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Palliative care and hospice are different even though the terms are often compared as the same.
Palliative care is specialized care to provide comfort and dignity for the person and the family living with the illness. If the illness is advanced, the goal is to offer the best quality of life for everyone involved.
Some examples that involve palliative care include:
Hospice is a form of palliative care. Hospice care is offered to people suffering from a terminal illness approaching their last six months of living. In hospice, a specialized medical team provides care only to those with terminal conditions.
Hospice also means that while a person receives care to provide comfort and improve quality of life, treatment for the illness is not provided.
Palliative care, on the other hand, is continuous care for people living with a serious illness like the ones listed above. It aims to improve quality of life and is often used alongside curative treatments.
Palliative care can be provided throughout the course of a serious illness, starting from the day of diagnosis. A palliative care team works with the patient, their family, and their healthcare providers to develop a plan that addresses medical, emotional, and spiritual needs.
Palliative Care is most effective when started at the very beginning of treatment for an illness or at a medical diagnosis. In fact, recent studies have shown that beginning palliative care as early as possible in the course of a disease, improves outcomes for patients and can even lengthen their lives.
Both hospice and palliative care provide an extra layer of support and comfort care to a patient suffering from a serious illness. And both forms of care are designed to respect a patient’s independence, ease pain and other symptoms, and advocate for a person’s illness, quality of life, and spiritual wishes.
Deciding to receive hospice or palliative care can be a big undertaking. The Nurse Care Management team of Promyse Home care can provide a detailed breakdown of palliative and hospice care so you can decide which type of medical care is right for you, a family member or a loved one.
At Promyse Home Care, we’re here to support your loved one’s journey towards independence at home. Our compassionate team is ready to listen and tailor care that respects their unique needs. Let’s chat about creating a comforting, personalized care experience. Reach out to us for a caring conversation – we’re eager to be part of your family’s story in ensuring the best home care for your loved one.
We service all of Waterloo Region & surrounding areas.
