Confused About Palliative Care Vs. Hospice Care? You Aren’t Alone
Dear Carol: My mom has advanced lung disease as well as late-stage Alzheimer’s. We know that there are no cures for either of her current conditions, but the doctors don’t seem to have any useful answers for me when I ask about how I can make her life better at this stage. She has an inhaler for her lungs, but they don’t seem willing to prescribe medications or advice other than keep her comfortable. Well, how do I go about that? Should she be on hospice? I’ve heard of something called palliative care, but I don’t understand it and no doctor has mentioned it. Can you help me? – CV
Dear CV: I’m sorry about your mom’s health. We can feel so helpless when we watch a loved one suffer, especially when the doctors to whom we look for advice seem to give up.
Palliative care and hospice are related in that they both provide comfort care. The difference is that palliative care is for people who need comfort care while they are being treated for their medical diagnoses. Palliative care is delivered by a specially trained team of health specialists who provide quality of life for the patient as well as the patient’s family.
For instance, if someone has cancer and they need emotional support, pain management, and stress relief they should be able to receive palliative care. In fact, palliative care began as a focus on helping cancer patients, though now it has been expanded to help in many other circumstances, often even in the later stages of dementia.
Unfortunately, palliative care doesn’t get the attention that it should when it comes to caring for older adults, even from many doctors. Let’s take a look at both programs to help clarify the differences for you. Then you can talk directly with your mom’s physicians to see if one of them can help get her started with the best option for her at this time.
Palliative care
Palliative care can be offered alongside curative treatments like chemotherapy in a clinic, hospital, or home setting. Smaller community hospitals may not offer the full service of larger hospitals, but – sometimes after some encouragement – most will try their best to offer what they can.
A common arrangement for your palliative care team would include both a doctor and a nurse trained in palliative care. Additionally, a specially trained social worker would likely be involved, as well as a non-denominational chaplain or someone who can offer spiritual support.
Does insurance cover palliative care? In most cases, yes, your health insurance should cover at least part if not all the cost.
Palliative care can be provided as soon as a diagnosis is made…
Minding Our Elders: Caregivers Share Their Personal Stories. “For anyone having to walk the last segments of life with a loved one, read this.” …Delores
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