Palliative and End-of-Life Care: Begin Here

What is palliative care?

• An interdisciplinary approach to care
• Specializes in both physical and psychological symptoms
• Provides relief of pain and other symptoms of serious illness
• Assists with communication between patient, families, and medical staff
• Is dedicated to improve the quality of life for people with critical or terminal illness or conditions that progress and are increasingly limiting
• Is appropriate at any stage of the illness
• Can be provided at the same time as treatment designed to cure
• Provides a goal to allow the patient to live as fully and comfortably as possible
• Allows patients to die with dignity
• Does not seek to hasten or postpone the end of life
• Offers a support system

From the site Palliative Care at NYU Langone Medical Center, palliativecare.med.nyu.edu/what-is-palliative-care/a-definition

What is hospice care?

Hospice focuses on caring, not curing, and in most cases, care is provided in the patient’s home. Hospice care also is provided in freestanding hospice centers, hospitals, and nursing homes and other long-term care facilities. 

Hospice care is for any person who has a life-threatening or terminal illness. Most reimbursement sources require a prognosis of six months or less if the illness runs its normal course. All hospices consider the patient and family together as the unit of care.

Source: National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization

Cathy Berkman, PhD, ACSW, Director of the Palliative Care Fellowship in Fordham University's Graduate School of Social Service for her contributions of material and expertise in the creation of this guide.