Palliative Care and Hospice Care: What's the Difference? - C. Robert Bennett, PhD

Palliative care services are appropriate for anyone who is living with a serious illness, regardless of the stage of illness. Two of the key indications for a palliative care consultation are receiving a serious illness diagnosis and having a need for support. Receiving palliative care does not preclude patients from simultaneously receiving treatment with a curative intent.
Hospice care is a service that the palliative care team may provide a patient, but it has a slightly different focus. Hospice care generally pertains to end-of-life care for patients who are anticipated to live six months or less. Hospice care can bring closure to a person’s life across the psychological, social, spiritual, and cultural aspects of care. Hospice helps coordinate end-of-life care through goals of care conversations.
Dr. C. Robert Bennett, PhD, CPNP-AC is a nurse scientist at the Mayo Clinic Arizona and works closely with the Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center Adolescent and Young Adult Oncology team. He completed his postdoctoral fellowship in palliative care and aging research at the University of Colorado School of Medicine.
Learn more about palliative care and cancer at canceradvocacy...
This is a resource produced by the National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship.