Your Nurse Advocate Consulting, LLC

Not Sure If It’s Time for Palliative Care or Hospice?

Get a simple side-by-side comparison, the key questions to ask your care team, and dementia-specific guidance to help you make a confident plan.

What you'll learn

If you’re caring for an aging parent or loved one, you may hear the words palliative care or hospice and feel scared, confused, or unsure what happens next.

This free guide is here to make it clearer — without overwhelming you.

The difference between palliative care and hospice (in plain language)

When each service may be helpful and what to expect

A simple side-by-side comparison (services, timing, care locations, team members)

Questions to ask your doctor, hospital team, or facility

What you'll learn; Continued

A “next step” checklist to help you decide what to do first

Dementia support, including a simple overview of the 7 stages of dementia (commonly based on the Global Deterioration Scale)

Created by Nurses. Built for Families.

We’re Pam Dunwald and Linda Kritikos, co-owners of Your Nurse Advocate Consulting.

We’re also independent advocates — we don’t work for hospitals, clinics, or insurance companies.
Our role is to help families understand options, ask the right questions, and reduce caregiver stress.
We’re both Registered Nurses (RNs) and Board-Certified Patient Advocates (BCPA) with 80+ years of combined nursing experience.

“This guide is for you if…” section

This guide is for you if:
*You’re seeing more decline and don’t know what support exists
*Hospital visits are increasing, or caregiving is getting overwhelming
*Eating, drinking, mobility, or confusion is changing
*Dementia is part of the picture, and you want guidance that fits real dementia care
*You want to feel prepared for the next appointment (and the next decision)

FAQ

Is this guide only for dementia?
No. It’s helpful for many serious illnesses — and it also includes dementia-specific support for families who need it.
Does choosing hospice mean “giving up”?
Hospice is about comfort, dignity, and quality of life when the focus is no longer cure. Many families say they wish they had support sooner.

Is palliative care the same as hospice?
They’re different. Palliative care can be helpful at any stage of a serious illness (even while receiving treatment). Hospice is typically later stage when a doctor believes life expectancy may be about 6 months or less if the illness follows its usual course (eligibility rules vary).

Is this medical advice?
No — it’s educational only and not a substitute for medical advice. For emergencies, call 911.