If you or a loved one has received a life-limiting diagnosis, you’re probably considering your options and wondering about the difference between palliative care and hospice care. To help you make an informed decision, we’ll explore palliative care and what you can expect.
What is Palliative Care?
While both hospice and palliative care manage pain and symptoms, they have different goals. Hospice care is a type of compassionate care for patients with terminal illnesses with a limited prognosis of less than six months. It provides comfort and dignity for patients in their end-of-life journey.
Palliative care differs from hospice care in that it can be offered during curative treatments and at the end of life. Like hospice care, palliative care ensures patients are comfortable at all stages of their illness, especially during treatment.
Which Patients Choose Palliative Care?
Unlike hospice care, there are no prognosis requirements for using this type of care. Generally, patients with the following characteristics will choose palliative care:
- The patient has chronic pain
- The patient has a limited ability to care for themself
- Frequent ER and hospital benefits
- The patient is undergoing aggressive treatment like chemo or radiation
It is common for patients with the following illnesses to see palliative care while undergoing treatment:
Our Caring Staff Are Ready to Support You and Your Loved Ones
Call us today at (469) 625-0705 or click the button below to schedule a FREE In-home Consultation.
Discover How We Can Help- Cancer
- Kidney or liver failure
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig’s disease)
- Parkinson’s disease
- Dementia
- Chronic lung disease
- HIV or AIDS
- Multiple sclerosis
- Spinal cord injuries
How Long Can You Receive Palliative Care?
Unlike hospice care, which can be offered as long as patients have a prognosis of six months, palliative care is not limited in duration. Some patients can receive palliative care for as long as they’re receiving curative treatments, which could be years. Some patients may start on palliative care and no longer need it as their illness is cured, while some will stop all curative treatments and start hospice care.
Where Is Palliative Care Provided?
Palliative care can be provided at:
- Your home
- Assisted living facility
- Outpatient clinic
- Nursing home
- Specialized palliative facility
- Who Pays for Palliative Care?
Depending on the policy, private medical insurance policies will most likely pay for palliative care. Government-funded medical insurance like Medicare and Medicaid will provide some coverage, but the benefits will differ from state to state.
For example, Medicare plans A and B do not provide full coverage for palliative care at home. There are also limitations on what expenses are covered, so it’s best to contact them directly to see what is covered.
See How We Can Support You
Get compassionate care for you or your loved one with Homage Hospice. We’re a locally owned hospice that believes in quality over quantity to provide our patients with a life of meaning and dignity. Contact our team at (469) 625-0705 to see how we can help you.