Understanding Your Care Options
Compare Hospice, Palliative, and End-of-Life Care to find the right support for your loved one's unique situation.
Detailed Comparison
Side-by-side comparison of key features and differences
| Comparison Factor | Hospice Care | Palliative Care | End-of-Life Care |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary Goal | Comfort care when curative treatment is no longer pursued | Symptom management alongside curative treatment | Comprehensive support during final days/weeks of life |
| Eligibility | Life expectancy of 6 months or less (if disease runs its normal course) | Any stage of serious illness, no time limit | Imminent death expected within days to weeks |
| Curative Treatment | Discontinued - focus shifts to comfort | Can continue alongside palliative care | Discontinued - focus on comfort and dignity |
| When to Start | When prognosis is 6 months or less | At diagnosis of serious illness | When death is imminent (days to weeks) |
| Duration | As long as patient remains eligible (can be extended) | No time limit - can continue for years | Final days to weeks of life |
| Medicare Coverage | Fully covered under Medicare Hospice Benefit | Covered as regular medical care | Covered under hospice or regular Medicare |
| Care Setting | Home, nursing facility, or hospice center | Hospital, outpatient clinic, or home | Home, hospital, nursing facility, or hospice center |
| Services Included | Medical care, medications, equipment, counseling, spiritual support | Symptom management, care coordination, emotional support | 24/7 nursing, pain management, family support, bereavement care |
| Family Support | Extensive family counseling and bereavement support | Family education and emotional support | Intensive family presence support and grief counseling |
| Best For | Patients who have decided to focus on quality of life over cure | Patients managing chronic serious illness while pursuing treatment | Patients and families needing intensive support in final moments |