| Primary Focus | End-of-life care and comfort for terminally ill patients. | Skilled medical care and assistance for patients recovering at home. |
| Patient Population | Terminally ill patients with a life expectancy of six months or less. | Individuals with acute or chronic illnesses who require medical care and assistance but are not necessarily in the end-of-life stage. |
| Goals | Provide comfort, pain management, emotional support, and quality of life during the final stages of life. | Promote recovery, manage chronic conditions, and improve overall health and independence. |
| Services Provided | Palliative care, symptom management, emotional and spiritual support, and assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs). | Skilled nursing care, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, wound care, medication management, and assistance with ADLs. |
| Care Team | Multidisciplinary team including nurses, doctors, social workers, chaplains, and volunteers. | Skilled healthcare professionals such as nurses, therapists, and aides, often under the supervision of a physician. |
| Setting | Can be provided at home, in a hospice facility, or in a nursing home. | Primarily provided in the patient's own home but can also be administered in other settings. |
| Payment | Typically covered by Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurance for eligible patients. | Covered by Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurance for eligible patients, but coverage may vary based on specific services and conditions. |
| Duration | Provided during the final stages of life, often for a limited period. | Can be short-term or long-term, depending on the patient's needs and condition. |
| Emphasis on Comfort | Emphasizes comfort, quality of life, and emotional support for patients and their families. | Focuses on medical care, recovery, and helping patients regain independence. |
| Bereavement Support | Offers bereavement support and counseling to the patient's family after the patient's passing. | Typically does not include bereavement support as a primary service. |
