What you should know about hospice care

Understanding hospice care means embracing comfort, dignity and support at life's most tender stage. Learn how hospice differs from palliative care and how it helps patients and families navigate through a challenging time with compassion.

What is the difference between palliative care and hospice care?

Sometimes in healthcare, the goal of a patient’s care is no longer to cure their disease, but rather, to focus on their comfort and acceptance. Two types of outpatient care that are commonly used are hospice care and palliative care.

Commonly mistaken for hospice care, palliative care is any type of outpatient care that is available to improve quality of life for patients who currently have or have had a potentially life-threatening disease, such as cancer, but may not be in a life-threatening position with their sickness.

Hospice care is a type of advanced palliative care and is usually offered to patients who are nearing the end of their lives. The biggest difference between palliative care and hospice care is that palliative care is focused on relieving negative symptoms of a disease and helping improve patient quality of life.

Hospice care focuses on caring for the person, rather than trying to cure their disease and works to simply manage their symptoms. This type of care can be administered at a patient’s home, at a hospice facility, in a hospital or in a skilled nursing home facility.

What is the focus of hospice care?

Hospice care is designed for people with advanced illnesses that cannot be cured, and it focuses on pain relief and comfort, as well as emotional support and grief therapy for loved ones. As a patient approaches the final stage of their life, hospice care focuses on providing humane and compassionate care so that the person may live as fully and comfortably as possible in his or her final days, weeks or months.

Hospice care teams are also there to help loved ones cope with their loss and learn to accept the situation. This type of care is very family-centered, and care teams include the patient, as well as their family, in making decisions about care.

When is hospice care the right choice?

A patient is usually referred to hospice care when they no longer be treated medically and is expected to have six months or less to live. Doctors never force a patient into hospice care, rather, the patient, family and doctor will discuss all available options to determine what is best for all parties involved.

What kinds of providers work in hospice care?

A standard hospice care team will include the patient’s doctor or oncologist, a hospice doctor, nurses, home health aides, social workers, clergy or other counselors, speech, physical and occupational therapists and volunteers, all working together to make the patient’s life more comfortable.

What happens when a patient passes away in hospice?

After the patient passes away, the patient’s hospice care team can refer family members or caregiving friends to other medical or professional care if needed. Family members and friends may also be provided with bereavement services for about a year after the patient’s death.

How do I learn more about CarePartners hospice services?

At CarePartners, we work collaboratively with patients, families and physicians to determine the right time to begin hospice care. The decision is always made with respect and understanding.

Learn more about CarePartners hospice services.