Five Ways Palliative Care and Hospice Care Are Different
Have you ever wondered what the differences are between hospice care and palliative care? When you’re first facing the end of your senior’s life, they may sound like they’re the same thing, but they truly aren’t. There are different ways that these types of care support your elderly family member and your entire family during these difficult situations.
Length of Care
Hospice Care Winter Garden, FL:Palliative Care and Hospice Care
There’s no time limit on palliative therapies for your senior. Hospice care, on the other hand, is defined as a form of care that is meant for people who are expected to have six or fewer months left to live. When your senior’s doctor certifies her to enter into hospice, she may live longer than six months. She can re certify for hospice if that is the case.
When Care Is Available
Another timing difference for these two types of care is that palliative care is available immediately after your elderly family member is diagnosed with a life-limiting illness. So, if she’s diagnosed with heart failure, she can start curative treatments as well as palliative treatments as soon as she would like. Because of the time limits associated with hospice care, your senior can only opt for this type of treatment when her doctor certifies that she is near the end of her life.
Types of Treatments
Palliative care offers a variety of different treatment options that are designed to offer continuous care alongside curative therapies. That means that if your elderly family member has cancer and wants to continue aggressive treatments like chemotherapy, palliative therapies can work alongside those and help her to feel more comfortable. Hospice care is about no longer using curative treatments and moving to strictly comfort care.
The Focus Is Different for Each
What this ultimately means is that the focus for these two types of care is markedly different. On the surface, they’re both about keeping your senior as comfortable as she is able to be. However they achieve that goal with a different focus. Palliative care focuses on educating you, your senior, and other family members along with finding resources to help your senior to continue to live her life comfortably. Hospice involves finding the resources she needs to face the end of her life the way that she wants.
Hospice Care Is about Dying Well
The phrase “dying well” means that your elderly family member is able to approach the end of her life on her own terms as much as possible. This can often mean that she’s able to plan her funeral in advance if she wants to be involved in that and that her needs for comfort are met to the extent that she wants them to be. There are a lot of options, and hospice providers help her to navigate all of that.
Choosing the right type of care for your senior at the end of her life can come down to her goals and to what she is up against. There’s nothing to gain by waiting too long, especially since both types of care can offer significant benefits at different stages of your senior’s end-of-life planning.
If you or an aging loved-one is considering Hospice Care in Winter Garden, FL please contact the caring staff at Winter Garden Senior Home Care today. (407) 347-2050
Founder / Owner
Jennifer Talbot is the Co-Owner of Winter Garden Senior Home Care in Winter Garden Florida.The business opened on Plant Street in October of 2007 (formally known as Age Advantage).
Jennifer remains active in the business and enjoys personally meeting with families looking for professional, classy caregivers. She prides herself in taking the time to listen and appreciate the personalities and life experiences of people who wish to “age in place”.Her unique ability to match people with their ideal caregiver, combined with a strong sense of service is what makes her business so successful.
Mrs. Talbot is a current member and past president of the Winter Garden Rotary Club, past president of the VFW Ladies Auxiliary, active West Orange Chamber member, Recipient of the “Spirit of West Orange” Award 2017, Past Business Networking International Growth Coordinator, Past Committee member and founder of South Lake’s HINT, sustainer member of the West Orange Junior Service League, past board member for AGED, advisory board member for Elder Advocates, a United States Air Force brat, and proud mother of two college graduates.
Rebecca Lanterman
Owner
Rebecca has worked in the Central Florida medical community for over 10 years.She is a native of Winter Garden, Florida andhas a driving passion to serve our seniors.It has been said that Rebecca never meets a stranger.Her experience has been in Hospice, Hospitals, Nursing Homes and Assisted Living Communities where she faithfully served as a community liaison helping residents and families understand the myriad of long term care and healthcare options.
Rebecca is the mom of a little guy who is the twinkle of her eye.She can often be heard telling stories of traveling all around the country pulling her camper.To Rebecca, to live life is to touch it and experience it.Growing up in Central Florida afforded her some unique experiences like being a part of the “Magic” at Walt Disney World where she was a Walt Disney World Spirit Ambassador.She feels that this early indoctrination by The Walt Disney Company helped her understand the true value of serving others.To this day, she still has some of that Pixie Dust.Rebecca has also accomplished countless marathons and triathlons. After the sudden loss of her dad, her training partner, in 2012 she stepped away from the sport.But, as time has passed and healing has taken place, she is back to pursuing their dreams again.This time, her dad, her trusty training partner is keeping pace in her heart.It is from that willingness and drive that Rebecca has a keen understanding of the arduous and often treacherous course that our families are on.And, she is here to come along beside you and be with you each step, each stride, and each hurdle.It’s the old adage “life is a marathon and not a sprint”.She is here along with the team at Winter Garden Senior Home Care to be a part of your journey.
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