What is the difference between Palliative Care and Hospice Care?

Before we dive into the differences between these two types of care, we have to understand them as separate, because after-all they are very different, even though people often use these two terms interchangeably, possibly leading to the many misconceptions that you must be on your deathbed, in order to receive this type of care. Our mission today is to help you understand each one and demystify the myths of Hospice Care.

Understanding Palliative Care

Palliative care refers to healthcare which focuses on providing patients with relief from the symptoms, ailments, and pain that accompany a chronic or life-threatening illness, regardless of whether or not the disease is terminal or non-terminal. 

Palliative care does not attempt to delay or quicken death but aims to improve the overall quality of life for those who are suffering from a severe illness. Palliative Care is not a death sentence and often the patient is released from this care once they have completed any procedures and treatments associated with their disease.

For example, a person with a cancer diagnosis that is receiving chemotherapy or radiation treatment may receive Palliative care to help with alleviating the symptoms of cancer or the treatments that you are receiving, thereby, improving the patient's condition. Reducing the symptoms associated with the treatment or the disease can effectively enhance the person's quality of life.

The most important thing to understand is that Palliative Care can be introduced, regardless of the stage when seeking to cure the condition of the patient or to prolong the patient's life. By aligning treatments and Palliative Care, the patient will often find relief from side effects and pain, therefore, improving their quality of life during this season.

Understanding Hospice Care

Hospice Care is not a place. Hospice care is both medical and non-medical care which a hospice worker renders in the environment where the patient is residing. Hospice workers will administer treatments in the patients home, in a loved one's home,an in-patient hospice facility, a nursing home, or a hospital.

Hospice Care is not a place. Hospice Care is offered by Circle of Angels Hospice, wherever you call home.

Hospice care refers to health care that one experiences after a terminal diagnosis. Hospice care providers recognize that the loved ones of the patient are also adversely affected, accordingly offering support to the family is another benefit of hospice care. Seeking to live their remaining time in comfort, your loved one may wish to waive any healing or life-prolonging treatments, choosing to savor their remaining time before their death.

Ideally, all Hospice Care would begin as Palliative Care. Unfortunately, whether your disease was caught at a later stage, or because you weren't aware of its availability, most Hospice patients do not get to experience the full benefits of Hospice Care. Statistics