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Hospice Care vs. Palliative Care: What Westchester Families Need to Know

Tag: 5 Stages of Palliative Care

Hospice Care vs. Palliative Care: What Westchester Families Need to Know

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When someone you love is facing a serious illness, the amount of information coming at you can feel like too much all at once. You may have heard the words hospice or palliative care and wondered whether they mean the same thing, or which one applies to your family right now.

Both hospice and palliative care exist for the same reason: to make sure that people living with serious illness are surrounded by comfort, dignity, and genuine human support. Both involve teams of dedicated professionals who care for the whole person, not just the medical side of things.

Westchester HospiceThe difference, at its heart, comes down to timing. According to the National Institute on Aging, palliative care can start as early as a person’s diagnosis and can be offered alongside treatments aimed at curing or slowing the progression of a disease. Hospice care, on the other hand, is for a person whose doctor has determined that if the illness runs its natural course, life expectancy is six months or less. One can begin at any point in a serious illness. The other is a deeply supportive form of care for the final chapter of life.

What Palliative Care in Westchester County Looks Like

Palliative care Westchester County families can access is not something you have to wait for. It is available from the moment a serious diagnosis arrives, and it works hand in hand with whatever other treatment your loved one is already receiving. According to the National Institute on Aging, palliative care is a resource for anyone living with a serious illness such as heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cancer, dementia, or Parkinson’s disease.

Think of palliative care as a layer of support that sits alongside everything else. It helps manage pain and difficult symptoms. It helps your family understand what is happening and what choices you have. It makes space for the emotional and spiritual side of a serious illness that so often gets overlooked in the rush of appointments and treatments. After 35 years of walking alongside Westchester families, we have seen how much of a difference this kind of support can make, not just for the person who is ill, but for everyone who loves them.

The 5 Stages of Palliative Care

Families often ask us about the 5 stages of palliative care and what they can expect as time goes on. While palliative care does not follow a rigid path, it does tend to move through a natural progression that mirrors the journey of a serious illness. According to VITAS Healthcare, palliative care can begin at any stage of illness at the discretion of the physician and patient, and it evolves as needs change. In general, that progression looks something like this:

  1. During active treatment, palliative care focuses on managing side effects and keeping your loved one as comfortable as possible while curative treatment is underway.
  2. As an illness becomes more chronic, palliative care shifts toward helping your loved one live as fully as possible day to day.
  3. In the advanced illness phase, comfort and quality of life become the central focus and conversations about goals of care become more important.
  4. As end of life approaches, palliative care gently supports the transition toward hospice and helps families feel prepared rather than blindsided.
  5. After a loss, palliative care extends into bereavement support, helping the people left behind find their footing again.

Knowing where your family is in this journey can help you ask the right questions and make sure you are getting the right level of support at each step.

The Philosophy of Hospice Care

At its core, the philosophy of hospice care is about one thing: making sure that the end of life is as peaceful, comfortable, and meaningful as possible. According to the Hospice Foundation of America, hospice care aims to manage a patient’s symptoms while supporting their quality of life, and it provides support for family caregivers as well as the patient.

Long Term Hospice Care in Westchester

Hospice and Palliative CareLong term hospice care that Westchester families can access often begins weeks or even months before the end of life, and that time makes an enormous difference.

According to Medicare.gov, Medicare covers hospice care for patients certified by a physician to have a life expectancy of six months or less, and care can continue for as long as the patient continues to meet that criteria. Hospice long term care is not a countdown. It is an ongoing, evolving relationship between your family and a team of people who are fully committed to being there for you. At Jansen, our hospice care services are provided wherever your loved one calls home, whether that is a private residence, a skilled nursing or assisted living facility, or a NewYork-Presbyterian contracted hospital.

How the Two Types of Care Work Together

It helps to picture palliative care and hospice care as two points on the same path rather than two separate roads. According to the Hospice Foundation of America, all hospice care is palliative in nature because the focus is always on comfort and symptom management, but not all palliative care is hospice. Palliative care is the broader journey. Hospice is a deeply supported, fully focused chapter within it.

And as CaringInfo, a program of the National Alliance for Care at Home, reminds us, if your loved one’s needs change, the kind of care they receive can change too. There is no single right moment to make these decisions, and you do not have to have everything figured out before you reach out.

Key Takeaways

  • According to the National Institute on Aging, palliative care can begin at diagnosis and works alongside curative treatment, while hospice care is for those with a life expectancy of six months or less.
  • The 5 stages of palliative care move naturally from active treatment through chronic illness management, advanced illness, transition to end of life, and bereavement support.
  • The philosophy of hospice care centers on dignity, comfort, and quality of life, not giving up.
  • According to Medicare.gov, hospice care is covered 100 percent by Medicare and Medicaid for eligible patients and includes medications and medical equipment.
  • Long term hospice care Westchester families can access often begins months before the end of life and continues for as long as the patient meets eligibility criteria.
  • According to CaringInfo, the type of care a loved one receives can always evolve as their needs change.

Frequently Asked Questions

When should a family consider hospice care?

A family should consider hospice care when curative treatment is no longer helping or when the patient has chosen to prioritize comfort and quality of life over continued treatment. According to the National Institute on Aging, starting hospice early can provide months of meaningful care and quality time with loved ones, and many families wish they had reached out sooner.

Can someone receive palliative care and still pursue curative treatment?

Yes, absolutely. According to VITAS Healthcare, palliative care can begin at any stage of illness and does not require a patient to stop pursuing curative treatment. It is designed to work alongside whatever is already in place.

What is the philosophy of hospice care?

The philosophy of hospice care is that every person deserves to spend the end of their life with dignity, comfort, and peace. According to the Hospice Foundation of America, hospice care focuses on managing symptoms and supporting quality of life for both the patient and their family caregivers.

How long can someone receive hospice care?

Hospice care can last for weeks or months. According to Medicare.gov, care continues for as long as the patient continues to meet eligibility criteria and a physician certifies that the illness, if it runs its natural course, would result in a life expectancy of six months or less.

Jansen Hospice Is Whenever You Are Ready

Our team at Jansen Hospice has been walking alongside Westchester families through some of the hardest and most tender moments of their lives for over 35 years. We offer both palliative care support and hospice care throughout Westchester, along with integrative therapies including music therapy, acupuncture, aromatherapy, art therapy, massage therapy, pet therapy, reflexology, Reiki, and therapeutic touch.

Sources

Compassionate Palliative Care in Westchester, NY

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Jansen Hospice has been committed to providing compassionate palliative care to Westchester County, NY since 1984

Jansen’s top priority is to ensure every patient has dignity, hope, and peace during treatment of their serious and life-threatening illness. It can be difficult to manage your physical, emotional, and spiritual needs during this time. That’s why we’re committed to providing support in these areas for both the patient and their family.

Hospice care vs. Palliative care

Hospice and palliative care both serve to provide comfort, reduce stress, relieve symptoms, and offer emotional support. Patients who receive these services are facing life-threatening illnesses that may or may not be curable.

Palliative care is the overall term for care during a chronic or life-limiting illness. This may be longer term and involve more medical involvement to cure the illness. Hospice care is a type of palliative care that comes towards the end of a patient’s life. This usually happens when the patient is given weeks to months left with no expectation to cure the illness but instead receives pain management care.

Palliative care in Westchester, NY with Jansen

Our Palliative Care is dedicated to caring for the whole person: body, mind, and spirit.

Jansen works with the palliative care team at New York Presbyterian/Lawrence Hospital and the Lawrence Home Care of Westchester staff to support symptom management for patients. Helping family members is an essential part of our mission, and our exceptional staff and professionally trained volunteers are available when needed most.

There are 5 stages of palliative care:

Stage 1: Early Palliative Care

The first stage of palliative care focuses on advance care planning. You will work with a team of medical, guidance, and therapist professionals who will help determine your long-term needs in order to create a treatment plan and overall long-term schedule.

Stage 2: Treatment Palliative Care

After creating your treatment plan, you begin treatment. Treatment looks different with each patient but may include some combination of medications (treatment and pain management), outside exercise, and counseling. It is recommended that your treatment plan exhibits emotional, spiritual, and medical care to ensure you are as holistically supported as possible.

Stage 3: Transition Palliative Care

Transition care is initiated when the illness has progressed and your treatment is no longer effective. Your care transitions to management which means continuing your treatment plan but adding more pain management and emotional support.

Stage 4: End-of-Life Palliative Care

At this point, you have been diagnosed with only a short amount of time left. Your team is now focused on creating a peaceful and comfortable existence so you can enjoy these moments as much as possible. Treatment is no longer an option so symptom management is necessary. Patients will typically return to the comfort of their home to be surrounded by their loved ones.

Stage 5: Bereavement Palliative Care

Bereavement care focuses on supporting your family and friends in coping with their great loss. The goal is to help your loved ones heal without you. This support can happen before, during, and after their loss.

If you’re looking for palliative care in Westchester, NY, Jansen Hospice & Palliative Care wants to help. Call us at (914) 787-6158 for more information.

Understanding the 5 Stages of Palliative Care: A Guide for Patients and Caregivers

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When you or a loved one faces a serious illness, the journey ahead can feel overwhelming and uncertain. Palliative care offers a compassionate path forward, focused on improving quality of life and providing support at every stage of your experience. Whether you’ve just received a diagnosis or are navigating advanced illness, understanding the stages of palliative care can help you feel more prepared and supported. At Jansen Hospice, we walk alongside patients and families through each stage, offering expert medical care and emotional support during difficult times.

Explaining Palliative Care in Westchester County

Palliative care is specialized medical care designed to provide relief from the symptoms and stress of serious illness. According to the World Health Organization, palliative care improves the quality of life of patients and their families who are facing challenges associated with life-threatening illness, whether physical, psychological, social, or spiritual.

It’s important to understand that palliative care is not the same as giving up on treatment. The National Institute on Aging explains that palliative care can be provided alongside curative treatment and may begin at the time of diagnosis. This means you can receive palliative care while still pursuing treatments aimed at curing or managing your illness.

At home hospice care in Westchester Ny Jansen HospiceStage 1: Early Palliative Care

The first stage of palliative care begins with comprehensive planning and assessment. This stage can start at any point after a serious illness diagnosis and focuses on understanding your unique needs, values, and goals.

What Happens During This Stage

During your initial consultation, your palliative care team will talk with you about your symptoms, current treatments, and how your illness is affecting your daily life.

Your team will work with you to create a personalized care plan that may include:

  • Pain and symptom management strategies
  • Emotional and spiritual support resources
  • Assistance with advance care planning and advance directives
  • Coordination with your other healthcare providers
  • Education about your illness and treatment options

The National Institute on Aging emphasizes that early palliative care conversations help ensure your care aligns with your wishes and values. This is also when many families discuss important documents like healthcare power of attorney, living wills, and do-not-resuscitate orders.

Stage 2: Treatment Palliative Care

Once your care plan is established, the second stage focuses on implementing that plan and actively managing your symptoms while maintaining the best possible quality of life.

Comprehensive Care Approach

Your palliative care plan will be tailored to your specific needs. Mayo Clinic explains that this stage addresses multiple dimensions of care, including physical comfort, emotional well-being, and spiritual support.

Treatment during this stage typically includes:

  • Medications for pain management and symptom relief
  • Therapies to improve comfort and function
  • Counseling and emotional support for you and your family
  • Spiritual care and guidance if desired
  • Assistance with daily activities and mobility
  • Nutritional support and guidance

The goal is to help you live as fully and comfortably as possible. Research shows that early use of palliative care services can improve quality of life, decrease depression and anxiety, and increase patient and family satisfaction with care.

Stage 3: Transition Palliative Care

As your illness progresses or if new symptoms develop, your palliative care team will adjust your care plan to meet your changing needs. This stage is sometimes called the “unstable” or “deteriorating” phase in medical literature.

Adapting to Changes

Your care team closely monitors your condition and makes modifications as needed. This might mean:

  • Adjusting medication doses or adding new medications
  • Increasing the frequency of visits from healthcare providers
  • Adding new support services or specialists to your care team
  • Modifying your care setting if needed
  • Providing additional support for family caregivers

According to the National Coalition for Hospice and Palliative Care, quality palliative care involves continuous assessment and adjustment to ensure your comfort and dignity are maintained throughout your illness journey.

Many families find that increased emotional and spiritual support becomes especially important during this stage. Your palliative care team is there to help you navigate difficult decisions and provide the resources you need.

Stage 4: End-of-Life Palliative Care

When curative treatments are no longer effective or when you decide to focus solely on comfort, care transitions to the end-of-life phase. This stage is often referred to as hospice care when a physician determines you have six months or less to live if the illness runs its natural course.

Focus on Comfort and Dignity

The National Institute on Aging explains that hospice care focuses on comfort and quality of life rather than cure. The goal is to help you live your remaining time with dignity, surrounded by loved ones, and as comfortable as possible.

Long term hospice care provider in Westchester County, NYDuring this stage, your care includes:

  • Intensive symptom management, especially pain control
  • Emotional and spiritual support for you and your family
  • Assistance with personal care and daily needs
  • Guidance for family members on what to expect
  • Help with end-of-life planning and arrangements
  • Respite care to give family caregivers needed breaks

The World Health Organization emphasizes that palliative care at this stage treats the person, not just the disease, honoring your wishes and helping your family prepare for the loss to come.

Stage 5: Bereavement Palliative Care

Palliative care doesn’t end when a patient passes away. The fifth stage focuses on supporting family members and loved ones as they grieve and adjust to life after loss.

Continuing Care for Your Loved Ones

Bereavement services are an essential part of comprehensive palliative and hospice care. Most hospice programs, including Jansen Hospice, provide grief support services for family members for up to 13 months after a patient’s death.

Bereavement support may include:

  • Individual grief counseling
  • Support groups for bereaved family members
  • Educational materials about the grieving process
  • Memorial services and remembrance events
  • Referrals to community resources and additional support services
  • Check-in calls and supportive contacts throughout the first year

Research published in the National Library of Medicine shows that bereavement support helps families cope with loss and process their grief in healthy ways. We understand that losing someone you love is one of life’s most difficult experiences, and we’re here to support you through it.

Frequently Asked Questions About Palliative Care

When is the right time to start palliative care?

Palliative care can begin at any time after a serious illness diagnosis, and earlier is often better. According to Mayo Clinic, research suggests that early use of palliative care services can improve quality of life, decrease depression and anxiety, and in some cases even extend survival. You don’t need to wait until treatments stop working or until you’re facing end-of-life decisions. Many patients benefit from palliative care while still receiving curative treatments, as it helps manage symptoms and provides additional support throughout the illness journey.

What’s the difference between palliative care and hospice care?

While these terms are sometimes used interchangeably, there are important distinctions. The National Institute on Aging explains that palliative care can be provided at any stage of serious illness and can occur alongside curative treatments. Hospice care, on the other hand, is a type of palliative care specifically for people with a terminal illness who have a life expectancy of six months or less and have chosen to focus on comfort rather than cure. Both approaches emphasize quality of life, symptom management, and support for patients and families, but hospice represents the final stage of the palliative care journey.

Will choosing palliative care mean giving up on treatment?

Absolutely not. This is one of the most common misconceptions about palliative care. The World Health Organization emphasizes that palliative care is appropriate at any stage of serious illness and can be provided alongside curative treatments. You can continue chemotherapy, radiation, dialysis, or other treatments while receiving palliative care services. The palliative care team works with your other doctors to add an extra layer of support that focuses on managing symptoms, reducing stress, and improving your overall quality of life while you pursue whatever treatment approach aligns with your goals and values.

Key Takeaways About the 5 Stages of Palliative Care

  • Palliative care can begin at any stage of serious illness and can be provided alongside curative treatment
  • Stage 1 focuses on comprehensive assessment and creating a personalized care plan aligned with your goals and values
  • Stage 2 involves active symptom management and implementing your care plan to maintain quality of life
  • Stage 3 adapts care as your illness progresses, adjusting treatments and support services to meet changing needs
  • Stage 4 shifts focus to comfort care when curative treatments are no longer effective or desired
  • Stage 5 provides bereavement support to family members and loved ones for up to 13 months after a patient’s passing

How Jansen Hospice Supports You Through Every Stage

At Jansen Hospice, we understand that facing serious illness raises difficult questions and emotions for patients and families. Our compassionate team has walked alongside countless families through every stage of palliative and hospice care, and we’re honored to provide the support and expertise you need during this challenging time.

We believe that everyone deserves to live with dignity, comfort, and meaning, no matter where they are in their illness journey. Our interdisciplinary team includes experienced physicians, nurses, social workers, chaplains, and trained volunteers who work together to address your physical, emotional, social, and spiritual needs.

If you have questions about palliative care or would like to learn more about our services, we’re here to help. Contact Jansen Hospice today to speak with a member of our care team. We’ll listen to your concerns, answer your questions, and help you understand your options—with compassion, respect, and expertise every step of the way.

Sources

National Institute on Aging – What Are Palliative Care and Hospice Care
https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/hospice-and-palliative-care/what-are-palliative-care-and-hospice-care

Mayo Clinic – Palliative Care
https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/palliative-care/about/pac-20384637

World Health Organization – Palliative Care
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/palliative-care

National Library of Medicine (StatPearls) – Palliative Care
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK537113/

National Coalition for Hospice and Palliative Care – Clinical Practice Guidelines
https://www.nationalcoalitionhpc.org/ncp-guidelines/

This place changed everything for my family. We struggled with caring for my mom at home for 5 years and when they arrived it was like angels singing... Our social worker - Jody and our RN Violeta - made my mom comfortable and cared not only for her, but for our family as if we were their own. They were kind, compassionate and knowledgeable. I HIGHLY recommend them!!!

— Jody

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