Facing a life-limiting illness or end-of-life care can lead to challenging conversations for families, as well as difficult decisions surrounding how to support a loved one’s comfort, quality of life and dignity during this phase of their life journey.
It’s reassuring to know the differences between palliative care and hospice care, and we’re here to help clarify them. While these two approaches have similarities, they are different in how they apply to different health and life circumstances.
How Hospice Care and Palliative Care Are Similar
Palliative care and hospice care are very similar when it comes to caring for a loved one who is facing an incurable or life-limiting illness.
Palliative care is different from hospice based on the care location, timing, payment and eligibility for services. Learn more about recognizing when your loved one may need care.
Palliative Care Explained
Palliative care is specialized medical care for people living with a serious illness that focuses on providing relief from the symptoms and stress caused by their illness.
The goal is to improve quality of life for both the patient and their family. Palliative care can be provided to people at any age and stage of a serious illness, along with curative treatment.
How Palliative Care Differs From Hospice Care
While both palliative care and hospice care provide pain and symptom relief, the reasons they’re used tend to be different.
Hospice care, which is sometimes called end-of-life care, offers comfort through easing pain and symptoms without trying to cure the condition, either because all treatment options have been exhausted, or the individual decided to stop treatment.
Palliative care, on the other hand, provides comfort care with or without the intention to cure the patient. It helps guides the patient and their loved ones by tending to their physical pain, emotional health and spiritual well-being.
Where Patients Receive Palliative Care vs. Hospice Care
Hospice care is provided wherever you are, including at home, in hospice residences (where available), nursing homes, assisted living facilities, veterans' facilities and in hospitals.
Palliative care teams typically work in hospitals, but at-home palliative care is sometimes an option.
A Palliative Care Team vs. Hospice Care Team
Both palliative care and hospice are provided by teams made up of diverse specialists who support your family members’ whole well-being.
The hospice care team includes a physician and nurse, as well as a social worker, non-denominational chaplain, certified nursing assistant, trained volunteer and bereavement counselor. This team can travel to your family, whether it's at home, in a nursing home or assisted living facility or hospital.
The palliative care team (usually hospital-based) includes palliative care doctors, nurses, social workers and others who work together with a patient’s other physicians to provide extra support.
Need help understanding the difference between palliative and hospice care? Read our full breakdown here.
Payment of Palliative Care vs. Hospice Care
Hospice is usually paid 100% by Medicare, Medicaid and private insurance. This Medicare benefit includes medications, equipment, access to care, nursing, social services, chaplain visits and grief support following a death, as well as other services.
Palliative care, on the other hand, is paid for by insurance, individually or sometimes by a charity or nonprofit organization.
Eligibility for Palliative Care vs. Hospice Care
To be eligible for the Medicare hospice benefit, you must have two physicians certify that your life expectancy is less than six months if the disease follows its usual course.
Palliative care begins at your and your physician’s discretion at any time and stage of illness, terminal or not.
Know You’re Never Alone
If you or a family member is facing a serious disease or end of life decisions, have a trusted medical guide who can provide the information and support you need to make vital decisions and feel cared for along your journey — in body, mind and spirit.
You can find that here, with us. Learn more about our whole-person hospice and palliative care.
