How you decide if you should go palliative vs hospice?

Thank you. That simplifies what I've been told.

Pallative care is letting nature takes it course about a person's life, while providing comfort care.

I did decide and went with Pallative Care. Main reason was so his Dr could remain in charge over him.

Thank you all for your replies.

There is no 6 month rule for hospice. Hospice is for providing end of life comfort and care. I have known people who have been in hospice for over a year. It is a kind and comforting service, not at all clinical and cold.

Talk to his doctor about what he means by palliative care.

Hospice does not mean euthenasia, being put out of your misery. Hospice means ( in most places) that a doctor says you have 6 months to live, at best. Talk to the doctor about what HE means by palliative care. Usually, it means they give comfort meds, not curative ones.

He is too heavily medicated he's hallucinating right now to tell us now what he wants. But when he was in ICU 2 weeks prior to nursing home and lucid he told us he is tired and wants to die, he signed DNR. Also, on first response it's his Dr who loves him who said 6 months and wants us to go with Palliative Care. Thank you all!!

Your brother does not want to live "this way"? In a NH? Meaning that he wants to get better, or that he wants to die?

I'm sorry if this is blunt, but your question can be read two ways. Please tell us what he means and you'll get great advice.

I don't know much about Hospice, but it's my understanding that a doctor has to refer you and they determine if they think it's likely you have no more than six months to live. I don't think it's the patient's call, but the doctor's. I wasn't certain from your post if you mean the doctor thinks he does have less than 6 months or the he doesn't.

Palliative care is more broad than Hospice. You can get treatments, go to hospital have tests, even take antibiotics. It tries to keep the patient comfortable without unnecessary tests and treatment

I think Hospice has more strict rules and they just treat pain.

What does your brother want to do and why isn't his doctor listening to him? Does his doctor think Hospice is premature?