Hospice care
The main difference between hospice care and palliative care is the type of medical treatment offered to the patients. Once a physician has determined that the patient has a life-limiting illness, the patient can receive hospice services as well as palliative care. Hospice support, however, is usually provided to people who will no longer benefit from medical treatment (in other words, the hospice services are focused on providing the patient with care during the last stages of their life-limiting illness).
Hospice facilities can help improve the person’s quality of life, but the goal of care giving isn’t to cure your loved one’s illness – the goal is to ensure that the patient receives maximum support and that pain is kept to a minimum.
The hospice patient will be able to receive visitors (seeing that the patient is generally in their private residence) unless a physician or social worker advises otherwise due to medical reasons. If the patient is at Hospice House, which is VNA’s home-like hospice facility, they will also often be able to receive visitors during their stay.
Palliative care
Palliative care refers to medical, psychological, nursing and other methods of caretaking for people who have been diagnosed with a life-threatening illness. These patients often still receive some form of medical treatments and/or medication, but they may be able to live for many years with their illness. Palliative care is aimed at giving extra help and support to the patient as well as the support network and families of the patient.
Similar to hospice support, the patient receiving palliative care will also have a team (which comprise of doctors, social workers, trained volunteers and nurses) who will help manage all the physical and psychological symptoms of the patient. There are many spiritual aspects involved in dealing with a terminal illness and palliative care will also help the patient with counseling and medications.
Although there are a few differences between hospice services and palliative care, they both have the same goals: to enhance the quality of life of the patient, help with medical and psychological care as well as help with any transitions the patient and family may be going through.
Visiting Nurse Association of the Treasure Coast (VNATC) provides medical services in your home or at the VNA Hospice House. We are situated in Indian River County. Contact us for more information about hospice care and palliative care.
