Hospice vs. Palliative Care: Which is right for you?

Both palliative care and hospice care provide comfort.

But palliative care can begin at diagnosis, and at the same time as treatment. Hospice care begins after treatment of the disease is stopped and when it is clear that the person is not going to survive the illness.

To learn more about the benefits of hospice and palliative care. To schedule

a consultation contact:

AVYCARE at 770.940.0700 or Submit a patient Referral via our secured online form.

What is Hospice Care?

Hospice care is similar to palliative care, but there are important differences.

a. 90 percent of hospice care is paid for through the Medicare hospice benefit

b. hospice patients must meet Medicare’s eligibility requirements

c. palliative care patients do not have to meet the same requirements

What is Palliative Care?

Palliative care is specialized medical care for people living with a serious illness. This type of care is focused on providing relief from the symptoms and stress of the illness. The goal is to improve quality of life for both the patient and the family.

Palliative care is provided by a specially-trained team of doctors, nurses and other specialists who work together with a patient’s other doctors to provide an extra layer of support. Palliative care is based on the needs of the patient, not on the patient’s prognosis. It is appropriate at any age and at any stage in a serious illness, and it can be provided along with curative treatment.

Palliative care specialists treat people living with many disease types and chronic illnesses. These include: cancer, cardiac disease such as congestive heart failure (CHF), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), Kidney Failure, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), Cancer, Bone Marrow Transplant, Colon Cancer, COVID-19, Dementia, Head & Neck Cancer, HIV/AIDS, Huntington's Disease, Liver disease, Lung cancer, Multiple Myeloma, Multiple Sclerosis, Ovarian Cancer, Pancreatic Cancer, Prostate Cancer, Pulmonary Fibrosis, Sickle Cell Anemia, Stroke, Eosinophil Associated disease (EAD).

Palliative care focuses on the symptoms and stress of the disease and the treatment. It treats a wide range of issues that can include pain, depression, anxiety, fatigue, shortness of breath, constipation, nausea, loss of appetite and difficulty sleeping.

Palliative care teams improve your quality of life. They do this by helping you tolerate medical treatments, helping you match your goals to your treatment choices, supporting your family caregivers and more.

If you or a loved one is facing a serious illness, you may benefit from palliative care. You can have palliative care at any point in your illness. How do you get palliative care? You have to ask for it! Just tell your doctors and nurses that you would like to see the palliative care team

Avycare, we are committed to making this journey as peaceful and meaningful as possible, regardless of it's length. Avycare is your Partner in End-of-Life Care.

              Call Avycare at 770.940.0700 with any questions.