Top Questions About Hospice and Palliative Care Answered

Hospice care and palliative care are specialized forms of health care for individuals facing later stages of life or serious illness, but they differ greatly in their scope and objectives. While both focus on quality of life, palliative care can begin at diagnosis and continue along with curative treatments, whereas hospice is specifically for those who are nearing the end of life.

What Is the Difference Between Palliative Care and Hospice Care?

Palliative care is designed to relieve symptoms and improve the quality of life for patients at any stage of a serious illness. It addresses physical, emotional, spiritual, and social needs, helping patients manage pain and other distressing symptoms. Unlike hospice, it does not depend on prognosis and can be provided alongside curative treatments.

Hospice care, on the other hand, is for patients whose prognosis is six months or less to live, as determined by two physicians. This decision is a collaborative one, involving the patient, their family, and medical providers. Hospice care ceases curative treatments, focusing instead on comfort and quality of remaining life.

Where Are Palliative and Hospice Care Provided?

Both palliative and hospice care can be offered in various settings, such as the patient’s home, senior living communities, skilled nursing facilities, specialized care centers, or hospitals. This flexibility ensures that the patient receives care in the most comfortable and supportive environment possible.

Who Provides Hospice and Palliative Care?

About 80% of hospice care is provided by accredited hospice organizations, with significant support from the patient’s loved ones, privately hired caregivers, or facility staff. Palliative care teams may include doctors, nurses, social workers, and other specialists who work together to provide an extra layer of support.

What Are the Goals of Hospice and Palliative Care?

Both types of care aim to provide the highest possible quality of life. This may include managing symptoms, providing emotional support, and facilitating activities that the patient enjoys. For hospice patients, this involves making the most of the final days with dignity and peace—engaging in meaningful conversations, enjoying simple pleasures, and ensuring comfort.

How Does Palliative and Hospice Care Help Family and Friends?

Support extends beyond the patient to include their loved ones, offering emotional and psychological assistance to help them cope during and after the patient’s illness.

Does Hospice Care Help With End-of-Life Options?

In hospice care, there’s also the possibility of exploring legal end-of-life options like medical aid in dying (MAID), where it’s allowed by law, and voluntarily stopping eating and drinking (VSED), which is legal nationwide. These options should be discussed openly with health care providers to make informed decisions.

Who Pays for Hospice Care?

Hospice care funding typically involves several possible sources, ensuring that patients receive necessary end-of-life care without undue financial burden. Most hospice care costs are covered by Medicare through the Medicare Hospice Benefit, which includes nearly all hospice services and requires only minimal copayments for outpatient drugs and inpatient respite care. Medicaid also offers hospice benefits. That coverage varies by state.

Private insurance policies often include hospice care as a part of their benefits package. Patients and families should review their insurance benefits to understand what is covered and any potential out-of-pocket costs.

For those without insurance or adequate coverage, many hospice organizations provide care using a sliding scale based on the patient’s ability to pay. Additionally, some nonprofit hospice organizations may offer services funded by donations, grants, or community support, which can alleviate the financial aspects of receiving hospice care. Again, patients and their families should discuss these options with hospice care providers to fully understand the financial support and coverage available to them.

How Can Right at Home Help?

Right at Home’s person-centered approach to care can help those who are living with congestive heart failure, cancer, dementia, and many other diseases and chronic conditions. Learn more about our Palliative Care services and how we can support you and your loved one.

For those who have a loved one in hospice care, Right at Home’s compassionate caregivers can help relieve anxiety and stress and provide emotional support. Respite from daily tasks like laundry and preparing meals can help keep the focus on your loved one. Our trained caregivers can provide personal care in many areas, even when a hospice agency is involved. Learn more about Right at Home’s Hospice Care services and how we can support you and your family during your time of need.

To receive more information about care for a loved one and what services might be appropriate, use our office locator to contact the Right at Home office nearest you and ask for a FREE in-home consultation.

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