I’ve seen palliative care described as symptom-relieving treatment *usually* for terminal diseases, though it doesn’t have to **only** apply to terminal diseases. Doesn’t that make pretty much ALL medical treatment “palliative care”? Say if someone has epilepsy and they are treated with anti-seizure medicine to stop their seizures, would that fall under the definition of palliative care?
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In hospice, you cannot be undergoing curative treatment (like chemo or radiation – unless it is simply to treat symptoms) for your terminal illness, but in palliative care you can.
To receive hospice care, two doctors must certify that you have 6 months or less to live if your illness were to proceed on its natural course. Palliative care can be received anytime during a serious illness.
Hospice care is much more extensive and holistic, involving social workers, chaplains, counselors, etc — treatment for the whole person as well as the patients family. Palliative care is mostly just about treating symptoms from serious illness (“comfort” care).
Hospice care is typically covered by Medicare and most insurance; palliative care is much more variable.
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