Understanding the Key Differences in Comfort-Focused Care
The terms hospice care and palliative care are often confused—but they are not the same. While both focus on relieving pain and improving quality of life for people with serious illnesses, they differ in purpose, timing, and treatment goals.
At Ozark Hospice Care, we help families in Missouri understand when each type of care is appropriate so they can make informed decisions with confidence and compassion.
What Hospice and Palliative Care Have in Common
Both hospice and palliative care:
- Focus on relief from pain, symptoms, and stress
- Address emotional, psychological, and spiritual needs
- Involve an interdisciplinary team of professionals, including nurses, social workers, aides, and chaplains
- Aim to improve quality of life for patients with serious illnesses
- Focus on relief from pain, symptoms, and stress
- Address emotional, psychological, and spiritual needs
- Involve an interdisciplinary team of professionals, including nurses, social workers, aides, and chaplains
- Aim to improve quality of life for patients with serious illnesses
The core difference lies in timing and treatment goals.
What Is Palliative Care?
Palliative care is appropriate at any stage of a serious illness, and can be provided alongside curative or life-prolonging treatments. This might include chemotherapy, dialysis, or surgeries.
For example: A patient undergoing cancer treatment may receive palliative care to manage nausea, fatigue, or pain caused by chemotherapy.
Palliative care is not limited to end-of-life care. It’s often introduced earlier in the course of illness to help patients tolerate treatments and maintain function and comfort.
It can be provided in hospitals, outpatient clinics, or even in the home—depending on the patient’s needs and the healthcare system involved.
What Is Hospice Care?
Hospice care is for patients with a terminal diagnosis and a prognosis of six months or less if the illness runs its normal course. Unlike palliative care, hospice does not include curative or aggressive treatments.
Hospice is focused entirely on comfort, dignity, and support during the final months of life. It is generally chosen when:
- A patient no longer wishes to pursue curative treatment, or
- A physician has determined that further treatment is no longer effective or recommended
For example: A person with end-stage heart failure who no longer wants to be hospitalized for recurring complications may choose hospice to focus on symptom relief at home.
Hospice care is most often provided in the patient’s home, but can also take place in nursing homes or hospitals.
Key Differences at a Glance
Feature
Palliative Care
Hospice Care
Eligibility
Any stage of serious illness
Terminal illness with life expectancy of 6 months or less
Treatment
May include curative treatments
No curative treatment; comfort only
Goal
Improve quality of life during treatment
Provide comfort and dignity at end of life
Location
Hospitals, clinics, home
Home, nursing facility, hospital
Coverage
Often covered by insurance or Medicare Part B
Covered under Medicare Hospice Benefit, Medicaid, and most private insurers
Choosing the Right Care
If your loved one is still pursuing treatment or wants to explore additional medical options, palliative care may be the right fit. If they have decided to stop treatment—or their doctor has advised that no further interventions will be effective—hospice care can provide the right support for this stage.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Many patients begin with palliative care while pursuing treatment, and later transition to hospice care if their condition progresses and curative treatments are no longer effective or desired. Your care team can help guide this transition when the time is right.
No. Palliative care is available for anyone with a serious illness—such as heart failure, COPD, Parkinson’s disease, or kidney disease—not just those with cancer. It’s about managing symptoms and improving quality of life, regardless of the diagnosis.
Not at all. Hospice continues medications that relieve pain, manage symptoms, or promote comfort. What stops are treatments intended to cure or aggressively prolong life. The care plan is tailored to what the patient needs to feel comfortable.
In many cases, yes. While palliative care is often provided in hospitals or clinics, some programs and providers offer in-home palliative support, especially for patients who have difficulty traveling or prefer to remain in their home environment.
Palliative care is often covered by private insurance, Medicaid, or Medicare Part B (as outpatient care). Coverage varies depending on the provider, diagnosis, and setting, so it’s helpful to check with your insurance or care coordinator for details.
Need Help Navigating the Next Step?
If you’re unsure which type of care is best for your loved one, the Ozark Hospice Care team in Poplar Bluff is here to help. We offer expert guidance, compassionate support, and honest conversations—so you can make decisions with clarity and peace of mind.
