A Guide to Palliative Care and Hospice

Abstract

Palliative care and hospice can be confusing subjects. Many people misunderstand the meaning of both and often consider the two terms synonymous. There are, however, important differences between palliative care and hospice. Palliative care is designed to anticipate, prevent, and manage physical, psychological, social, and spiritual suffering. It is primarily concerned with the symptoms that result from an illness or from the interventions used to treat said illness. It includes both the terminally ill and those with chronic, life-limiting conditions. Hospice is a type of palliative care provided to individuals with a life expectancy of six months or less. Patients are generally admitted to hospice when their condition no longer responds to aggressive interventions or they have chosen to discontinue medical intervention for ethically appropriate reasons. It is necessary to approach enrolling in hospice with caution, and important questions must be considered before doing so.