Demystifying Hospice & Palliative Care

What Are They Exactly and When Should You Consider Using Their Services?

As we age, there comes a time when additional support may be necessary, whether due to a specific diagnosis, general aging, or situational circumstances. The realization may arise that to ensure the best quality of life for ourselves or our loved ones, introducing support could be a crucial step in achieving that goal. Depending on the individual's health, one or both services can significantly enhance their quality of life.

While there are numerous options available to help us age in place, two often-underutilized services are hospice and palliative care. These services are frequently underused due to common misconceptions and confusion about their differences.

This article provides a brief overview of each service and highlights what sets them apart. Many hospice and palliative care providers work closely together or even operate within the same organization.

Palliative Care

Palliative care is available at any stage of a serious illness. It involves a comprehensive care team that supports both the patient and their family in navigating the complexities of the illness, such as medication management, pain relief, fear of the future, and caregiver stress. Palliative care is invaluable in coordinating the various aspects of care. For example, if a patient is seeing multiple specialists—such as a cardiologist, neurologist, or audiologist—each doctor may be focused on their specific area of expertise without considering how their treatments may affect other conditions. Palliative care ensures that all aspects of the patient’s health are managed holistically, preventing medications or procedures from exacerbating other issues.

Another major benefit of palliative care is the support it provides. Simply knowing that help is available can alleviate a significant burden on the patient and their caregiver. Palliative care also connects families to additional resources such as in-home care, adult day services, pain management, home meal programs, and more. Furthermore, a social worker is often part of the team to assist caregivers with their needs and emotional challenges.

Quick Facts About Palliative Care

It is generally covered by Medicare and/or Medicaid, but not always a private insurance provider.

The requirement for services is a formal diagnosis of a serious illness. There is no requirement of life expectancy range.

A person may receive services for an indefinite period of time as long as they continue to need the service or insurance is still available.

A person is allowed to continue to receive curative treatments while receiving services.

A person may receive Palliative Care in any setting - their home, assisted living communities, or at a skilled nursing facility.

Two people sit side by side and look at a photo album

Hospice Care

There are a lot of similarities between Hospice and Palliative Care. Hospice also has a comprehensive care team that walks alongside every area of a patient’s care. But the focus shifts, hospice care focuses on end-of-life comfort and care. Unlike Palliative Care there is a requirement that a person is in the end of their life. This doesn’t mean they are definitely going to die, but that they are sick enough that it could be a possibility. They are going to place high priority on making sure a person is as comfortable as possible by providing pain and symptom management. Instead of managing the care of multiple doctors, when a person enters into hospice care, the need to visit the doctor’s office tend to be eliminated.

Quick Facts About Hospice Care

It is generally covered by Medicare and/or Medicaid, and can be covered by private insurance as well.

Hospice Care does need the requirement that there is an expectation that one may not live beyond 6 months.

A person may receive services for an indefinite period of time as long as they continue to need hospice services.

Hospice focuses on treatments/medications that will relieve symptoms but not cure illnesses. Most curative treatment is discontinued to focus on comfort.

Your loved one can receive Hospice Services wherever those services are needed. At home, assisted living, skilled nursing home, and some areas even have hospice facilities that one can reside at. Hospice also provides short term respite stays for those residing at home, where they can stay at a SNF for a short period of time.

Hospice provides specialized end-of-life care that includes physicians, nurses, care aides, social workers, chaplains, therapy pets and more.