What is the difference between palliative care and hospice?

Palliative care addresses quality of life issues alongside curative treatments and is appropriate for patients in any stage of serious illness regardless of prognosis. Hospice care provides specialized services for patients who are felt to be living in their final six months. Hospice care is most commonly offered in patients’ homes or in a skilled nursing setting while palliative care is often coordinated while a patient is in an acute care setting (admitted to the hospital).