Palliative vs. Hospice Care
When a senior is stricken with a terminal illness, their loved ones face a difficult challenge: determining the proper care to relieve their elder’s burdens. Palliative and hospice care each serve unique purposes, and deciding between them depends on the end goal of your loved one’s treatment. Whichever you choose, seek a reliable elder care service to provide such support.
Tysons Woods Assisted Living is a small assisted-living community for elders near Tysons, VA. We offer a free-living lifestyle furnished with complete medical support. Our residents receive comprehensive personal care plans tailored to their needs. Moreover, we prioritize privacy, independence, and comfort. Our residents can maintain their standard routines with access to a community and loving staff. Contact us at (703) 846-0395 to schedule a visit!
Below, we define palliative care and hospice care, then offer insights to decide which best suits your loved one:
What Is Palliative Care?
Palliative care involves managing the symptoms of a severe illness while doctors seek a cure. Patients who receive this care may have cancer, pulmonary heart disease, dementia, heart failure, Parkinson’s disease, and other serious illnesses. Often, these patients want social, emotional, and practical support. Their care options can relieve pain, nausea, fatigue, or sleep loss.
Although patients may receive palliative care during any stage of an illness, it tends to work best during the early stages. In the same vein, no limit exists to how long a patient may receive palliative care as long as their insurance covers it. Such care is available through in-home providers or designated facility staff.
What Is Hospice Care?
Hospice care is an end-of-life service designed to comfort folks suffering from a deadly illness. It is available to people with a life expectancy of one year or less.
Most hospice care seekers decide to use it when their doctor estimates a life expectancy of 6 months. If their insurance allows, your loved one may seek hospice care before that point. Likewise, if insurance approves it, someone may terminate their hospice care and return to it later.
The goal of hospice care is to relieve a patient’s pain. It also focuses on improving the overall quality of life through medical, emotional, and spiritual support.
Which Is Appropriate for Your Needs?
The main difference between palliative and hospice care is that you may seek the latter only when your loved one no longer wishes to receive treatments geared toward prolonging their life. On the other hand, palliative care does not work as an end-of-life service.
While non-hospice end-of-life care options exist, more patients and families are satisfied with traditional hospice care. Hospice effectively relieves pain, and recipients are less likely to undergo unnecessary tests and treatments.
Both elder care services are helpful and offer comfort to patients with unique purposes. Speak with your senior’s doctor if you remain unsure whether to pursue palliative or hospice care.
Specialized Elder Care Services Available Near Tysons, VA
Trust the experienced caregivers at Tysons Woods Assisted Living near Tysons, VA. We offer 15 years of experience as an elder care community and are committed to our resident’s safety and quality of life as we develop meaningful connections with them. Our residents benefit from a low staff-to-resident ratio and a close-knit social environment. Contact us at (703) 846-0395 to learn more about our specialized care options.
