Getting Help from Hospice
Hospice vs Palliative Care
“Hospice” and “palliative care” are sometimes used interchangeably but they don’t refer to the same things.
Hospice is comfort care without the intent to cure someone who no longer has curative options or has chosen not to pursue treatment because the side effects outweigh the benefits.
Palliative care aims to ease pain if your illness is serious but death isn’t imminent.
California Hospice Care
To qualify for hospice care, a hospice doctor and your doctor (if you have one) must certify that you’re terminally ill, meaning you have a life expectancy of 6 months or less. When you agree to hospice care, you’re agreeing to comfort care (palliative care) instead of care to cure your illness.
To learn more about hospice care, download our brochure, “Finding the Hospice That Is Right for You”