End of Life Medical Care
Guidance for making informed, compassionate decisions for your loved one’s care.
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Where to Begin
As someone we love reaches life’s final chapter, it's natural to feel overwhelmed by emotions. Still, with the right conversations, preparation, and support, you can face this time with strength, love, and the deep satisfaction of honoring their wishes every step of the way.
Learn More
As needs change near the end of life, knowing the differences between curative care, palliative care, and hospice care can help you make compassionate, informed choices for your loved one.
Curative Care: Focus is to cure illness or prolong life through active medical treatment
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Palliative Care: Provides relief from symptoms, pain, and emotional distress, supporting quality of life, whether or not a cure is possible
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Hospice Care: Offers compassionate comfort and support for individuals nearing the end of life, focusing on dignity, peace, and emotional well-being
Side-by-side Comparison
Aspect | Curative Care | Palliative Care | Hospice Care |
|---|---|---|---|
Focus on Family Support | Limited | Important part of care | Central to the care model, including grief support |
Where Care Happens | Hospitals, clinics, outpatient centers | Hospitals, outpatient clinics, nursing homes, or at home | At home, hospice centers, nursing homes, hospitals |
Eligibility | Anyone seeking to cure or slow an illness | Anyone with a serious or chronic illness | Individuals with a terminal diagnosis, usually expected to live 6 months or less |
Treatments Offered | Aggressive treatments (e.g., surgery, chemotherapy, medications) | Symptom management alongside possible treatments | Comfort care only (no curative treatments) |
Timing | Any stage of illness | Any stage of serious illness (with or without curative treatment) | Typically last 6 months of life or less |
Primary Goal | Primary Goal
Cure or control the illness | Relieve symptoms and improve quality of life | Provide comfort and dignity at end of life |
Where to Begin
As someone we love reaches life’s final chapter, it's natural to feel overwhelmed by emotions. Still, with the right conversations, preparation, and support, you can face this time with strength, love, and the deep satisfaction of honoring their wishes every step of the way.
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Learn More
As needs change near the end of life, knowing the differences between curative care, palliative care, and hospice care can help you make compassionate, informed choices for your loved one.
Curative Care: Focus is to cure illness or prolong life through active medical treatment
Understanding Curative Care: When Active Treatment is the Right Choice
Understanding Curative Care: When Active Treatment is the Right Choice
Case Study: Curative Care Journey: The Wilson Family's Experience
Palliative Care: Provides relief from symptoms, pain, and emotional distress, supporting quality of life, whether or not a cure is possible
Palliative Care Explained: Comfort Alongside Treatment
Understanding Curative Care: When Active Treatment is the Right Choice
Case Study: Finding Balance: How Integrated Palliative Care Improved Quality of Life While Reducing Hospital Stays
Hospice Care: Offers compassionate comfort and support for individuals nearing the end of life, focusing on dignity, peace, and emotional well-being
Finding Peace in the Journey: How Hospice Care Supports Dignity and Quality of Life
Case Study: Dignity in Final Days: How Hospice Care Transformed....
Comfort Care: Understanding This Approach to End-of-Life Care
Side-by-side Comparison
Aspect | Curative Care | Palliative Care | Hospice Care |
|---|---|---|---|
Focus on Family Support | Limited | Important part of care | Central to the care model, including grief support |
Where Care Happens | Hospitals, clinics, outpatient centers | Hospitals, outpatient clinics, nursing homes, or at home | At home, hospice centers, nursing homes, hospitals |
Eligibility | Anyone seeking to cure or slow an illness | Anyone with a serious or chronic illness | Individuals with a terminal diagnosis, usually expected to live 6 months or less |
Treatments Offered | Aggressive treatments (e.g., surgery, chemotherapy, medications) | Symptom management alongside possible treatments | Comfort care only (no curative treatments) |
Timing | Any stage of illness | Any stage of serious illness (with or without curative treatment) | Typically last 6 months of life or less |
Primary Goal | Primary Goal
Cure or control the illness | Relieve symptoms and improve quality of life | Provide comfort and dignity at end of life |
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Start the Conversation
Talking about end-of-life care isn’t easy. Fear, sadness, and uncertainty often get in the way. But beginning the conversation early creates clarity, eases burdens, and ensures your loved one’s wishes are truly heard.
Begin Now
Here are the three most important conversations you’ll want to have.
Plan Ahead
Legal and medical documents like advance directives, powers of attorney, and DNR orders form the foundation of a care plan that respects and protects your loved one’s wishes.
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Step By Step Instructions
Follow these steps for setting up the necessary legal and medical documentation.
Create Documentation
Ensure your aging loved one's medical wishes are met when it matters most