Hospice care and palliative care are often confused or associated as the same type of care. This fact makes many people unaware of what these services entail, when is the appropriate time for these services, and how these care options differ.
While Brickmont Assisted Living does not provide hospice or palliative care, we believe it is important for you to understand all the care options available. We hope to give you a better understanding of these services so you can make the right care choice for your family.
What is Palliative Care?
Palliative care is specialized for those living with a severe illness. This type of care is focused on providing relief from the symptoms and stress of an illness. The goal of palliative care is to improve the quality of life for both the patient and their family.
The World Health Organization (WHO) states that an estimated 40 million people worldwide require the services of palliative care, but only about 14% seek this care option. While hospice and palliative care services can both be provided at the end-of-life cycle, palliative care is not exclusive to this stage. Palliative care commonly referred to as “supportive care,” is an option that one can choose after the diagnosis of a severe illness. For example, chemotherapy can help manage cancer, but it can also come with certain side effects, such as nausea or neuropathy. Palliative care aims to combat these symptoms to provide the highest quality of life for the recipient.
It is important to note that a recipient of palliative care can still seek curative treatments for an illness.
How Is Hospice Care Different?
Hospice care is an end-of-life care option for those who are diagnosed with an illness that is not responding to curative medical treatments. Hospice care, also commonly known as end-of-life care, is an option where all treatments to cure or slow progression are halted.
Instead of seeking to cure, this care option aims to alleviate the symptoms of the illness and place the patient in a more comforting environment with mental, physical, and spiritual support. Hospice care can be administered from a senior living community or the comforts of one’s home.
Navigating Alternative Care Services
In addition to hospice and palliative care, short-term care options, such as respite care may also be worth considering. Respite care is a short-term senior care option for those who find themselves as the primary caregiver of a senior, or a loved one diagnosed with a life-limiting condition. The benefits of respite care is that you can help avoid caregiver burnout and place your loved one in the care of highly trained and compassionate caregivers.
At Brickmont Assisted Living, we offer a warm and welcoming environment to those seeking our services. We provide on-site therapy, meaningful engagement, and socialization, mobility assistance, medication management, and/or meal preparation. If you are interested in learning more about Brickmont’s respite care services, we encourage you to contact one of our experts for more information.
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