Hospice Care

What Is Hospice Care?

When individuals face a terminal condition where no additional treatment options are available or where the patient has elected to stop treatment, the individual may qualify for hospice care. Hospice care is carried out by a team of medical professionals working to prioritize an individual’s mental, spiritual, emotional, and physical comfort and well-being, typically when a provider has determined that the individual has less than 6 months to live. The hospice team also supports the family and caregiving community guiding them toward making key decisions in their loved one’s final months.

What is Hospice Care at Home?

By allowing hospice care to happen at home, individuals can focus on spending quality time with their loved ones without leaving for doctor’s appointments, needing hospital stays, or worrying about medications. Medical care personnel come to them, delivering the necessary medications, overseeing their vitals, and handling all appointments in the home. While some families may initially feel uncomfortable with opening their homes up to the hospice teams, this support ensures the best care and support for their loved one during the end of their life.

The Difference Between Hospice and Palliative Care

While both palliative care and hospice are intended to help individuals with serious conditions remain comfortable and well-supported, hospice is often brought in when treatment is no longer effective or curative, when someone has elected to stop treatment, and when the person has fewer than 6 months to live. Palliative care supports an individual’s continued therapy and may help them with slowing or stopping their disease’s progression. Both programs can provide support to friends and family members dealing with the physical and emotional difficulties associated with watching a loved one facing a life-altering health condition.