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Hospice vs Palliative Care: What’s the Difference?
When a loved one faces a serious illness, every decision can feel overwhelming. One of the most important, but often confusing choices involves understanding the difference between hospice vs palliative care. While both offer comfort-focused support, they serve different purposes in the care journey.
Let’s take a clear look at both options, so that you and your family can make the choice that best fits your needs.
What Is Palliative Care?
Palliative care is specialized medical care focused on relieving pain, managing symptoms, and improving quality of life for individuals with serious illnesses at any stage. It can be provided alongside curative treatment, which means your loved one can continue receiving chemotherapy, surgeries, or other medical therapies while also receiving extra support for their comfort.
Palliative care often includes:
- Pain and symptom management
- Emotional and spiritual support
- Guidance for care planning and treatment decisions
- Family support services
While The Carriages does not offer palliative care, we do provide hospice services and are here to help families understand the differences, so they can feel confident and supported in their care decisions.
Related: Breaking Down the Cost of Long-Term Care
What Is Hospice Care?
Hospice care is a type of palliative care that begins when curative treatment is no longer being pursued, typically when a physician determines a life expectancy of six months or less. The focus shifts entirely to comfort, dignity, and emotional well-being during this final stage of life.
Hospice care includes:
- 24/7 pain and symptom management
- Emotional and grief support for families
- Spiritual counseling
- Medical equipment and supplies
- Access to hospice respite care (temporary care that allows family caregivers to rest)
Who Pays for Hospice and Palliative Care?
Understanding how these services are covered can bring peace of mind during a stressful time. Fortunately, both hospice and palliative care are often supported by insurance, though the coverage may look a little different for each.
Hospice Care
Hospice care can often be covered 100% by Medicare, Medicaid, or private insurance when eligibility requirements are met. This coverage includes medications, medical equipment, visits from care providers, and emotional support services. It can also include hospice respite care, which provides relief for family caregivers by allowing their loved one to receive short-term care.
Related: Comparing the Cost of Aging at Home to Senior Living
Palliative Care
Palliative care, on the other hand, may be covered under Medicare Part B, Medicaid, or private insurance, but is often billed like other ongoing medical services. This could include doctor visits, prescription medications, or therapies aimed at managing symptoms. The amount of coverage may depend on whether care is provided at home, in a hospital, or within a senior living community.
Understanding what is covered and what is not covered can be a lot to take in, but our team can help walk you through your options. If you have questions or need help navigating costs, speak with an advisor today.
Choosing the Right Path
No one should have to go through this alone. Navigating care choices during serious illness can feel overwhelming. While palliative care may be provided by your medical team, our team supports families with expert, compassionate hospice services during end-of-life transitions.
At The Carriages, we are here to help families make these decisions with guidance and support. Our care teams are always available to guide you through what’s next.
Ready to Learn More about The Carriages?
Download our Brochure to learn about hospice, and how we help families find peace and purpose in every stage of the journey.
