Palliative Care and Hospice Care

Many people want to know what the difference is between palliative care and hospice care.  The two types of care are very similar and they can overlap. Palliative care is offered to a patient at any stage of a serious illness.  Hospice care is offered to a patient who is in the final stages of a serious illness where there is no cure.  It is known as end of life care. 

Both palliative care and hospice care aim to make the patient comfortable with a team of specially trained caregivers.  The goal is to help patients with pain management and a positive environment for emotional, spiritual and social needs.

Palliative care can be given while a patient is actively being treated for a serious illness such as cancer.  The team of caregivers keeps in contact with the medical team on a regular basis.  It’s important to find a care team that you trust and with whom you feel comfortable.  Palliative care can be provided in hospitals, nursing homes, outpatient palliative care clinics and certain other specialized clinics, or at home.

There are various criteria that insurance companies assess in order to cover palliative and hospice care.  It’s best to check with your insurance company to see what they cover.  Medicare, medicaid, and the Department of Veteran Affairs are also good resources to determine if there are funds available for care.