The transition from palliative care to hospice care can be a confusing time for patients and their families. It is likely they will feel many complex emotions including — sadness, fear, anger and more. As their provider, you have an opportunity to empower and educate them by keeping them informed of their options as they navigate the transition.
When someone is diagnosed with a terminal illness, treating and managing their symptoms becomes a top priority. A large part of successfully caring for someone with a terminal illness is understanding how palliative and hospice care play a role in treatment and what the transition from palliative to hospice entails.
What is Palliative Care?
Palliative care is a multidisciplinary approach to medical care for people with both acute and chronic serious illness. Patients may have physical, psychological, social, or spiritual issues because of their disease or treatment. Palliative care serves to lessen pain, control symptoms and improve stress for the both the patient and family. Ultimately, the goal is improving quality of life, assisting with medical decisions and more importantly navigating the healthcare system.
