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3 min readWhat is palliative care?
Is palliative care the same as hospice?
Answer
Palliative care focuses on relieving symptoms and stress from a serious illness. It can be provided alongside treatment intended to cure or control the illness, at any stage.
Hospice is a specific type of care for people near the end of life who are no longer pursuing curative treatment. All hospice is palliative; not all palliative care is hospice.
Key points
- You can ask for a palliative care consult without changing your treatment plan.
- Palliative teams often help with pain, nausea, fatigue, and family communication.
- Ask whether your facility has an inpatient or outpatient palliative service.
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Sources & transparency
- Palliative Care(opens in a new tab)
MedlinePlus (U.S. National Library of Medicine)
Retrieved by Phoenix Jul 10, 2026
- Last reviewed:
- Jul 15, 2026
- Next review due:
- Jan 15, 2027
- Editorial owner:
- Phoenix Health Compass Editorial Team
- Medical reviewer:
- Not yet clinically reviewed
Content version:2.0.0
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