04/25/2026
Parkinson’s Disease is a progressive nervous system disorder that affects movement. Certain nerve cells called neurons in the brain gradually break down or die.
Parkinson’s disease is managed differently in palliative care versus hospice care because the goals of care diverge as the illness progresses.
In palliative care, treatment is focused on optimizing quality of life while patients may still be pursuing disease-directed therapies. Management emphasizes the monitoring of symptoms and sequale of disease and medications, making recommendations in care and working closely and collaboratively with patient and loved ones, as well as patient’s medical team and specialists.
Palliative teams also address non-motor symptoms—depression, anxiety, sleep disturbance, constipation, and autonomic dysfunction—alongside physical, occupational, and speech therapies to preserve function and independence.
Our Palliative Care Team works collaboratively on a holistic level, focusing on supportive care while optimizing quality of life along with symptom management.
In hospice care, the treatment approach shifts away from disease modification and symptom optimization toward comfort-focused care in the context of limited life expectancy. Parkinson’s medications are often simplified rather than aggressively adjusted, with the goal of reducing pill burden and adverse effects while maintaining basic comfort and mobility.
To read more : https://www.angelsgracehospice.com/hospice-palliative-care-for-families/palliative-care-criteria/palliative-care-for-parkinsons-disease-patients
