Wellness Watch – Hospice & Palliative Care
Hospice care and palliative care are vital services that Phoebe offers to bring comfort to people from a serious illness or injury. They are often connected and generally similar, but important differences may exist. Hospice care involves aspects of palliative care, but palliative care is not always hospice care.
PALLIATIVE CARE
Palliative care is also called supportive care. It can be a wide range of specialized medical care focused on relieving pain, symptoms and stress from a serious illness or injury. It is not end-of-life care. Its goal is to improve the quality of life. Phoebe provides inpatient palliative services. For more information about our palliative care team and services, you may call 229-312-5077.
HOSPICE CARE
Hospice care focuses on the care, comfort and quality of life of a person who is approaching the end of life. In hospice, attempts to cure the person’s illness are stopped. Hospice is provided for a person with a terminal illness who is expected to live for six months or less. Phoebe provides inpatient hospice care at Phoebe Sumter Medical Center and Willson Hospice House in Albany. Hospice services also include home care and respite care. For more information about our hospice team and services, you may call 229-312-7050 or visit www.phoebehealth.com/hospice.
Similarities and Differences in Hospice and Palliative Care
HOSPICE CARE
- focuses on the care, comfort, and quality of life of a person with a serious illness who is approaching the end of life.
- is used when the prognosis is 6 months or less, no curative intent, providing in-home and inpatient settings, treatment has been discontinued.
- includes pain and symptom management, emotional support, medications and medical supplies, coaching for caregivers, grief support, and may include special services like speech and physical therapy when needed. Medicare qualified hospices must provide a 24/7 call service.
PALLIATIVE CARE
- focuses on improving the quality of life for patients and families living with chronic illness or injury
- is supportive care focused on providing relief from the pain, symptoms, and stress of a chronic illness or injury. It is appropriate at any age, or any stage of illness or injury, based on the needs of the patient in a clinical or outpatient setting paired with curative or therapeutic treatment.
- includes curative treatment along with pain and symptom management, spiritual and emotional support, counseling for patients and families, support for patients making decisions about their treatment and goals of care, and care coordination with your health care team to ensure treatment options align with patient wishes.
For more information from the National Institute of Aging and the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, you may visit their websites by clicking on the below links.
https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/what-are-palliative-care-and-hospice-care