Benefits of Palliative and Hospice Care Explained

Most of us are confused when we hear the words hospice and palliative care.

HOSPICE
When people hear the word "hospice" they usually think death is imminent.  This is not true, especially if this service is sought sooner rather than later.  Studies show hospice care is not started soon enough, because people tend to think hospice means giving up hope. 

Hospice care:
Is a special kind of care
It focuses on the quality of life
It is for people experiencing advanced, life-limited illness.   
Should start when treatments no longer cure or control a disease.
Can be started when a person is expected to live 6 months or less.

**Please note one can leave hospice at any time, but the hope of hospice care is to bring quality of life, making the best of each day during last stages of advance illness.

PALLIATIVE
"Palliative care is provided by a specially-trained team of doctors, nurses and other specialists who work together with a patient’s other doctors to provide an extra layer of support. Palliative care is based on the needs of the patient, not on the patient’s prognosis. It is appropriate at any age and at any stage in a serious illness, and it can be provided along with curative treatment".

Palliative care differs from hospice in many ways, but the most significant difference is that a person can continue to pursue curative treatments and does not have meet a life expectancy criteria.

Palliative care:
Is a relatively newer known medical speciality.
Supports those living with serious illness.
Helps patient to gain relief from pain and other symptoms
Life expectancy is not an issue for palliative.
Can continue to receive curative treatments or home health services.
Its goal is to improve all around quality of life.

"And recent studies, including one published in the New England Journal of Medicine, have shown that patients with a serious illness who received palliative care lived longer than those who did not receive this care".

Please let me help you to make the best possible decision for you or your loved one.

Benefits of Palliative and Hospice Care Explained