If you or a loved one is dealing with a serious illness, you’ve undoubtedly heard a lot of terms being thrown around, such as “palliative care” and “hospice.” Regardless, senior adults must be prepared and communicate their end-of-life wishes to their caretakers, doctors, and family members.
However, you’ll need a thorough understanding of what each service offers to receive the proper sort of treatment for your circumstance. This article will discuss everything you need to know about this matter.
What is Palliative Care?
Palliative care is a type of medical treatment for patients who are suffering from a terminal illness. Patients receiving palliative care may get medical therapy for their symptoms and treatment to cure their disease.
What is Hospice Care?
On the other hand, hospice care is for patients with a life-threatening sickness that may no longer be curable. It is also for patients who may refuse to undertake specific therapies. It simply focuses on the care, comfort, and quality of life of a person nearing the end of life. People are increasingly opting for hospice care, particularly those who recognize that their sickness is not responding to medical attempts to cure it or delay its progression.
How Are They the Same?
Palliative and hospice care are similar medical specialties that help individuals of all ages suffering from severe, long-term diseases like cancer, dementia, and heart failure, among others. Both palliative care and hospice care also provide medications to alleviate the discomfort caused by the conditions mentioned.
Overall, palliative and hospice care aim to improve quality of life, boost overall comfort, give emotional support for you and your family, and assist you in making crucial medical treatment decisions.
How Are They Different?
Hospice is non-curative comfort care for patients who have opted not to continue treatment because the risks outweigh the benefits. Palliative care is a type of comfort care that can be given with or without a curative goal. Another distinction is that palliative care is accessible from the time of diagnosis, regardless of the stage of your disease. In contrast, hospice care is only offered when a patient is nearing death.
Which One is Best for You?
When deciding on the sort of treatment you wish to get, there are several things to consider. The first is the illness’s current stage. As previously said, hospice care puts an end to all attempts to cure a patient’s sickness because the patient has already accepted the reality that medical therapies will no longer benefit them. Palliative care is the best choice if the illness is still treatable.
The doctor’s opinion comes next. Your doctor may be able to prescribe some ways you may benefit from either form of care to help you make a decision.
Finally, the location where you wish to get care is essential. Palliative care is more likely to be provided at a facility like a hospital or a clinic, but hospice care is more likely to be available in the comfort of your own home.
Conclusion
Palliative care and hospice care can be quite beneficial to patients in need. Both services only aim to give the patient the best possible comfort and relaxation, and your final choice comes down to personal preferences and requirements. A thorough discussion with your loved ones, as well as your doctor, will help you find out which one would work best for you.
If you are looking for a dependable and committed hospice in Colorado, Gateway Home Health and Hospice offers the highest quality home-based patient care in an atmosphere of respect for human dignity. Our highly trained clinicians and therapists strive to exceed the expectations of our patients, families, caregivers, and physicians. Get in touch with us today to learn more about our services!