Palliative care vs end-of-life care: what’s the difference?

What is the difference between palliative and end-of-life care? Although these types of care have similarities, there are some crucial differences. It can help to understand the options fully when you’re looking for the right care for yourself or a loved one.

• Palliative care may be given at any time during an incurable illness
• End-of-life care is a type of palliative care offered when someone is close to the end of their life

The Nursing Guild offers palliative care and end-of-life care in the home. We can cover ongoing, short term or emergency assignments anywhere in Scotland and Ireland – no matter how remote. Our bespoke care focuses on providing one-to-one support to manage symptoms as well as practical emotional support for individuals and their families.

Our fully trained, experienced staff can continue to support you and your family if palliative care becomes end-of-life care, no matter how complex your needs.

Palliative care vs end-of-life care

Palliative care is available as soon as you’re diagnosed with a life-limiting condition. Some people receive palliative care while they are still receiving other therapies for their illnesses. End-of-life care is a type of palliative care given to people during the final stages of a terminal illness.

We have provided a detailed overview of what palliative care and end-of-life care are below, accompanied by the care services available with the Nursing Guild.

Palliative care

Palliative care focuses on treating the symptoms of a terminal (incurable) illness. It can be offered at the same time as other treatments and helps manage pain and discomfort. Some people need palliative care for months or even years.

At the Nursing Guild, our nurses and healthcare assistants provide palliative care to people who want to remain at home or who plan to return home from a hospital or hospice. We can give physical, practical, and emotional support to patients and their families so they can focus on making the most of the time they have together. We support people who have:

• Late-stage illnesses such as Parkinson’s, dementia or cancer
• Recent trauma such as a heart attack, stroke, or accident
• Incurable long-term conditions that could deteriorate rapidly

We work with families and other healthcare professionals to offer long-term, short-term, or emergency support, including:

• Returning home from a hospital or hospice
• Complex care
• Pain management
• Regularly reviewing care needs

At the Nursing Guild, our nurses and healthcare assistants will work alongside you and your family. They can also liaise with healthcare professionals, including doctors, nurses, healthcare assistants, and occupational therapists, to ensure the right support is always provided.

End-of-life care

End of life care is part of palliative care but focuses on specialised physical and emotional support during the last weeks or months of life. This type of care helps people remain as comfortable and pain-free as possible while respecting their wishes about where they wish to die. End-of-life care also includes emotional and spiritual support for individuals, their families, and friends.

At the Nursing Guild, we offer end-of-life support for people in their own homes, no matter where they live in Scotland and Ireland. The care we provide matches the care available in a hospital or hospice. Our long-term, short-term, or emergency support services include:

• Assessing each person’s requirements while respecting their wishes
• Supporting them as they return home, with the right care in place
• Advising on all aspects of home modifications, equipment, and specialist care
• Providing medication for pain
• Working alongside other healthcare professionals as things change, making sure you have excellent support, no matter what

End-of-life care offers individuals the option of returning home from a hospital, care facility, or hospice feeling confident they’ll have appropriate treatment to manage pain or other symptoms during their last months or days.

Palliative care and end-of-life care with the Nursing Guild

Our nurses and healthcare assistants provide palliative care and end-of-life care to people at home anywhere in Scotland and Ireland. That means a person doesn’t need to be in a hospital, care facility, or hospice to access the right help. And we’re available at any time of the day or night, even at short notice.

We’ll discuss your options with you, listening to what’s important so that the right plans can be put in place. And we’ll offer advice based on our extensive experience so you can decide on what’s right for you.

We’re here 24 hours a day, every day, for as long as you need us, no matter what. We’re regulated by The Care Inspectorate, consistently achieving the highest rating for our services.

We can:

• Support you with safely returning home from a hospital, care facility, or hospice
• Manage your symptoms, including pain relief, to improve your quality of life
• Liaise with your GP and other healthcare professionals to make sure you get appropriate care, no matter how complex it becomes
• Offer emotional support to you and your family
• Take on the practical tasks so you can focus on family and friends
• Work with your healthcare team and family to review and adjust your care as appropriate

For more information on palliative care and end-of-life care available with the Nursing Guild, please get in touch online or call our community team on 0333 323 1917 (UK) or 01 9023080 (Republic of Ireland).