Palliative care and hospice care get used interchangeably, and that mix-up causes real harm — some families delay palliative care because they think accepting it means giving up. It doesn’t. Hospice is one specific type of palliative care, not the whole category.
The core difference
Per the National Institute on Aging, palliative care is available to anyone with a serious illness, at any age, at any stage — and it can be provided alongside curative treatment. It can start as early as diagnosis. Hospice, by contrast, is specifically for someone whose doctor believes has six months or less to live if the illness runs its course, and it means active attempts to cure the illness have stopped.
| Palliative care | Hospice care | |
|---|---|---|
| Who qualifies | Anyone with a serious illness, any age, any stage | Terminal illness, doctor-estimated 6 months or less |
| Curative treatment | Can continue alongside it | Stops — the focus shifts entirely to comfort |
| When it can start | As early as diagnosis | When curative treatment is no longer the goal |
| Team | Specialist doctors, nurses, social workers, nutritionists, chaplains | Similar interdisciplinary team, focused on end-of-life comfort and family support |
A useful example: someone getting cancer treatment might also see a palliative specialist for a transfusion to manage anemia and fatigue — that’s palliative care making the curative treatment more tolerable, not a step toward end of life. Over time, if a doctor believes ongoing treatment is no longer helping and life expectancy is six months or less, palliative care can transition into hospice — or continue as before, with more emphasis on comfort, without necessarily becoming hospice at all.
Who benefits from palliative care
It’s not limited to cancer or end-stage disease. Heart failure, COPD, dementia, Parkinson’s disease, and many other serious conditions are all reasons a doctor might refer someone to palliative care — and if they don’t bring it up, asking directly is a reasonable thing for a patient or family to do.
Where it’s provided
Both palliative and hospice care can be delivered at home, not just in a hospital or facility. For hospice specifically, receiving care at home — with family present, in familiar surroundings — is one of its more common and valued forms.
What it costs
Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurance may all cover palliative care, though each specific service (a specialist visit, home health support, physical therapy) has its own coverage rules rather than one blanket palliative benefit. Hospice is different: it’s a defined Medicare benefit, and for inpatient respite specifically, coverage generally means paying 5% of the Medicare-approved amount, capped at the inpatient deductible. We cover hospice-related respite coverage in more detail in our guide to respite care in New York.
How home-based support fits in
Whether someone is in palliative care alongside ongoing treatment, or has moved into hospice, day-to-day support at home — personal care, companionship, help with medication timing, coordination with the clinical team — is usually still needed on top of the medical side. That’s where home care aides and, when the situation calls for it, skilled nursing come in, working alongside a palliative or hospice team rather than replacing it.
If you’re trying to understand how paid home support fits with palliative or hospice care your family is already receiving, or considering asking a doctor for a palliative referral, call (718) 232-2777 or use our contact page.
Frequently asked questions
Is palliative care the same as hospice?
No. Hospice is one specific type of palliative care, for people with six months or less to live. Palliative care more broadly is available at any age, any stage of serious illness, and can be provided alongside curative treatment.
Does starting palliative care mean giving up on treatment?
No. Palliative care can be provided alongside curative treatment — it’s about managing symptoms and improving quality of life, not necessarily stopping treatment.
Who is eligible for hospice care?
Someone with a terminal illness whose doctor believes they have six months or less to live if the disease runs its natural course, and who has chosen to stop curative treatment.
What conditions can palliative care help with?
Heart failure, COPD, cancer, dementia, Parkinson’s disease, and many other serious illnesses — it’s not limited to any single diagnosis.
Can palliative and hospice care be provided at home?
Yes, both can be delivered at home rather than only in a hospital or facility.
How do I start palliative care for a family member?
Ask their health care provider for a referral to a palliative care specialist. If they don’t bring it up, you can request it directly.
This is general information, not medical advice. Sources checked 27 September 2026: National Institute on Aging, Medicare.gov.
