Hospice vs. Palliative Care: What Families Should Know

Palliative care

• Available at any stage of a serious illness
• Can be given alongside treatment like chemotherapy or dialysis
• Focuses on pain, symptoms, stress and planning
• Usually billed like other medical care under Medicare Part B or insurance

Hospice care

• For a life expectancy of six months or less, certified by a doctor
• Focuses on comfort rather than cure
• Includes nursing visits, aides, medical equipment, medications for comfort, social work, chaplain and grief support for family
• Covered by Medicare Part A; can be provided at home, in assisted living or in a nursing home

Signs it may be time to ask about hospice

• Frequent hospital visits
• Significant weight loss or sleeping most of the day
• Treatments are no longer helping or are causing more harm
• Your loved one says they want to focus on comfort

Starting the conversation

Ask the doctor: "If things continue this way, what should we expect?" Having advance directives in place makes these decisions easier.

Caring at the end of life is exhausting — see our caregiver burnout guide. For help coordinating, read our Care Coordination guide.