When it comes to the end stages of a loved one’s life, you no doubt want to do everything in your power to make them as comfortable as possible. Our loved ones deserve this dignity and respect as the close of life draws nearer. Especially if they have been battling a long-term or chronic illness.
This where you’ll need to make the decision between hospice care vs palliative care and which one suits them best. But, this decision is not yours alone. At the end of the day, it comes down to what your loved one wants (if they are able to make this type of a decision, that is).
You want to have a discussion with your loved ones regarding their end-of-life care if they’re ever diagnosed with a terminal illness. As tough as it might be, it could help you make important decisions down the line.
Let’s look at the difference between hospice and palliative care and what to consider.
The Definition of Hospice Care vs Palliative Care
While the outcome of both these types of care is similar, the method of care is different. Here’s what defines each one:
Hospice care centers on a compassionate form of care for those suffering from a terminal illness of some kind. Generally, their prognosis is based on six months of life, or less, if the illness runs its course without treatment. Learn more at https://www.gohospice.com.
Palliative care focuses on curative treatment. Your loved one receives relief from their symptoms and the physical and mental stress of their illness. Palliative care tends to begin directly after a diagnosis but is also available as an end-of-life form of care.
Both hospice and palliative care are also medical specialties. And they both support those with long-term, serious or terminal illnesses. Some of the most common of which include:
- All types of cancer
- Dementia/Alzheimer’s Disease
- Parkinson’s Disease
- Huntingdon’s Disease
- Heart failure
- COPD — chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
- Kidney and liver disease
- Stroke
It doesn’t matter what type of illness your loved one suffers from, both forms of care strive to improve their quality of life. They also aim to over comfort, provide emotional support to you and your family, and assist in making crucial decisions regarding medical treatment.
Hospice Care vs Palliative Care: What’s the Difference?
So, what is the major difference between these two types of care, anyway? In summary, the difference lies in when each type of care is available to your loved one.
In other words, you have the option of choosing palliative care as soon as your loved one receives their diagnosis. The stage of the illness doesn’t matter as palliative care revolves around curative treatments that aim to prolong life.
Hospice care, on the other hand, tends to revolve around end-of-life needs only. It does not involve as much curative or life-prolonging treatment. Here are a few key differences explained:
Palliative Care
Anyone diagnosed with a long-term, chronic or terminal illness qualifies for palliative care. The type of care centers on the following:
- The relief of symptoms and the improvement of quality of life
- Assistance when it comes to making treatment decisions
- Emotional, mental, and financial support for patients and family members
- Coordination of care with the primary doctor/medial team
With this in mind, it’s important to note that your loved one still has a say over the extent and type of treatment they receive. They can still receive curative and life-prolonging treatments if they wish. But if not, this is their choice.
Palliative care also involves a complement of medical staff. Some of which include doctors and nurses who specialize in this form of care. As well as your loved one’s primary doctor, social workers, pharmacists, and counselors.
You can receive palliative care close to where you live, and sometimes it’s also offered as an in-home service. But most of the time, palliative care is available through hospitals and outpatient clinics.
The duration of palliative care depends on the type of insurance coverage your loved one has and the type of treatments they need.
Hospice Care
You are eligible for hospice care when diagnosed with a terminal illness. Generally, most people that opt for hospice care do not have a high survival rate and have an average of 6 months of life left. Hospice care centers on:
- The relief of symptoms, i.e. comfort
- Assistance in making crucial end-of-life decisions
- Emotional, mental, and financial support for you, your family, and your loved one
- The coordination of care between hospice staff and the primary doctor
The key difference with hospice care is that your loved one will no longer be eligible to receive curative treatments. In order to qualify for hospice care, they have to opt-out of life-prolonging treatment.
Hospice care involves both doctors and nurses who specialize in this type of comforting care. As well as the primary doctor and other specialists. Your loved one can receive hospice care in a hospital setting, a nursing home, assisted living, a specialized hospice facility, or their own home.
The duration of this type of care depends on life expectancy and whether you meet the eligibility requirements. Bear in mind that hospice care tends to be a last resort option of care. Most of the time, there is no cure available for a loved one, or they choose to forgo life-prolonging treatment.
Does Insurance Cover Hospice or Palliative Care?
The question you may be wondering is whether you or a loved one has to front the cost of either type of care. The good news is that there is insurance coverage available, but it depends on the type of coverage you have, the illness, and the extent of treatment.
Medicare covers palliative care treatment, otherwise private insurance will cover it — but that depends on whether you or a loved one has it. You can check with your insurance provider to ascertain which treatments are covered.
Medicare also covers hospice care. However, this depends on the prognosis and life expectancy that the primary doctor offers your loved one. Most of the time, it must be 6 months or less. Some private insurance companies may also offer coverage for hospice care, just do your homework and find out what’s covered.
Take Control of Your Health and Fitness, Today
If you don’t want to face the choice of hospice care vs palliative care when you get older, there are ways to avoid chronic illness. But the key is to start looking after your health sooner rather than later.
Staying abreast of how to care for your health as you age is crucial. So, be sure to explore the rest of this site for your daily updates on all things health and fitness!
