Palliative Care, Hospice Care, and the Misunderstandings That Keep Families From Getting the Support They Need

We help older adults understand two services that offer comfort, clarity, and confidence.

Serious illness is already complicated, and confusion about care options can make it harder. Many older adults have heard of palliative care and hospice care, but do not fully understand them. In their recent ★National Poll on Healthy Aging, the University of Michigan Institute for Healthcare Policy & Innovation reports adults over 50 confirmed this uncertainty: many respondents reported knowing little or nothing about either service.

When the poll explained what each service entailed, interest in the services rose sharply. This aligns with what we hear from families in Mississippi: people aren’t hesitant to seek help, but are unsure what that help entails.

Clear information makes a real difference. That’s why recognizing misconceptions and their impact is so significant.

WHY MISCONCEPTIONS ARE SO COMMON—AND SO COSTLY

This ★poll showed that only about a third of older adults felt familiar with palliative care, and nearly a third said the same about hospice. These aren’t small gaps; they shape whether families reach out early, wait too long, or miss care they could have benefited from months sooner.

People often misunderstand these services in similar ways:

• Some people think palliative care means “the end,” but it often starts well before hospice.
• Some believe hospice is strictly for the final days, when it is designed to support months of meaningful comfort.

Loved ones worry that both these services remove control, when in truth, they create more space for informed decision-making. What the data makes clear is something we see every day: when people understand these services, they want them. Understanding palliative care is the first step toward meaningful comfort.

PALLIATIVE CARE: SUPPORT THAT BEGINS WELL BEFORE THE FINAL CHAPTER

Palliative care is one of the least understood aspects of modern healthcare, yet it is one of the most beneficial. It’s designed for anyone living with a serious illness, focusing on easing symptoms, managing stress, and improving day-to-day life—all while treatment continues.

This is not a substitute for your doctor’s plan. It’s compassionate, intentional care that strengthens it.

The poll found that after older adults learned what palliative care actually includes, interest in receiving it increased dramatically. That surge speaks to a truth we often encounter: people want relief from their symptoms. They want clarity. They want someone to help coordinate the moving parts of their care.

Palliative care exists for precisely that purpose. Now, let’s examine hospice care and how its support differs, yet equally matters.

HOSPICE CARE: COMFORT, DIGNITY, AND TIME THAT TRULY BELONGS TO YOU

Hospice care carries a different kind of misunderstanding—one rooted in fear and assumptions. Many people believe hospice accelerates decline, ends treatment abruptly, or limits choices. None of those beliefs reflects what hospice actually provides.

Hospice prioritizes comfort, symptom management, emotional and spiritual care (if desired), and ongoing support for both the patient and their family. It helps ensure that the final chapter of life is guided by dignity, clarity, and meaningful time spent the way a person wants to spend it.

Once older adults in the poll understood what hospice truly offers, more than eight in ten said they would want it for themselves at the end of life. That shift highlights how much families gain when misconceptions are dispelled.

WHY UNDERSTANDING MATTERS—FOR EVERYONE INVOLVED

When people lack information, decisions become reactive. Symptoms go unmanaged longer than they should. Families shoulder burdens that could have been shared. And opportunities for comfort, stability, and meaningful moments sometimes arrive later than necessary.

Healthcare experts who contributed to the ★poll emphasized the importance of clearly explaining what these care models entail before asking families to make decisions. In other words, education should be part of the care itself.

We agree, and this is how Arden contributes.

HOW ARDEN HELPS BRING CLARITY TO THE CARE JOURNEY

At Arden, answering questions is as central to our work as managing symptoms or coordinating care. We help families see what palliative and hospice care look like in daily life, clarify their differences, and explain how these choices support a person’s goals, comfort, and dignity.

Our approach is simple:

• Listen first.
• Explain clearly.
• Support steadily.
• Honor what matters most to the patient and their family.

These conversations don’t rush. They don’t pressure. They provide people with space to understand their options through calm, compassionate guidance.

IF YOU’RE UNSURE WHERE TO START, START WITH A CONVERSATION

Whether you’re exploring palliative care, wondering if hospice is appropriate, or simply trying to understand the difference, you don’t have to navigate it alone. Arden is here to help you make sense of your options—so you can make decisions with confidence, not uncertainty.

TALK WITH OUR CARE TEAM ANYTIME.

Because your life matters, and the way you understand your care matters just as much.