Palliative and hospice care are often
interpreted as being synonymous, but there are many differences between the two
specialty healthcare services.
Palliative care is supportive care for patients with advanced illnesses and
provides treatment for symptoms even when the underlying disease cannot be
cured. Anyone with a serious illness, regardless of life expectancy, can
receive palliative care.
The goal of a palliative care treatment
plan is to achieve the best quality of life for patients and their families
while seeking continuing treatment for the advanced illness. The palliative
care treatment plan considers the emotional, social, and spiritual needs of
both the patient and their families.
Palliative care is available for
illnesses such as stroke recovery, kidney disease, liver disease, lung disease,
heart disease, Alzheimers, dementia, cancer, and HIV/AIDS. The types of
services included in a palliative treatment plan include providing comfort
care, pain management, and symptom management that can address nausea,
shortness of breath, anxiety, weakness, fatigue, delirium, and constipation.
When the disease the palliative care
plan is treating progresses to an incurable condition the palliative care team
will assist the patient and their families with the coordination of hospice
services.
Hospice care also considers the emotional, social, and spiritual needs of
the patient and their family; however, hospice care is offered when a cure is
no longer probable. A patient with a serious illness and a life expectancy that
is measured in months, not years, would qualify for hospice care.
Hospice care can be provided to the
patient in the comfort of their own home or in an in-patient unit setting.
Concordia Visiting Nurses and Good Samaritan
Hospice, a mission of Concordia Lutheran Ministries, along with Concordia
Hospice of Washington, a partnership of Concordia Community Support Services
and Washington Health System, work in collaboration to serve their patients in
need of palliative and hospice care.Editors Note: This article was submitted by SaraBeth Swain. SaraBeth is the HR Assistant for Concordia Visiting Nurses and may be reached by email at sswain@concordiavn.org.
