Home/

Palliative Care vs. Hospice: What’s the Difference?

Understanding different end-of-life care options.

What Is Palliative Care?

Palliative care focuses on improving quality of life for individuals living with serious, chronic, or life-limiting illnesses. Unlike hospice care, palliative care can be provided alongside curative treatments and is not limited to those nearing the end of life.

Key Features of Palliative Care:

  • Who Can Benefit: Anyone with a serious illness, such as cancer, heart failure, or COPD, regardless of life expectancy.
  • Goals: To relieve pain, manage symptoms, and address emotional, psychological, and spiritual needs.
  • Settings: Offered in various locations, including hospitals, nursing homes, and at home.
  • Duration: Available at any stage of the illness and can continue for years alongside other treatments.

At Home Instead South Lakes, our palliative care approach ensures that clients feel supported and comfortable in familiar surroundings while respecting their individual choices and dignity.

What Is Hospice Care?

Hospice care, a subset of palliative care, is specifically designed for individuals in the final stages of life. Typically, hospice care begins when a person’s life expectancy is six months or less, and curative treatments have been stopped.

While Home Instead South Lakes does not provide hospice care, our palliative care services at home can provide comfort and dignity for individuals nearing the end of life. Our focus is on enabling clients to remain in the place they know and love—their home—surrounded by family and familiar comforts.

How Home Instead South Lakes Can Help

As a home care provider with Gold Standard recognition, Home Instead South Lakes specialises in delivering high-quality palliative care at home. Our Care Professionals are trained to provide compassionate support that respects each client’s dignity and individuality.

Our Services Include:

  • Personal care assistance to maintain comfort and dignity.
  • Symptom management and coordination with healthcare providers.
  • Emotional and spiritual support for clients and their families.
  • Respite care for family caregivers to ensure their well-being.

Choosing the Right Care

Deciding how to support a loved one in their final stages of life can be a deeply personal and emotional decision. At Home Instead South Lakes, we are here to support you every step of the way. Our focus on providing palliative care at home ensures that your loved ones receive the highest level of care in the place they feel most at peace.

If you’d like to learn more about our palliative care services, please don’t hesitate to contact us. Let us help you provide the comfort and dignity your loved ones deserve at home.