Sometimes when we meet with a new family and begin the conversation about palliative or hospice care, we notice they use the two terms interchangeably. While hospice care and palliative care are very closely interlinked, the two are different levels and types of care.
The biggest difference has to do with the patient’s diagnosis. A patient on hospice care will have a prognosis of six months or less, while patients on palliative care can still pursue treatments to fight their disease or illness.
From a patient’s initial diagnosis of a chronic illness to the disease’s progression and the patient’s final days, Ardent Hospice & Palliative Care can offer complete care to patients no matter where they are in their journey. Continue reading to learn how palliative and hospice care are connected and how that translates to better care for our patients.
Palliative Care Provides a Gradual Transition into Hospice Care
At Ardent, we’ve found that our palliative care services bring the patient’s family comfort as they transition into hospice. Patients do not need to end treatments while they’re on palliative care, even if their physician is advocating that they consider enrolling into hospice. Palliative care gives patients and families the option to continue pursuing treatment. It also allows our nurses and staff time to get to know the patient and their family. They also have the time to educate the family and patient on what hospice is and how it can offer patients a better quality of life.
For instance, we care for many cancer patients who aren’t ready to give up chemotherapy treatments, even when it no longer appears to be working. While on palliative care, our nurses can step in and not only offer extra support, but also let the family know what’s happening with the patient’s body, what they’re going through, and what to expect. It gives the family peace of mind that they didn’t stop all treatments for their loved one right away and that they were still able to offer them additional support and care beyond their doctor’s medical offices.
On the flip side, as a patient’s palliative care nurses, we are advocates for his or her wants and needs. Sometimes the patient is tired of the treatments they’re going through and are having difficulty explaining it to their loved ones who don’t want them to stop treatments. We can be a liaison to help explain the patient’s perspective and provide the family with emotional support as the patient moves from palliative to hospice care.
Better Understanding of the Patient’s Sickness and Progression
Because we can potentially begin caring for a patient as soon as they’re diagnosed with a terminal illness, we can immediately educate the family on what to expect as it progresses. That means both the patient and their family have a better understanding of the patient’s disease state throughout the whole process. We can also coordinate care and keep the lines of communication open between the patient, their loved ones, and their physician so that the patient is wholly cared for, and the family stays in the loop regarding their condition.
Our Nurses Provide Familiar Support Throughout a Patient’s Progression
Since we are often with a family from the beginning of their end-of-life journey, we are with them throughout the whole process and each disease state. It’s not unusual for our nurses to become extended family members. A patient who begins with palliative care may have a year or two prognosis. Our nurses get to spend that time getting to know them, providing comfort, and understanding how to best support their family and loved ones. By the time a patient needs to begin hospice care, he or she and their family are already familiar with their Ardent nurse and have established trust and a bond with them, making the transition and final days of care a little easier to bear.
At Ardent Hospice & Palliative Care, our patients receive an unrivaled quality of care throughout their palliative and hospice journey. If your loved one has been given a terminal diagnosis, and you’d like more information on either palliative or hospice care, contact us today by visiting us online or calling (858) 952-1286.
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