The Difference between Hospice Care and Palliative Care

The most frequently asked question, answered here! What is the fifference between Hospice Care and Palliative Care.

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#endoflife #hospice #activelydying

[kimberlynewberry]

My dear friend just passed away from stage 4 metastatic ovarian cancer. She did chemo for months before it was made clear to her that her chemo was palliative, meaning it would keep the cancer from growing any further for a while but would not reverse the cancer. She never understood what was happening until we attended doctor visits with her and made sure it was explained to her plainly. She finally stopped the chemo because her quality of life was terrible. It broke my heart that she suffered through all that chemo thinking it would shrink the cancer and “cure” her.

[diIdaho]

Mom passed away couple months ago. Mom had an undiagnosed dementia condition that for some reason all her doctors evaded to discuss with us. Along with her six other diagnoses, her symptoms were not clearly recognized by family, only assumed. Wished I had known more about palliative care rather than relying on doctors to bring it to our attention. It would have helped us as caregivers to become more educated in the changes we were observing and to take the verbal and behavioral changes, less personal. Because I didn’t understand the behaviors, I misunderstood or misinterpreted the symptoms. Please everyone, once there is a diagnosis for anything, ask the doctor to explain palliative care and to initiate the process. Don’t wait for the doctor to bring it up with you. We didn’t get the assistance of palliative and headed straight into hospice.

[peacefulone]

While still in the hospital, my Dr told me I needed to be on palliative care. My team was awesome. They made the difference to even to continue trying. My palliative care lasted for 10 months. Yet, to get back to some normalcy took just over two years. My hubby (medical professional) & friends were like coaches. They also made sure to get me to every doctor appointment & every physical therapy appointment. My hubby even did my hair & helped dress me. He 'awed' me ❤❤❤

[adaywithoutdonald]

I wish I had been told about palliative care vs. hospice when trying to help my 89 y.o. mother with her alzheimers. I was so relieved when her neurologist office set us up with a patient care support person, then was very let down when that person never returned my calls when I asked for guidance about my Mom's care. Mom fell in her bedroom at my home, broke four ribs, and after 12 hrs in the ER she finally got a room. By that time, she had started to get very restless and agitated. She failed a swallowing test and had been apirating food and drink for a time (I thought her weak coughing was because the air was dry, so I set up a humidifier in her room). Even the hospital hospice folks I talked to weren't sure if she needed hospice. So, she was NPO, but staff felt that she was too responsive for home hospice care. Three days later, and after demanding to talk to an actual doctor, I got her home, with oxygen and a bed via hospice. The first hospice nurse we had to do her intake said she could last for months (really, I thought. She can't really eat much) and I was told to buy prune juice and ensures. The next day, a wonderful older hospice nurse came and did a proper evaluation on mom. We didn't have long. Finally, we got the guidance we needed, but I wished it had been much sooner. My Mom came home on a Thursday, and by Saturday afternoon, she was gone. The confusion of care in her final week and the abandonement we felt from her neurologists office has left me afraid to get old and sick. Our healthcare system in America has dried up and blown away. Where was the communication, the guidance, and the support I had stupidly expected? We had a wonderful experience with hospice ten years previous when my mother-in-law died of lung cancer. I went into caring for my Mom, expecting the same experience. Something needs to be done.

[joen.]

So, I have a close acquaintance (my ex-wife's husband and "step" dad to my daughter, although not adopted), newly diagnosed with stage-two pancreatic cancer. He already has a weak heart, the concern for the last few years was: when would his heart give out? I saw him yesterday, he doesn't look good (very thin, gaunt eyes with jaundice). It seems he will be facing some very difficult times ahead, (he is already on some kind of strong meds before this for various reasons). I just wanted to say, after watching just one video that you are a very special breed of people. I hope your day is going well.

[autumndahlia]

Thank you, Nurse Julie. My mother was fully independent just last month. No meds, no diagnosis, etc. She went into the hospital after altered mental state one day and we found out that she has heart failure in its end stages. We decided to put her on hospice rather than opt for palliative care because the doctor explained that the treatments were just prolonging and causing more pain. Unfortunately, since she came home recently, I've watched a steady decline, but your videos have helped both of us understand the process more and feel more at peace with her end coming soon. Your video about morphine helped her understand that it's okay to take and she can at least enjoy a few hours each day with her grandchildren. <3 Thank you.

[debfox]

Thank you for what you do! My grandma’s hospice nurse was named Julz. She SAVED me! I had lost my mom in 99 and my grandma and I were super close. I took care of her for 6 years before she died and was her medical power of attorney. I had to make decisions by myself except for her angel hospice nurse!

[richardkorejwo]

Lady full of Sweetness and clarity. Thank you

[Jomama]

My MIL passed while on palliative care for a major stroke. She had a partial stroke that just left her a bit confused on a timeline. Then while in hospital she had a full stroke but recovered somewhat but she refused to eat. Then she had another stroke and was unconscious. I think they did pallative care because they knew we weren't equipped to be able to care for her at home. She lasted a week with many this is it calls during this week. She waited till we all said we loved her. We went outside for a smoke and came back in and she was taking her last breathes..she went peacefully with no pain. They just gave her iv ativan to calm her when she got agitated. They took wonderful care of her making sure she was clean and comfortable. She died with us holding her hands. Very peacefull.

[rufuscusack]

Nurse Julie, you are a true GIFT to the sick & people who love & care for them!

[jenn]

I’m a Palliative Care Social Worker and you explained these 2 services almost exactly the way I do! I wish everyone living with a serious illness knew they could have Palliative Care while also getting curative treatment.

[lnewbury]

Thank you for this Julie. This really helps me. My mom is 91 and has now moved in with me. She can’t care for herself as she’s beginning stage dementia. She had a mild stroke in January which kind of sped things up a bit. She has chronic kidney disease and struggles with severe right flank pain. She has been receiving home health care but the nurse now thinks she needs to move into palliative care. I asked if that was the same as hospice and she said no and that mom doesn’t need hospice at this point. She tried to explain it to me but your explanation makes much more sense. I’m so appreciative of you.

[annenelson]

Hospice Nurse Julie, I have a debt of gratitude to you. Your videos were so helpful as my mother laid dying. It was an extended painful experience for my brothers and me.

Your videos gave me comfort and perspective. You are a very special and unique person. Thank you so much for your informative and helpful videos.

[vkpe]

THANK YOU. I've been watching for a while, to understand for a family member locally. Now, I have a family member elsewhere here in Australia who suddenly needs much deeper care, probably palliative care. Your video series has been shared with the family. SAME, ONLY DIFFERENT, of course. Again, THANK YOU.

[kareldebures]

You explained the way my ongoing palliative care experience and treatment is as I see it! I am proud of each specialist and their staff, each and every nurse at every level, everyone together is making a great team! But none of this has happened quick, this has taken a few years with constant changes and setbacks, so one should not expect a long term easy path as in my situation with Parkinsonism and other issues. From what I am reading in the comments some are lost in the maze of the healthcare path, it really is difficult to navigate and deal with! I feel for everyone here following you, and I am so grateful that you are doing this! Every little bit of encouragement helps everyone, and if I can help someone in any way with a question, I will be happy to do so!

[suethorogood]

Hi Julie, my father died last week in a nursing home, your videos really helped me understand the actively dying process which meant I could explain it to my Mum . Thank you for that . Sue from the UK x

[groovygrandmama]

I know this was made awhile ago, but I still wanted to thank you for making it. My husband is starting on in home palliative care Monday, and I was confused and worried.

[Mooreytheblade]

Hi julie just recently stumbled across this channel, due to my late grandfather who has sadly lost his life over the weekend due to heart and lung capacity issues due to life long cigarette smoking, he was in palliative care last few weeks of his life but what what hit home was when nurses said week leading upto his death is if he has an heart attack would we want to resuscitate him and they are stoping treatment 😢, seeing how he was before his decline in health he was quite well built to when he was a few week to end of his life he dropped alot of weight looked proper weak, struggled majorly to be mobile and all the signs you have said about what they go through at the end of the life like talking to deceased ones like his brother and also he said "make them go away from my house, they will rob it" 😂 whilst me my mum and immediate family was in the house, plus a funny quote he said he wanted a "cuppa with a flower in it" since im from the uk cuppa is a slang for a hot beverage called tea bless him but apparently before death he reached out with his arms in the dying moments 😢 least he is reunited with his wife also my nanan... sorry for rambling on and on i was in tears writing this R.I.P grandad you can finally rest ❤

[paulkoza]

Thanks for this clarification. I thought that they were the same thing.

[MaryMerryKingOfTheWoodsIsHe]

Thanks for the info, Julie. You have taught us all a lot.