
- The initial assessment and evaluation of the patient's condition, symptoms, needs, and goals. The palliative or hospice care team will visit the patient and the family, either at home or in another setting, and conduct a comprehensive assessment of the patient's medical history, current status, medications, treatments, pain level, symptom severity, functional ability, emotional state, social support, spiritual beliefs, and care preferences. The team will also assess the family's needs and expectations and provide education and information about the palliative or hospice care program and services.
- The development and implementation of a personalized care plan that addresses the patient's physical, emotional, social, and spiritual needs. Based on the assessment and the patients' and the families' input, the palliative or hospice care team will create a customized care plan that outlines the care's goals, interventions, and outcomes. The care plan will include the types and frequency of services the patient and the family will receive, such as medical care, nursing care, personal care, counseling, social work, spiritual care, volunteer support, etc. The care plan will also specify the roles and responsibilities of the palliative or hospice care team, the primary doctor, the patient, and the family and the communication and coordination methods among them.
- Regularly monitoring and adjusting the care plan based on the patient's feedback and changing circumstances. According to the care plan, the palliative or hospice care team will provide ongoing care and support to the patient and the family. The team will also monitor the patient's condition, symptoms, pain level, and satisfaction and adjust the care plan as needed. The team will also communicate and collaborate with the primary doctor and other specialists and update them on the patient's progress and changes. The team will also involve the patient and the family in decision-making and respect their wishes and preferences.
- The provision of ongoing support and education for the patient and the family and coordination with other healthcare providers and community resources. The palliative or hospice care team will provide physical care but also emotional, social, and spiritual care to the patient and the family. The team will also provide education and information on the illness, the treatments, the symptoms, the medications, the side effects, the coping strategies, the advance directives, the legal issues, the financial issues, and other topics that the patient and the family may have questions or concerns about. The team will also coordinate with other healthcare providers and community resources, such as home health aides, pharmacies, equipment suppliers, transportation services, and others, to ensure that the patient and the family have access to the best possible care and support.
- The delivery of compassionate and respectful care, either at home, in a hospital, in a nursing home, or in a hospice facility, depends on the patient's preference and situation. The palliative or hospice care team will strive to honor the patient's dignity and autonomy and respect the patient's and the family's culture, values, and beliefs. The team will also try to accommodate the patient's and the family's wishes and requests as long as they are feasible and appropriate. The team will also ensure that the patient and the family have a comfortable and safe environment to receive the care and support they need and deserve.
- The transition to end-of-life care, if applicable, and the provision of bereavement support for the family after the patient's death. If the patient's condition worsens and the patient approaches the end of life, the palliative or hospice care team will help the patient and the family prepare for the inevitable. The team will provide comfort care, pain relief, symptom management, and emotional and spiritual support to ease the patient's suffering and to help the patient die peacefully and with dignity. The team will also help the family cope with the grief and the loss and provide bereavement support, such as counseling, support groups, memorial services, and follow-up calls, for up to a year after the patient's death.
What is the Difference Between Hospice and Palliative Care and How Do They Differ in Terms of Their Scope?
What is difference between hospice and palliative care and how to choose the best option for yourself? The difference between hospice and palliative care is that hospice care is for people who have a terminal illness and a life expectancy of six months or less, while palliative care is for people with a serious, long-term illness, regardless of the stage or prognosis. Hospice care requires the patient to stop any treatments that aim to cure or reverse the disease and to accept comfort care only. Palliative care can be combined with curative or life-prolonging treatments and can be offered at any time from the moment of diagnosis. Both types of care aim to improve the quality of life, relieve symptoms, provide support, and coordinate care, but they have different eligibility, goals, treatments, and insurance coverage.
In this blog post, we have explained what is the difference between hospice and palliative care and how to choose the best option for yourself or your loved one. We have also shared some of the benefits and the importance of palliative and hospice care for improving the quality of life of people with serious illnesses. We hope this blog post has been informative and helpful for you and your family.
