Palliative 关怀与Hospice：区别与选择

慢性病或绝症是一种创伤和压力。作为家人，您将面临一生中最困难的抉择。你的亲人可能会出现衰弱的症状。他们可能不得不适应新的身体限制，并应对经常出现的复杂情绪。在治疗和护理过程中，您可能会感到力不从心。 

The distinction between palliative care and hospice care can be confusing. Both aim to enhance quality of life. However, each one serves a distinct purpose, and they’re offered at different stages of treatment.

Below, you’ll learn the difference between palliative care and hospice care. You’ll see how each type of care can serve your family’s needs, depending on where you are in your healthcare journey.

Palliative Care vs Hospice Care

Both palliative and hospice care are meant to ease suffering, but only one is given at the end of someone’s life. Hospice care is end-of-life care focused on comfort for those dying of a terminal illness. However, palliative care is for anyone with a life-limiting disease, at any stage of illness.

What Is Palliative Care?

Palliative care is a holistic approach to care aimed at managing symptoms and easing the suffering associated with chronic illness, regardless of prognosis. Patients continue medical treatments intended to cure or stop the progression of disease, while complementary care focuses on quality of life.

Who Is Eligible for Palliative Care?

Anyone at any age and any stage of a chronic disease is eligible for palliative care. It’s often recommended by physicians at the time of diagnosis, as it can help your family adjust to life with a new illness and navigate your treatment decisions. 

Diseases that can be treated with palliative care include:

• 癌症
• 心脏病
• 慢性阻塞性肺病（COPD）
• 阿尔茨海默氏症或其他形式的痴呆症
• 肾衰竭
• 帕金森病
• 多发性硬化症
• 肝病
• 肺病
• 肌萎缩性脊髓侧索硬化症（ALS）
• 囊性纤维化

Your Palliative Care Team

The members of a palliative care team will vary depending on each patient and family’s needs. Generally, a palliative care team consists of:

• 医生和护士
• 专科医生
• 社会工作者
• 家庭保健助理
• 理疗师
• 职业和语言治疗师
• 心理学家和心理健康顾问
• 营养师和营养学家
• 训练有素的志愿者
• 信仰领袖或精神顾问

What’s Included in Palliative Care?

Palliative care is designed to enhance the well-being of patients and their loved ones, taking a comprehensive approach that encompasses physical, emotional, and mental health.

疼痛与症状管理 

One of the major components of palliative care is effective pain and symptom management, which are crucial for maximizing a patient’s comfort. Methods of treatment may include:

• 药物
• 物理治疗
• 营养指导
• 语言和职业治疗
• 按摩
• 灵气、针灸和冥想等替代疗法

情感和精神支持

患上慢性疾病会给生活带来沉重负担，并常常影响患者及其亲友的心理健康。 抑郁和焦虑是局限生命疾病患者的常见病。

Members of your palliative care team, including social workers, psychologists, and counselors are available to help you work through the inevitable mental health struggles.

Patients can also choose to include spiritual guidance as part of their palliative care plan. Faith leaders and spiritual advisors are available to address any concerns.

医疗设备

Often, chronic illnesses limit mobility and the ability to complete routine and personal tasks. Palliative care provides medical equipment to help ensure you can continue moving through life as comfortably and safely as possible. Depending on your needs, medical equipment can include:

• 轮椅
• 手杖和助行器 
• 淋浴椅
• 扶手栏杆和扶手
• 辅助呼吸装置
• 床边便器 
• 喂食管和导管

护理和实际援助

A chronic illness can impact every aspect of your life. Your palliative care team can assist with the following:

• 药物管理
• 帮助完成洗澡和穿衣等个人护理任务
• 伤口护理
• 更换和清洁医疗设备
• 为病人和亲人提供情感支持
• 财务规划
• 法律顾问

Where Can You Receive Palliative Care?

You can receive palliative care at home, in nursing homes, hospitals, or other healthcare facilities. Wherever you choose to accept care, your palliative care team can be flexible and accessible to all.

什么是Hospice ？

Hospice care is specialized healthcare dedicated to enhancing the comfort and quality of life for those with terminal illnesses approaching death. Patients typically transition to hospice care when their body no longer responds to treatment, or when they opt to discontinue treatment altogether. 

Your loved one may decide to discontinue life-saving treatment if the side effects become too burdensome and difficult to manage. Upon entering hospice care, doctors halt curative treatments, and the focus shifts to a care plan that prioritizes the management of pain and other distressing symptoms.

Your hospice care team is made up of doctors and nurses, social workers, home health aides, counselors, volunteers, and other health care specialists trained in end-of-life care.

Who Is Eligible for Hospice Care?

Patients are eligible for hospice care when their physician estimates that they have approximately six months or less to live if their illness follows its natural course. If your loved one lives longer than six months, they can still remain in hospice, as long as their doctor or hospice physician certifies that their disease is terminal.

The Benefits of Hospice Care

Dying from a terminal illness is a heartbreaking process for everyone involved. While the Sage Family of Companies can’t change the outcome, our hospice care teams can provide a number of services and resources that can help. The advantages of hospice care include:

Enhanced Quality of Life: Hospice care focuses on maximizing quality of life during the final days, weeks, and months of life, providing the comfort, dignity, and support your loved one deserves.

Pain and Symptom Management: Your hospice care team will ensure effective pain and symptom control, offering relief and improving overall comfort.

Emotional and Psychological Support: Hospice teams are staffed with psychologists and mental health counselors who provide emotional and psychological support to patients and their families as they cope with the emotional challenges of the end of a loved one’s life.

Personalized Care Plans: Hospice care plans are specially designed to fit each individual’s needs and preferences, ensuring a holistic and patient-centered approach.

Family Involvement: Hospice care recognizes the importance of family, involving them in caregiving responsibilities, and offering support to ensure their well-being. Bereavement counseling, access to support groups, and other mental health resources are available through your hospice care team.

Spiritual Considerations: Hospice care can incorporate spiritual guidance, ensuring that the patient’s spiritual and emotional needs are met.

Where Can You Receive Hospice Care?

You can receive hospice care at home or in a hospice facility, nursing home, or hospital. Deciding where to receive hospice care is an individual choice, and should be made by consulting with your family and doctor.

常见问题

Here are some frequently asked questions about palliative care versus hospice care.

Palliative Care vs Hospice Care: The Sage Family of Companies Can Help

Navigating a chronic illness can be depressing and traumatic at any stage of the disease. The Sage Family of Companies is here to help your family through every step of the way, from diagnosis to the final days, weeks, and months of life.

Both palliative care and hospice care teams are specially trained, and will ensure your loved one experiences the comfort, dignity, and respect they deserve, while navigating the different stages of their health care journey. The Sage Family of Companies is here to answer any questions you may have.

文章来源

• What Are Palliative Care and Hospice Care?, NIH, 2021.
• 了解慢性病与抑郁症之间的联系美国国立卫生研究院，2024 年。
• What is hospice?, HFA, 2024.