Hospice vs. Palliative Care: What's the Difference?
Both focus on comfort. Hospice does far more — and knowing the difference helps families choose with confidence.
Palliative care and hospice both focus on comfort rather than cure. The difference is scope and timing. Palliative care can run alongside curative treatment at any stage of a serious illness, and on its own it is usually a limited benefit — about a monthly nurse visit, medications and some medical equipment. Hospice is for a prognosis of six months or less, when curative treatment is no longer working or no longer wanted, and it brings a whole team into the home: nurses twice a week or more, hospice aides, social workers, spiritual care, medications and equipment, 24-hour on-call help, and more than a year of grief support for the family.
Side by Side
What a stand-alone palliative benefit typically includes, next to what hospice from Open Arms includes.
Who it is for
Palliative: Anyone living with a serious illness, at any stage.
Hospice: A life-limiting illness with a prognosis of six months or less from a physician.
Alongside curative treatment?
Palliative: Yes — it can continue while treatment aimed at a cure goes on.
Hospice: The focus shifts fully to comfort and quality of life, once curative treatment is no longer working or no longer wanted.
Nurse visits
Palliative: Typically about once a month.
Hospice: RN visits twice weekly or more, under a physician-directed plan of care.
The care team
Palliative: A nurse, with medications and some medical equipment.
Hospice: Nurses, physician oversight, hospice aides, social workers, spiritual care, volunteers, therapists and nutritional counseling.
Medications & equipment
Palliative: Some medications and durable medical equipment.
Hospice: Medications, oxygen, hospital beds, wheelchairs and supplies related to the diagnosis — delivered to the home and managed by the team.
After hours
Palliative: Depends on the provider.
Hospice: 24-hour on-call nursing, 365 days a year — an actual staff member answers.
Family support
Palliative: Depends on the provider.
Hospice: Bereavement and grief support for 13 months or more after a loss.
Where care happens
Palliative: Depends on the provider.
Hospice: Wherever your loved one calls home, with short-term inpatient care through contracted facilities when it is needed.
Coverage
Palliative: Varies by plan.
Hospice: Medicare and Medicaid accepted.
The palliative column describes what a stand-alone palliative benefit typically covers, as our administrator has seen it; details vary by provider and plan. The hospice column is what Open Arms provides — see all our services.
Why Families Choose Hospice Once They Understand the Difference
Many families first hear "palliative care" and assume it is the gentler choice. In practice a stand-alone palliative benefit covers very little. Hospice brings the same comfort-focused care and a great deal more — the visits, the team, the equipment, the round-the-clock number to call, and support for the family long after a loss.
“Hospice covers so much more, and once people understand the difference they choose hospice.”
Hospice is a Medicare benefit, and Open Arms accepts Medicare and Medicaid. Eligibility starts with a physician’s prognosis of six months or less — see the full admission criteria or call (248) 516-3978 any time, 24/7, and reach an actual staff member.
Hospice vs. Palliative Care FAQ
Request a call
Not Sure Which Is Right? Let's Talk It Through.
Tell us who the call is about and when to reach you. A member of our team calls back, listens to the situation and explains what hospice would look like for your family.
- ✓ An actual staff member answers 24/7 at (248) 516-3978
- ✓ After hours, a designated on-call RN who knows our whole census takes the call
- ✓ Medicare and Medicaid accepted; CHAP accredited
Ready to learn whether your loved one qualifies for hospice?