Many people aren’t familiar with the term “palliative care,” and it is often confused with hospice care. Palliative care is a general term used to describe any therapy that alleviates the symptoms, pain or suffering caused by a disease or its treatment. This month’s support topic aims to clear the confusion by explaining what both types of care entail, and by addressing their similarities and differences.

1. Understanding the Difference Between
Palliative Care and Hospice Care
Dana Nolan MS, LMHC, NCC
Mental Health Counselor

2. A New Trend in Patient Care
Increase in hospitals/clinics offering
specialized palliative care.
Confusion between palliative care and
hospice.
Hospice care is more established
nationwide and worldwide.
(800) 615-2270

3. What is Palliative Care?
 Goal is to feel better.
 Patients with chronic or serious
illness (such as mesothelioma).
 Decrease or relieve symptoms
of disease or its treatment.
 Improve quality of life.
(800) 615-2270

4. Palliative Care With Mesothelioma Patients
 Common symptoms treated:
pain, shortness of breath, chemotherapyinduced neuropathy, nausea, loss of
appetite, fatigue etc.
 Palliative care can be given ALONG SIDE
curative treatments such as surgery,
chemo, gene therapy etc.
(800) 615-2270

5. Who Provides Palliative Care?
 Physicians, Registered Nurses, Counselors, Massage
Therapists, Registered Dietitians etc…
 Increase recently in healthcare teams that
SPECIALIZE in palliative care.
(800) 615-2270

6. What is Hospice Care?
 Patients cease curative treatment and begin
palliative care only to maximize quality of life.
 Life expectancy is months vs. years.
 Hospice organizations provide care to
patients/families in their home or nursing home.
 Hundreds of hospice organizations in US.
(800) 615-2270

7. Who Are Hospice Care Providers?
Hospice organizations are only able to provide hospice
care to patients who meet hospice criteria.
Physician, nurse, home health aids, counselors/social
workers, chaplains and volunteers routinely make up
hospice teams.
Services are routinely provided in the patient’s home
which better suits the family and patient.
(800) 615-2270

8. Palliative Care vs. Hospice Care
 Does insurance pay for palliative
care?
 Does health insurance pay for
hospice care?
 Can I stop hospice care and go
back to curative treatment if a
promising drug comes on the
market?
(800) 615-2270

9. Palliative Care vs. Hospice Care
Cont.
Can I keep my physician if I want to
add palliative care to my treatment
plan?
Can I keep my physician if I want
hospice care?
How long can I receive palliative
care?
How long can I receive hospice
care?
(800) 615-2270

10. Conclusions
 Many misconceptions about both hospice care and
palliative care.
 Many similarities between the two types of
treatment.
 Major difference is that a patient cannot receive
curative treatment while receiving hospice care.
(800) 615-2270

11. Contact Information
1-800-615-2270
(800) 615-2270