Being in hospice care sounds very similar to being in the hospital to most people. If you have not had a personal experience with hospice care, or know someone who has, you may not be aware of the difference.

What is hospice care exactly?

Hospice offers palliative care for patients and support for their families. Hospice is not curative. Unlike a hospital, where people go for treatment to get well, hospice is for patients who have decided to forgo curative care. Hospice care focuses on pain and symptom management.

What are the differences between hospice and hospital care?

1. Cost – Being in a hospital, especially long-term, can be very expensive, even if a patient has insurance. Most patients in hospice care qualify for Medicare, even if they are under 65. This is because they are not able to work due to illness/disability. Once you are certified for Medicare hospice care, there are no deductibles and virtually no co-pays. You are not denied medication due to cost either. Hospice care relieves patients and their families of much financial stress due to treatment costs.

2. Personalization – In a hospital, it is likely that you will see any number of doctors and nurses. Even though hospitals try very hard to make patients feel like they are receiving personal treatment, it can still be difficult with so many patients. In hospice care, the patient receives treatment daily from the same staff members for the most part. It can be comforting and helpful to be able to know your medical caregivers on a more personal level.

3. In-depth Visits - Sometimes doctor and nurse visits in a hospital setting can feel rushed. When a patient is receiving hospice care, staff are generally able to take their time when working with a patient.

4. Location, location, location – When you are under the care of a hospital, you are required to stay in the hospital for most treatments. With hospice care patients can receive treatment at home. They will be surrounded by friends and family who can participate in caregiving. But they are still eligible for every level of medical support available. Hospice doctors and nurse or techs come to the patient’s home, allowing them to receive treatment in a more comfortable setting.

5. Care can be given in other settings - Sometimes a person is in a nursing home setting long before they need hospice. In this case, hospice care can be initiated in a nursing home just as effectively as in a personal home.

6. Hospice staff work with nursing home patients - Once a person in a nursing home becomes a hospice patient the hospice professionals take charge. Again, this allows for a more personal level of care for the patient. This is not an accident – it’s the law. The laws governing hospice care in a nursing home are detailed and strict.

7. A variety of wrap around supports - Whether a person is in a home care, a nursing home, or hospice in-patient setting, all of the staff, including doctors and nurses, are dedicated to helping each person under their care live their last days free of pain and discomfort. Staff members know that the patient’s feelings, fears, and prayers are a priority. The focus on supporting the patient wholly, including bodily and mental health support.