Understanding Hospice vs. Palliative Care

We’re here with answers

It’s about quality of life

Hospice and palliative care are considered models of quality, compassionate care for people facing a serious illness. At Hospice & Palliative Care Buffalo, we believe that everyone coping with serious illness deserves to direct their course of care and live life to the fullest with comfort, grace and dignity.

Both hospice care and palliative care:

Provide comfort to enhance quality of life
Share an integrative approach to care by treating the whole person to address physical, emotional, spiritual and social needs.
Focus on relieving symptoms, pain and stress for the patient, their caregivers and their loved ones.

Compare Hospice vs. Palliative Care

Learn about the differences between hospice care and palliative care when it comes to care focus, when and where the care happens, care coverage, number of visits, and payment options.

Swipe cards left and right to learn more

Hospice Care

Focus

Comfort and quality of life, support for patient and family

Palliative Care

Focus

Pain and symptom management to improve quality of life

Hospice Care

When

Illness is terminal and prognosis is six months or less

Palliative Care

When

Any point in a serious illness, even while receiving treatment

Hospice Care

Where

Home, assisted living, developmentally disabled and nursing home facilities

Palliative Care

Where

Home and assisted living facilities

Hospice Care

Care Focus

Nurses and doctors trained in symptom management and end-of-life care
Home health aides for personal care
Social workers for emotional and social support
Spiritual care; music, massage and other therapies
Medication
Medical supplies and equipment

Palliative Care

Care Focus

Pain and symptom management
Disease education
Help coping with the impact of serious illness
Navigating treatment options
Nurse and social worker in-home visits with 24/7 nurse support

Hospice Care

Visits

Based on each patient's individualized plan of care – minimally once a week and more often when needed

Palliative Care

Visits

Pain and symptom management to improve quality of life Based on each patient's individual needs – minimally once a month and more often if needed

Hospice Care

Payment

Available to all - cost of hospice care is covered by most health plans, Medicaid and Medicare

Palliative Care

Payment

Commercial health plan or private pay

⭠ Previous

1/6

Next ➝

Hospice care

Hospice care is an option when an individual has a life-limiting illness with a prognosis of six months or less and curative treatment of the disease has stopped.

Learn more

Palliative care

Palliative care can be introduced at any point of a serious illness, while the patient continues treatment.

Learn more

FAQ

Provide relief from pain, stress and symptoms to improve the quality of life.
Treat the whole person – providing a holistic approach to care addressing physical, emotional, social and spiritual needs.
Develop a plan of care to meet the unique needs of each patient while also supporting their loved ones
Offer support to help the family and caregivers cope with challenging illness.
Promote personal choice and individual dignity.

Hospice care focuses on relieving the pain, symptoms and stress of serious illness during the terminal phase. The terminal phase is defined by Medicare as an individual with a life expectancy of 6 months or less, if the disease runs its natural course.

Palliative Care is available at any age and any stage during a serious illness and does not require a life-limiting prognosis. Many individuals receiving palliative care are undergoing curative treatment.

Palliative care is patient and family-centered care that optimizes quality of life by anticipating, preventing and treating suffering. Palliative care addresses physical, emotional and social needs to honor patient preferences and to assist in navigating the course of illness.

Download Hospice Myth vs. Fact to learn more.

We are here to support you.