As people age, it’s not unusual to face serious illnesses, and understanding the range of care options that are available can help you plan for the future.
Two commonly confused forms of patient care that are often used are palliative care and hospice. Although they can overlap in many ways, they have distinctly different purposes.
Palliative care focuses on quality of life and is a source of support
Palliative care is a type of specialized medical care that is meant to help both patients with serious illnesses and their families experience a better quality of life. It’s generally meant to provide an extra layer of support for the patient and coordination for their care team.
Palliative care can be provided at any stage of a serious illness and does not necessarily mean that the patient is seeking to end curative treatments. While it can be provided in a variety of settings, it’s not unusual for patients to receive palliative care in their own homes. The goal is largely symptom management, such as relief from pain, fatigue, nausea and emotional distress.
Hospice care is a type of palliative care that is focused on the end of life
Hospice care is reserved for those in the final stages of a terminal illness. Typically, to qualify for hospice care, the patient must have an expected life span of six months or less and have decided that they no longer wish to try to cure their disease.
This does not mean, however, that they do not want treatment for their symptoms. Symptom control is the primary concern of hospice. Hospice care is also provided in a patient’s home, but it’s not uncommon to see it in hospitals, nursing homes and special hospice centers, either.
Different people need different levels of long-term care, and good estate planning considers all the possibilities. If you are ready to learn more about how you can best manage the costs, it may be wise to obtain legal guidance – especially in regards to Medicaid planning.
