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Can You Have Home Health and Palliative Care?
Date Updated: January 12, 2025
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Dr. Brindusa Vanta is a health care professional, researcher, and an experienced medical writer (2000+ articles published online and several medical ebooks). She received her MD degree from “Iuliu Hatieganu” University of Medicine, Romania, and her HD diploma from OCHM – Toronto, Canada.
Yes, you can have home health and palliative care at the same time. Combining these care types allows patients with serious illnesses to receive support while enjoying the comfort of their own homes.
How Does Home Health and Palliative Care Work?
Palliative care focuses on relieving symptoms and improving the quality of life for patients with serious, life-limiting conditions such as cancer, advanced heart disease and neurological disorders. While health providers may combine palliative care with curative treatments, the primary focus involves increasing the patient's comfort. These care types differ from hospice care, which focuses on patients with terminal illnesses. A typical palliative care team includes doctors, nurses, social workers and counselors. Together, this team creates a health plan that addresses physical, emotional and social needs.
Home health care, on the other hand, offers skilled nursing care and supportive services in the patient's home. A typical home health care team includes nurses, caregivers and social workers. In addition to addressing medical needs, the team provides personal care, housekeeping and assistance with daily living activities.
How Does Home Health and Palliative Care Work Together?
According to WHO, as of 2020, over 56 million people need palliative care each year. Many providers offer palliative care, including hospitals, nursing homes and outpatient clinics. Patients can also receive palliative care at home. Combining home health with palliative care ensures that patients enjoy a familiar environment and family connections.
To combine these care types, patients need to consult both palliative care and home health care specialists. These two teams then work together to meet the patient's needs. The palliative care team focuses on pain relief, symptom management and emotional support, while the home health care team provides skilled nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy and assistance with daily activities. Together, they address both medical and emotional needs, including those of family members. Some team members, such as primary caregivers, provide 24/7 support. Most team members, however, visit the home as needed.
Should I Combine Home Health and Palliative Care?
Many individuals benefit from combining palliative care with home health care. However, it's not for everyone. Doctors sometimes recommend palliative care in a hospital or nursing facility if the patient has complex medical needs and treatments they cannot receive at home.
It's also important to consider costs. Medicare offers coverage for palliative care, including home-delivered care, to eligible individuals. Carefully considering your needs and insurance policy will help you make the right choice.