When it comes to managing a chronic illness and the symptoms associated with it, determining the best care plan can be difficult. What’s going to provide the most relief and let you live life to the fullest?
In many cases, patients decide between two care options: hospice vs. palliative care. Below, we’ve compared and contrasted these options to help you decide which may be best for you or your loved one.
Hospice vs. Palliative Care: What’s the Difference?
The main concepts of hospice and palliative care are fairly similar. They’re both forms of care that work to manage chronic symptoms. However, there are a few key differences between them in terms of prognoses, goals, and funding — and understanding these differences is the best way to ensure you’re making the right decision for you or your loved one’s well-being.
A Few Commonalities Between Hospice and Palliative Care
As we briefly mentioned above, there are some commonalities between hospice and palliative care. These commonalities can be broken down into these three main points:
- Both provide complex chronic symptom management related to a serious illness
- Both provide various comfort care services to encourage physical and mental relief
- Both can be provided at any stage of a chronic disease or illness
These care options may seem pretty similar. However, their differences come out in the specifics.
Hospice Care — The Specifics
Hospice care is care that focuses on quality of life for people who are seriously ill and/or managing chronic symptoms. In most cases, it’s provided in a patient’s home.
Hospice care is generally provided at the end stage of a disease, meaning the disease is severe. It’s most commonly started when the disease is categorized as ‘life limiting.” Its main goal is treating the symptoms of the chronic condition, rather than curing the illness that causes them.
Hospice services will be 100% funded by Medicare or Medicaid — which includes everything from Durable Medical Equipment (e.g. hospital beds) to most medications. Keep in mind that funding is only available if you choose to forgo curative treatments.
Hospice care also is much more impactful in that it includes very comprehensive services. Your care team consists of nurses, chaplains, and home health aide care. Your care team also comes much more frequently, often multiple times per week.
Palliative Care — The Specifics
Palliative care is care that provides physical and mental relief for people who are seriously ill and/or managing chronic symptoms. In most cases, it’s provided in a hospital or other specialized healthcare facility.
Palliative care can be provided at any stage of a disease — whether that be right after diagnosis, during curative treatments, or near end-of-life. In fact, the key differentiating factor between hospice and palliative care is that palliative care can be provided at the same time as curative treatments. You only need your regular doctor’s approval to determine your eligibility and to start palliative care.
Palliative care is funded by Medicare/Medicaid, but it’s much less impactful than hospice care. A nurse practitioner may visit once per month, along with a social worker — instead of the comprehensive, frequent service visits provided by hospice care teams. Also, there might be copays associated with palliative care.
Hospice vs. Palliative Care: Which Is Best for You or Your Loved One?
All that said, both hospice and palliative care provide options that can provide you or your loved one with much-needed relief from their chronic symptoms. However, depending on your specific goals, you may be better suited for one than the other. For example, if you still wish to pursue curative treatments, palliative care is probably best for you or your loved one.
But if you’re done pursuing treatments, you meet Medicare/Medicaid requirements, and you’re looking for care that’s more impactful, hospice is probably the best option for you or your loved one. Medicare/Medicaid will cover 100% of the costs, you’ll receive a full list of comprehensive and personalized care services, and you’ll likely be able to receive them all in the comfort of your own home.
There’s a misconception out there that hospice care is just end-of-life care. The truth is, there’s a lot more to it than that. Hospice care is designed to provide you or your loved one with the comfort and support they need to manage chronic symptoms. To learn more about the services we offer and whether or not you or your loved one is eligible to receive them, contact our team at West Michigan Hospice today.