Hospice & Palliative Care

What Are Hospice and Palliative Care?

Although the terms “hospice” and “palliative care” are often used interchangeably, they are distinct approaches to care that focus on alleviating suffering rather than extending life.

Palliative care is a medical approach that focuses on relieving symptoms and improving the quality of life for individuals with serious illnesses, regardless of their stage in the disease process. The goal is to provide relief from pain, nausea, fatigue, and other distressing symptoms, helping patients feel more comfortable while receiving treatments that might still be aimed at curing their illness. Palliative care can be provided alongside curative treatments, and patients can access this care at any stage of their illness.

Hospice care, on the other hand, is a specific form of palliative care that is provided when a patient’s illness has reached its final stages, and curative treatments are no longer effective or desired. Hospice care is designed to provide comfort and dignity to individuals who are nearing the end of life, typically with a prognosis of six months or less to live. The goal is not to cure the disease but to ensure the patient’s remaining time is as peaceful and comfortable as possible.

Both hospice and palliative care teams include a variety of healthcare professionals such as doctors, nurses, social workers, chaplains, and counselors. They work together to address the physical, emotional, spiritual, and psychological needs of the patient and their family members.