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CaringInfo

Resources to help people make decisions about end-of-life care and services before a crisis

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  • Types of Care
    • Curative Care
    • Palliative Care
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    • Comfort Care
    • Bereavement Care
    • Difference between Palliative and Hospice Care
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Types of Care

The terms palliative care, comfort care, and hospice care are often used interchangeably and vaguely. While their applications may overlap and may all exist on a care journey, they are not the same. CaringInfo can help you sort these terms out and make choices that are right for you. Learn how to plan for medical care that fits into your life, your values, and your wishes.

It can be helpful to think of your care journey on a continuum. When you receive a diagnosis, you would likely opt for curative medical interventions. You would introduce palliative care to ensure you are as comfortable as possible as treatment continues and your symptoms may get more severe. Then, when a cure is no longer possible – for the final period of life – hospice is the preferred type of care, which includes bereavement support for those closest to you.

A person considering different types of care

What is Curative or Therapeutic Care?

A person consult with a doctor. The doctor is wearing a stethescope around their neck.

Curative or therapeutic care refers in part to treatments and therapies provided to a patient with the main intent of fully resolving an illness or condition. The terms are also used for treatments that delay disease progression even when a cure is not possible. Examples include chemotherapy for cancer, total joint replacement, and physical therapy. It is important to understand the risks and benefits of any curative or therapeutic care so you can make the best choices for you and your life. 

Learn about:

  • How do I learn about my choices of curative or therapeutic care?
  • What is shared decision making?
  • What are the questions I should ask my doctors about curative or therapeutic care?

What is Palliative Care?

An aide offers a women some dinner. The woman is sitting at a table.

Palliative care is often misunderstood. It is for people at any stage of illness, whether life-threatening or not. Palliative care is focused on easing pain and discomfort and helping people enjoy everyday life. Palliative care can be and usually is provided along with curative care.

Learn about:

  • What are the goals of palliative care?
  • How do I know that palliative care would be good for me or someone I care for?
  • How and where is palliative care delivered?
  • What is the difference between palliative care and hospice care?
  • Who pays for palliative care?

What is Hospice Care?

A nurse cares for a patient. The patient is in bed.

Hospice care focuses on quality of life when a cure is no longer possible, or the burdens of treatment outweigh the benefits. Hospice care is a team-oriented approach to expert medical care, pain management, and emotional and spiritual support expressly tailored to the patient’s and family/inner circle’s wishes and needs. It can be provided in any setting.

Learn about:

  • What services does hospice care offer?
  • When and how do I choose hospice care?
  • What is the difference between palliative care and hospice care?
  • Who pays for hospice care?

What is Comfort Care?

A doctor and woman talking

Comfort care is defined as care that is focused on symptom control, pain relief, and quality of life. Confusingly, the term is often used interchangeably with palliative care and hospice care—it may be part of either one but doesn’t accurately describe the entire offering of either.

Learn about:

  • How is comfort care different from palliative care?
  • How is comfort care different from hospice care?
  • How do I ask my doctor what they mean when they suggest comfort care?

What is Bereavement Care?

There are many ways to get support after suffering a loss and it is important that we do. Many hospices offer formal programs in bereavement care that are open to the community. Additionally, there are excellent websites, online and real communities, and a variety of other resources that can help.   

Learn about:

  • How can bereavement care help?
  • How to find a hospice offering bereavement care
  • Useful resources on bereavement

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A program of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization

About

CaringInfo, a program of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, provides free resources to educate and empower patients and caregivers to make decisions about serious illness and end-of-life care and services. CaringInfo’s goal is that all people are making informed decisions about their care.  Learn more about CaringInfo.

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