Hospice vs Palliative Care Difference, Treatment & Home Care

Hospice vs Palliative Care

With age, older adults start suffering from chronic diseases (such as cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), dementia, heart failure, Parkinson’s disease, and others). In such conditions, running daily errands, taking medications on time, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle becomes overwhelming subjects for them. Even family members are sometimes unable to provide 24/7 care due to busy office schedules or other urgent work.

This is where palliative and hospice care services play a significant role.

In Los Angeles, there are multiple palliatives and hospice care services providers for taking care of seniors who are struggling with long-term pain or near the end of life. In addition, these professionals also help in keeping older individuals healthy and comfortable at their homes. At Justin Villa Care, we have certified and skilled professional caregivers, allowing terminally ill patients to live close to their families and their community in comfort and dignity.

So, is there any difference between these two terms? If yes, what’s that?

In the following guide, we’ll mention the basic definition of palliative and hospice care, what’s the difference between these, how to pay for these services, and where to look for such services? Take a look!

What is Palliative Care?

Palliative care refers to compassionate comfort care for seniors or loved ones who are suffering from a chronic, acute, or serious illness. Some examples of such as Parkinson’s, chronic pain, cancer, heart failure, dementia, and other life-limiting illness.

This program doesn’t depend on the patient’s life expectancy. However, patients often receive palliative care after they are diagnosed. And, it can begin at any stage of their illness, though. The overall purpose of such services is to ease the pain of the elderly and help them with ADLs & IADLs. Palliative care is considered if your illness is serious but not life-threatening for now.

In case, if any health problem causes shortness of breath, nerve pain, or nausea, palliative care helps in dealing with such things. Hence, this type of care helps you live as active as possible throughout life.

Who Requires Palliative Care?

Palliative care requires for anyone living with serious or chronic health issues, including:

• Heart failure
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
• Cancer
• Dementia
• Parkinson’s disease
• Chronic pain
• Any life-limiting illness can limit your quality of life.

In addition, palliative care is necessary for individuals who:

• Has a serious or life-threatening illness with an uncertain trajectory
• Has a life expectancy longer than 6 months
• Is still pursuing aggressive treatment aimed at curing or treating the illness

A person can benefit from palliative care at any stage of illness and it is most beneficial as soon as they are diagnosed. Along with improving quality of life and alleviating symptoms, palliative care can help patients understand their treatment options. People in later life who are experiencing a great deal of general discomfort and disability might find palliative care to be helpful.

Note: Palliative care isn’t end-of-life care. It could be long-term or short-term care, required to relieve a patient from symptoms and pain of any disease.

What is Hospice Care?

Hospice care is for individuals with a terminal illness and has a life expectancy of 6 months or less. The goal of palliative care is to alleviate symptoms and improve quality of life with the time individuals have remaining. While living at home, a family member or a professional caregiver looks after older adults.

In Los Angeles, the market is nowadays fully-fledged with different nursing homes, hospice care centers, and in-home caregiving agencies, providing full service in regard to taking care of seniors.

Who Requires Hospice Care?

Source – hhhc.org

Hospice care is only available for individuals suffering from a life-limiting illness approaching their end of life. This option becomes reliable when medical attempts to cure the diseases aren’t responding. Hospice care is required for persons who:

• Has a terminal illness
• Is likely to live less than 6 months
• Is no longer pursuing disease-directed treatment

But, you must have less than six months to live in order to qualify for hospice care. That’s why it’s essential to discuss with your doctor before considering hospice care services.

Are you looking for hospice care? Contact Justin Villa Care LLC to know more about it!

Hospice and Palliative Care Difference

Being diagnosed with a serious health issue can be upsetting. But, hospice and palliative care are available to ease the burden of this stage of life.

Although hospice and palliative care are sometimes used interchangeably, they have different prognoses and different goals. Despite the fact that both hospice and palliative care aim to relieve pain and symptoms of people with a life-limiting illness. However, there are some differences also.

Let’s break down the key difference between hospice VS palliative care!

Hospice and Palliative Care Eligibility

Palliative Care: A patient/senior/elderly has the choice to start palliative care at any time from a professional home caregiver under doctors’ recommendations, at any stage of illness, whether it’s terminal or not.

Hospice Care: For hospice eligibility, two doctors must certify that the patient has less than six months to live if the disease continues.

Kinds of Care

Palliative Care: This is compassionate comfort care provided by caregivers to help older adults to feel better physically, mentally, and spiritually while doctors are treating them. It includes pain relief, counseling, nutrition advice, companionship, communications, and help in deciding what treatments you want or don’t want.

Hospice Care: This type of care is for people who’re near the end of life. The overall aim of such services is to let seniors feel better and improve the quality of their remaining life. But, there isn’t any treatment process going on to try to cure their illness.

Requirement

Palliative Care: Palliative care can take place at any time during a serious illness. This doesn’t include near-death situations.

Hospice Care: When your doctor estimates that you have less than 6 months to live, you can choose hospice care.

Paying For Care

Palliative Care: In most cases, health insurance covers palliative care. However, the amount of coverage varies.

Hospice Care: Most health insurance policies cover hospice care. Medicare and Medicaid also cover it. Hospice care is available to everyone regardless of their financial means.

What is Involved?

Palliative Care: Pain and symptom relief, help in making important medical and treatment decisions, emotional and spiritual support for patients and families, assistance in running ADLs and IADLs.

Hospice Care: Pain and symptom relief, help in making important end-of-life decisions, counseling, emotional and spiritual support, treatment of symptoms, home care assistance, nursing care, and many others.

Availability of Treatments

Palliative Care: Palliative care includes both curative and life-prolonging treatments.

Hospice Care: Patients for hospice care must cease curative and life-extending treatments.

Who’s Involved?

Palliative Care: A doctor, nurse, or professional caregiver, specializing in palliative care can provide such services. In addition, other healthcare professionals, like primary doctors, therapists, nutrition experts, family members, social workers, and counselors can also be involved.

Hospice Care: Doctors and nurses of hospitals, hospice centers, and in-home care agencies can provide hospice care services. Despite this, a family member or a professional caregiver can also help with this.

Where Is Care Provided?

Palliative Care: Patients can get such type of care wherever they’re being diagnosed for their illness – hospitals, outpatient clinics, nursing homes, and even at home.

Hospice Care: The hospice care services are available at a hospital, nursing home, assisted-living facility, hospice facilities, and homes.

Hospice VS Palliative Care: Which Should You Choose?

It could be quite overwhelming to decide between hospice care and palliative care services because both have different needs and pros. That’s why having a conversation about your options is important.

According to research on Palliative and hospice care can be more effective when initiated early.

However, in order to make an appropriate decision, it’s necessary to be aware of different factors to choose between them. Let’s take a look at the following section:

What’s Your Health Condition?

Palliative care is available to you as soon as you are diagnosed with a serious condition. On the other hand, hospice care isn’t available until a doctor determines the end-of-life timeline.

Palliative care may be provided for many years before entering hospice care. Some people may even recover from their condition while receiving palliative care, depending on illness and prognosis.

Do You Need Curative or Life-Prolonging Treatments?

A person can receive palliative care while undergoing treatments for a cure or prolong their life. All medical treatments that aim to cure or prolong your life must be stopped before entering hospice.

This is one of the most challenging decisions you will have to make in your treatment. It may require a great deal of reflection and thinking. To help you make the right decision, speak to your family, doctor, counselor, or social worker.

If you’re not ready to stop treatment, palliative care might be the best option for you.

Take Doctors’ Opinion

Consult your doctor about your prognosis. The most experienced doctor cannot provide a definitive answer, but they can usually give an estimate. It may also be possible for your doctor to suggest some ways you might benefit from either type of care.

Location

The location also matters when it comes to making a wise decision. Palliative cares most often available at a facility, including hospitals, clinics, and in-home care agencies. Whereas, hospice care is more likely available in a home.

Why Choose Justin Villa Care for Hospice or Palliative Home Care?

We hope our hospice vs palliative care helps you in making a wise decision.

However, what do you think about in-home hospice and palliative care services? Well, nothing could replace high-quality care received in the comfort of your own home.

At Justin Villa Care LLC, we have proficient and experienced caregivers of palliative and hospice care. Our professionals will always be ready to support you and your loved ones during any situation.

We’re here for you every step of the way. Whether day or night, we’ll match you with your perfect caregiver who will listen to your needs and ensure you receive compassionate care. In order to bring you peace of mind, we go the extra mile to ensure you have an enjoyable and stress-free life.

Don’t hesitate to call us for any queries! We’ll be pleased to assist you in every possible way.

Where Do I Receive Hospice or Palliative Care in Los Angeles?

As we discussed above, hospice care is available in home-like hospice residences, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, hospitals, and many other facilities. On the other hand, Palliative care is available in hospitals and nursing home facilities.

Despite this, both hospice and palliative care are also available agencies like home health caregiving. These facilities help diagnosed patients with all necessary assistance and provide proper care. Similarly, Justin Villa Care across Los Angeles is also a Licensed caregiver agency for Seniors, assisting seniors with hospice care, personal care, special care, home care services. So, your elderly parents can spend their golden years comfortably and pleasantly.

We understand the necessity of hospice care services your loved ones require due to serious illnesses, such as cancer. Apart from this, we also focus on improving the quality of life of diagnosed individuals. Our professional caregivers treat the symptoms of chronic illnesses and the side effects of treatments.

At Justin Villa Care, our Hospice Care support team works together and provides the patient and his/her family complete comfort and support. We remain 24/7 available to provide the full assistance that you, your loved ones, or your family may require.

For any query, you can reach us at (310) 594-5963.