Palliative Care vs Hospice Care

The terms “Palliative Care” and “Hospice Care” are sometimes used interchangeably, but they are not actually the same thing. While hospice care and palliative care have some commonalities, they are each designed for specific circumstances. In this article, we will go over the similarities and differences between palliative care and hospice care.

Providing Seniors With Compassionate End of Life Care

"When my dear friend, a beautiful young woman in her thirties, passed in 2007, her last wish--as an only child--was to care for her parents after her passing. When her mom became ill in 2020 and needed home care, I reached out to several organizations for information and assistance on how to provide the appropriate care. In stepped Visiting Angels who not only provided the care and attention needed for my friend's mom but also provided care and support for her father. The love and attention we received from Visiting Angels made it possible for my friend's parents to pass with the care and love my dear friend wanted for them. I became friends with several of the VA staff, who contacted me daily with updates on their care and activity. The VA caretakers sent photos and videos when I couldn't be there, displaying the care and love so freely given. Thank you to Buteau and all the beautiful angels who helped to make the last few years of my dear friend's parents' lives what she requested."

Palliative Care

The intention of palliative care is to help your loved one recover from injury or illness. This type of treatment begins once your loved one is diagnosed with their condition, and continues as long as needed. Palliative care can help your loved one better recover from serious conditions such as heart or lung disease, kidney failure, HIV/AIDS, cancer, ALS, or COPD. Typically, palliative care is a multidisciplinary effort designed to help address the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual effects of your loved one’s condition. Palliative care can be administered in many different settings, including hospitals, long-term care communities, or even your loved one’s own home. In short, palliative care is a holistic approach to recovery to help boost your loved one’s overall well-being and quality of life.

Hospice Care

In contrast to palliative care, hospice care begins when treatment has ended and the patient has a limited life expectancy–usually less than six months. Hospice care is usually a voluntary choice on the part of the patient when they have decided that treatment of an illness is no longer their desired option. Hospice care does not involve curative treatment for the terminal illness but still allows for the continuation of medication for managing other conditions.

Like palliative care, hospice care is a multidisciplinary endeavor that seeks to address the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of individuals living with incurable illnesses or terminal conditions such as Alzheimer's or inoperable cancer. Hospice care is also usually administered by several different professionals in different fields to ensure that patients have all of their needs addressed.

What Does Medicare Cover?

The process of finding out what Medicare does and does not cover can be complex, but a good starting point is this official Medicare Hospice Benefits booklet. In many cases, seniors with Medicare Part A who qualify for hospice care will be able to have their end-of-life care costs covered. However, it’s important to speak with a physician and a medicare representative to get an in-depth understanding of your loved one’s treatment and payment options.

How Can Visiting Angels Help?

At Visiting Angels of Chelsea, we can provide your loved one with in-home care services including palliative and end-of-life care. Though we do not provide medical care, our at-home support care can be a pivotal part of your loved one’s care plan and provide them with the help they need on a day-to-day basis. If your loved one would benefit from caregiver assistance at home, reach out to us today at (617) 409-9039 or via our online contact form to schedule a free in-home care consultation!