Both hospice and palliative care have to do with a person’s end-of-life care. Pain and symptom relief are both involved in these types of care. However, there are some major differences between the two.
Hospice care is provided when a person has six months or less to live and is also called compassionate comfort care. The goal is to keep the patient as comfortable as possible as their life comes to an end. Patients can receive hospice care in the home, assisted living facility, or the hospital.
Palliative care is provided at any time during the patient’s diagnosis. In some instances, patients receive palliative care during curative treatment. In most cases, a hospital setting is the only place patients can receive palliative care.
Some of the most common conditions that require either hospice or palliative care include:
- Cancer
- Kidney failure
- Heart failure
- Chronic lung disease
- Neurodegenerative diseases
Unfortunately, in some parts of the world, hospice and palliative care services are not easily accessible. About 60 percent of the world’s dying population could benefit from these services. Without these services, terminal patients go through unnecessary or undertreated pain. For these reasons, healthcare providers across the globe understand the importance of hospice and palliative care.
The Worldwide Hospice Palliative Care Alliance (WHPCA) launched World Hospice and Palliative Care Day in 2005. The WHPCA desired to have a unified day of action to support hospice and palliative care around the world. The first event was held on October 8, 2005. It has been held on the second Saturday in October ever since.
Source: https://nationaldaycalendar.com
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