| Palliative | Hospice | |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Comfort Care-used at any stage of serious illness and condition does not need to be terminal.NO time restrictions on how long it can be provided.Objective: Control of pain, or other symptoms, and of psychological, social, and spiritual problems is paramount. |
Comfort Care- used when life span is estimated at 6 months or less “Terminal diagnosis” terminology is being used to replace the less than 6-month life span. Objective: Relieve pain, increase comfort and quality of life. |
| Doctors | Continue to use current team to manage disease. Palliative Nurse or team is added to consult and assist as needed to meet objectives. | Agree to use Hospice professionals, sign over primary care to hospice MD. |
| Meds | More aggressive treatment of symptoms trying not to compromise quality of life. Use life-prolonging meds. Non-traditional services used to manage pain: massage, acupressure and acupuncture, aromatherapy, light therapy. |
Agrees to give up treatment and medications that cure the disease. Agrees to give up treatments/medications that prolong life when they are no longer used for comfort or have side effects that hinder quality of life (ex. INR monitoring and receiving coumadin). Agrees to not use Medicare/Medicaid/insurance for new treatments, tests, emergency room, urgent care, studies of terminal disease (Discharge will happen if emergency visit is required). Non-traditional services used to manage pain: massage, acupressure and acupuncture, aromatherapy, light therapy, pet therapy, music therapy, Chaplin services. |
| Location Provided | Typically, hospitals and nursing homes where on-site care team can oversee plan and symptoms, can be home care team. | Typically, at home and rely on visiting nurse/family to oversee care plan. |
| Diagnosis | Not specified – more chronic illness | Not Specified |
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