Palliative Care Is Different From Hospice Services

You may have heard of both palliative and hospice care services. Perhaps you have believed that they are one and the same, but they are not. If you are confused regarding what each of these support systems entails, the following information should shed some light on the subject for you. One way of looking at this is that hospice care is always palliative, but not all palliative care is hospice related. If that sounds confusing then please continue reading to find out how this breaks down. Palliative care deals with the whole-person and relieves symptoms of a disease or disorder, whether it can be cured or not.

In a hospital setting, depending on the diagnosis you may see a team of specialists who all are focused on their consentrated are of medicine. A cardiologist will be concerned with heart related issues, the neurologist will focus on brain function, an infectious disease physician will express concern for making sure that infections are cured. Occupational and physical therapists will be working on mobility and helping the patient to return as best he or she can to the way they functioned prior to hospitilization regarding mobility and what they could do regarding self care. Palliative services are not end of life as hospice care is.

Palliative care is administered until the patient improves or passes away. Some people go in and out of palliative care for years, depending on their situation. Consider this from the standpoint of a Type II Diabetic, This individual will need insulin and perhaps medication for the rest of their life, unless they get their numbers to drop and remain low. The insulin and medication are necessary for a diabetic to live the best life they can while managing the disease. If someone is taken off of their diabetic mediction or insulin and the number begin increasing, they must start the regemen again. This is what palliative care does for other illnesses. Hospice is a specific type of palliative care but it is only for those who are believed to have 6 months or less to live.

Hospice is specifically for the dying although some people do recover. A small portion of the terminally ill have been healed and walk away from hospice to live a normal life, but most hospice patients do die within the time frame given. Palliative assistance is concerned with improving the quality of life for people who are dealing with a life-limiting illness that is not necessarily going to result in death. It is about living in a way that is meaningful, within the constraints of the diagnosed illness. Palliative care does assist a number of people who have illnesses that are indeed life-threatening or terminal.

These services are also available for helping patients stay on track with their health care goals, the same way a diabetic manages their diet while taking the insulin. Hospice care takes place when doctors have determined that a patient will die in 6 months or less. The individual is sent home or to a center and hospice workers assist the family until death occurs. Some patients do pass away within the specified time frame and others live much longer as each case is different. Palliative care focuses on improving the quality of life whether the patient will die or not. Hospice services are specifically for the end of life to prepare loved ones for the death of the sick individual.

There are no preventative measures with hospice, only comfort care and pain management. You do not call 911 and there are no resuscitation measures. To qualify for hospice, two doctors must agree that based on medical science a patient will likely die within 6 months or less. Palliative care, however, is much different. Palliative care is defined as compassionate comfort care that provides relief from the symptoms of the illness and also helps with the physical and mental stress of a “serious or life-limiting diagnosis. Hospice is only involved when death is expected to occur. Palliative care can be pursued at various intervals of an illness. This can be at the initial diagnosis, during curative treatment, follow-up care, and also at the end of life.

Medicare part B and Medicaid as well as some private insurances will pay for Hospice and all medications and expenses. Palliative care will differ based on the plan you have and you may have a co-pay and other out of pocket expenses. Palliative healthcare specifically focuses on managing pain, symptoms and stress related to a serious illness. This is available for patients of any age Including children and can be utilized during any stage of a disease. Palliative care involves managing pain and symptoms, navigating treatment options, and assisting with advance care planning. Comfort measures related to quality of life and referrals for other services are also provided. Palliative care can be utilized along with other primary treatments.

Palliative care can also can be an option for patients who doctors deem are eligible for hospice but are not yet ready to stop treatments for their illness, in favor of end-of-life care. So keep in mind that Hospice is about caring for the terminally ill without intervening. Palliative care is about improving the quality of life without focusing solely on the end of a life. Palliative care is whole-person care that relieves symptoms of a disease or disorder, whether or not it can be cured. Hospice is a specific type of palliative care for people who likely have 6 months or less to live.

Palliative care offers services that assist the individual in living the best life possible and many have lived productive lives after obtaining assistance through palliative care. This does not mean, however, that every patient will improve or survive with palliative services.Each situation is different and the palliative team along with family will discuss the options and what the long or short terms goals are. The only goal with hospice is keeping the person comfortable until they pass away. The doctors have done all they can and will no longer administer treatment. Palliative care will supply all the help they can until it is no longer needed.