G&P Associates

PREFERRED PALLIATIVE PROVIDER | GERIATRIC AND PALLIATIVE CARE ASSOCIATES

At Oasis Hospice, our mission is to create an "Oasis of Peace" for our patients and their families, ensuring that every individual receives the compassionate, holistic care they deserve. To further this mission, we are proud to partner with Geriatric and Palliative Care Associates as our preferred palliative care provider.

Geriatric and Palliative Care Associates shares our commitment to comprehensive, patient-centered care. Their philosophy of providing holistic care to the elderly aligns seamlessly with our goal of promoting comfort, dignity, and quality of life. As a physician-directed practice, they specialize in managing complex medical conditions and disease progression, ensuring that patients receive the appropriate care to reduce suffering, minimize hospitalizations, and focus on living as fully as possible.

Their approach to geriatric care emphasizes the importance of maintaining the health and well-being of the aging population. By addressing both acute and chronic conditions, they help seniors lead active lives with a strong emphasis on quality of life, mirroring our dedication to creating a peaceful, supportive environment for those we serve.

Together, Oasis Hospice and Geriatric and Palliative Care Associates are committed to guiding our patients through life's most challenging moments with the compassion and expertise that define our shared values.

Differences Between Hospice and Palliative Care

1. Purpose and Focus:
   • Hospice Care: Focuses on comfort and quality of life for patients who are nearing the end of life, typically with a prognosis of six months or less. The primary goal is to provide compassionate care that emphasizes symptom management, emotional support, and dignity during the final stages of life.
   • Palliative Care: Aims to improve quality of life for patients with serious, complex medical conditions at any stage of their illness. It can be provided alongside curative treatments and is focused on managing symptoms, reducing hospitalizations, and alleviating suffering.
2. Eligibility:
   • Hospice Care: Generally reserved for patients who have a life expectancy of six months or less and have chosen to forgo curative treatments in favor of comfort care.
   • Palliative Care: Available to patients at any stage of a serious illness, regardless of prognosis, and can be provided in conjunction with curative or aggressive treatments.
3. Scope of Care:
   • Hospice Care: Provides a comprehensive range of services including pain management, emotional and spiritual support, assistance with daily activities, and bereavement support for families. Care is typically delivered in the patient’s home, a hospice facility, or a nursing home.
   • Palliative Care: Focuses on symptom management and improving quality of life for patients with chronic or progressive illnesses. It can be provided in various settings, and is often directed by a physician specializing in palliative care.
4. Care Team:
   • Hospice Care: Involves a multidisciplinary team that includes physicians, nurses, social workers, chaplains, hospice aides, and trained volunteers, all working together to provide holistic end-of-life care.
   • Palliative Care: Led by a physician specializing in palliative care, with a team that may include nurse practitioners, social workers, and other specialists focused on managing symptoms and supporting the patient’s overall well-being.
5. Goals of Care:
   • Hospice Care: The goal is to ensure that the patient’s remaining time is as comfortable and meaningful as possible, prioritizing dignity and peace.
   • Palliative Care: The goal is to enhance the patient’s quality of life by addressing symptoms such as pain, shortness of breath, fatigue, and emotional distress, while also supporting the patient’s and family’s goals and values throughout the course of the illness.
6. Timing:
   • Hospice Care: Typically initiated when a patient is expected to live six months or less and has decided to discontinue curative treatments.
   • Palliative Care: Can be initiated at any point during a serious illness, from diagnosis onward, and can be provided alongside curative or life-prolonging treatments.
7. Financial Coverage:
   • Hospice Care: Often fully covered by Medicare, Medicaid, and many private insurance plans, with no out-of-pocket costs for the patient or family.
   • Palliative Care: Coverage varies depending on the patient’s insurance plan, and while it is often covered by Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurance, there may be co-pays or other out-of-pocket expenses depending on the services provided.