HomeCare Hospice: Difference Between Palliative Care and Hospice

When facing a serious illness, understanding care options can feel overwhelming. Two terms that often come up are palliative care and hospice care. While these types of care share common goals, they serve different purposes at different stages of illness. Covenant Health HomeCare and Hospice, the area’s largest locally owned home health and hospice provider, has been helping patients navigate these options since 1978.  

Erin Kipp, DO, a hospice and palliative care specialist with Covenant HomeCare, emphasizes the importance of knowing the difference between these two types of care: “The biggest misconception is that hospice and palliative care are the same thing and that when you’re on palliative care, all treatment stops. They are not the same, and with palliative care you’re still receiving aggressive or life-prolonging care.” 

What is Palliative Care? 

Palliative care helps manage symptoms and provide support. People may choose palliative care when they are dealing with: 

• Cancer 
• Heart Disease 
• Kidney Failure 
• COPD 
• Dementia 
• Other chronic conditions 

Why Choose Palliative Care? 

The primary goal is to help people living with illness feel better by relieving symptoms such as: 

• Pain 
• Fatigue 
• Nausea 
• Sleep problems 
• Depression 

One of the most important things to understand about palliative care is that it doesn’t replace current treatment. Patients receive palliative care alongside curative treatment, meaning they continue treating or curing their disease while also getting help managing symptoms and improving quality of life. 

When to Choose Palliative Care 

“Studies actually show that when someone is diagnosed with a serious illness the earlier that palliative gets involved, the better,” explains Dr. Kipp. “Thepatient does better, and thefamily does better. They are more educated about their illness, and their symptoms are caught earlier and treated more quickly.” 

What is Hospice Care? 

Hospice care is a specialized form of care designed for people whose illness has advanced to a terminal stage. Hospice is intended for people who have no further options to treat a life-threatening illness effectively or for whom those treatments don’t provide improved quality of life. 

Why Choose Hospice Care? 

Dr. Kipp emphasizes that choosing hospice isn’t about giving up. “Instead of looking at it as giving up, you’re basically saying you’re not going to let this illness control your life anymore,” she explains. “You’re shifting your focus to quality of life. By selecting hospice, you are focused on yourself and what you want—not being controlled by your illness and the treatments around it.” 

When to Choose Hospice Care 

Generally, hospice care is available to anyone with a life expectancy of six months or less. However, this doesn’t mean care stops after six months. Hospice care can continue for as long as the individual’s doctor and hospice care team confirm that the illness remains life-limiting. 

Hospice focuses on comfort rather than cure. When someone enters hospice care, they are no longer receiving treatments aimed at curing their disease. Instead, the focus shifts entirely to pain management, symptom control, and providing the highest quality of life possible during the time remaining. 

What They Have in Common 

Both palliative and hospice care share many features: 

• Commitment to quality of life and whole-person support 
• Emotional, physical, and spiritual care for patients and families 
• Choice of receiving care at home  
• Provide support to caregivers through ongoing assistance 

As Dr. Kipp emphasizes, teamwork is a key part of both types of care: “We really look at it as if we’re a team. It’s not just the patient. We’re all on the same team, doing what we can to best support the situation.” At Covenant Health, these teams include physicians, nurses, pharmacists, social workers, chaplains, patients, and their families.  

Compassionate Care When It Matters Most 

With Covenant Health HomeCare and Hospice, the mission is simple: provide the highest quality of service by putting patients first. Whether someone needs palliative care to manage symptoms while continuing treatment, or hospice care for comfort-focused support, our team is committed to delivering quality care tailored to each patient’s unique needs.  

Patients and families who could benefit from these services should talk with their healthcare provider. More information is available on Covenant Health’s HomeCare and Hospice page, or you can contact Covenant HomeCare and Hospice directly at 865-374-0600.