When one thinks of palliative care and hospice, the differences may initially seem minimal. Many individuals think they are synonymous terms for pain treatment. However, there are substantial differences between the two services.
What Is Palliative Care?
Palliative Care is a program which seeks to mitigate the pain patients may feel during a time of extreme or life-altering sickness, though the illness is not considered life-threatening at the time of diagnosis. Palliative care offers the means to improve overall wellness from an emotional, physical, and social perspective.
Some of the most common examples of lifelong palliative care patients are those who suffer from kidney disease, AIDS, and various cancers.
What Is Hospice Care?
Hospice care is a program intended to ease the pain patients experience at the end of their life. Once can qualify for hospice care when a medical professional informs them of a disease or illness that limits their life. Hospice care is a powerful service that has the capability to assist not only the patient, but also the loved ones who embark on this journey by their side. Patients may wish to receive hospice as an alternative to undergoing certain treatments or when a cure is unavailable.
Some of the most common examples of undergoing hospice care include those who are diagnosed with incurable cancers, dementia, heart failure, kidney failure or other organ failures, and COPD.
What Are The Differences Between Palliative Care And Hospice?
- The way payment is received.
Palliative care and hospice each have different structures in the forms of payment since hospice care is paid for through Medicare which means that hospice patients must meet specific requirements set by Medicare. However, to receive palliative care, patients do not have to meet the same standards of eligibility.
- The length of time treatment is offered.
Palliative care can extend for an indefinite period of time. One variable that may determine the length of time is the availability of a cure. Similarly, palliative care can offer the means to slow the disease’s progress or buy the time necessary to receive medical intervention. For hospice, the patient has been diagnosed with a terminal illness by a doctor who believes that they have 6 months or less to live.
- When the service is offered.
Palliative care is available at any time to patients, regardless of the stage of the illness. Therefore, prognosis or life expectancy are unaffected in determining whether a loved one is eligible. Hospice care is only available when the patient is determined to be at the end of their life. A patient is generally transformed from a palliative care patient to a hospice care patient when their disease has stopped responding to the prescribed forms of treatment.
When A Loved One Enters Hospice Care, Does This Always Signify End-Of-Life?
When a patient enters hospice care, it means that their medical provider is anticipating a prognosis of 6 months or less until death. However, it is not uncommon for hospice patient’s conditions to improve and eventually “graduate” hospice. When this happens, they can be discharged from hospice care and continue living their life like before.
Where Is Palliative Care And Hospice Care Performed?
With Aspire Home Health & Hospice, both services are offered in the safety of the individual’s home, wherever that home may be. This gives the added benefit of easing loved one’s into a new form of care without the stress of changing environments. By receiving all the benefits of these services from home, patients feel more connected to their normal lifestyle. Family members in turn feel more comfortable visiting regularly and have an added emotional benefit of normalcy. Especially during the current COVID-19 pandemic, families wish more than ever to stay in the safety of private residences and reduce the transmission of this harmful virus.
What Services Are Offered By Aspire Home Health & Hospice?
At Aspire Home Health and Hospice, you can rest assured that the needs you or a loved one have will be fulfilled to an exceptional standard. With an unwavering commitment towards mastering the benefits of these services, Aspire Home Health & Hospice utilizes a powerful mix of services that add increased comfort for those who embark on the journey of palliative care or hospice. Aspire Hospice lists all the available services offered with a brief overview of what these specific services entail.
Additionally, Patient Care Advocates are standing by to hear your circumstances and will guide you towards the proper care of treatment. They can be reached by calling 801-210-1684. If time is sensitive for you at this moment, an appointment can be scheduled below to receive a call dedicated to fulfilling any needs you may have or questions you wish to have answered.
