What is the Difference Between Hospice and Palliative Care?

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Penny’s father was being discharged from the hospital after his latest fainting spell from low blood pressure. Having suffered from Parkinson’s for more than 20 years, he regressed during his stay, and he was having serious trouble swallowing. The discharge nurse came into the room to talk to Penny and her mother about him, suggesting hospice care since Parkinson’s is a debilitating disease that won’t get better. Penny thought to herself that maybe hospice was a good option, but Penny’s mom quickly said “no.” Her dad has been in the hospital several times and each time he regressed, he was able to regain his ability to swallow with therapy.

Penny’s mom thought therapy would be a better option than hospice care, although Penny and her mother both wanted him to live in comfort and have the best quality of life. What Penny and her mom didn’t know was that palliative care could’ve been an option, but they didn’t know it existed. Penny also didn’t know all of the negatives associated with hospice care in the home, that I will provide links to information about in this article.

Medical Care Options for Loved Ones

When researching medical care options for your loved one, it can be all too easy to feel overwhelmed by the different forms of care and variants of services. One of the most common areas of confusion is the difference between palliative and hospice care. While palliative care and hospice care have a close relationship with one another, there are key differences in the overall purpose and application of these care practices. Understanding the definitions and focuses of each care method allows for a clearer picture of the differences between the two.

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