Numerous studies have shown what palliative and hospice professionals have seen for themselves — people with serious illness who receive palliative and hospice care live longer and feel better. The earlier supportive care begins, the greater the benefit.

By choosing to begin supportive care earlier in an illness, you have time to get to know your care team and to build trust with the people who will care for you in a crisis. Bringing in support early helps the whole family to cope better. Families learn about the illness, find out how they can help their loved one, and receive emotional and spiritual support to help them cope.

Palliative or supportive care is available at any time in a serious illness, even while you are still receiving treatment and seeking a cure. Many people receive supportive care for years. When your focus shifts away from aggressive treatment to concentrating on quality of life, hospice is available to keep you comfortable and help you live every day to the fullest.

Why do people receiving palliative and hospice care live longer?

Here are a few reasons:

• Regular care — you get regular visits in your home from a team of experts, allowing caregivers a better understanding of the family environment.
• Sticking to the plan —  you tend to take medications consistently and complete treatments ordered by your doctors.
• Less stress — supportive home visits help to relieve the stress and exhaustion often caused by trips to the doctor’s office or hospital.
• Improved sense of well-being — your care team works to deal with symptoms and help you cope with emotional and spiritual issues. This may increase a sense of well-being and help you feel less of a burden to your family.
• Socialize more — you’ll tend to eat better and socialize more, helping improve physically and emotionally, which improves the ability to fight illness.
• Fewer crisis situations — you are less likely to have stressful ER visits or hospital stays and have support during difficult medical treatments. This helps to avoid complications, side-effects and more physical stress.
• Coordination of care — your team helps you and your family coordinate with complex healthcare systems and to make more informed decisions.

“There’s an inaccurate perception among the American public that hospice means you’ve given up.  Those of us who have worked in the field have seen firsthand how hospice and palliative care can improve the quality of and indeed prolong the lives of people receiving care.” 

—J. Donald Schumacher, President and CEO of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization.