Palliative Care vs Hospice: Understanding the Difference
Palliative care is a branch of medicine that focuses on supporting people living with serious illness. Instead of concentrating solely on curing the disease, palliative care prioritizes comfort, dignity, and quality of life.Many people assume palliative care and hospice are the same—but they’re not. Hospice care is specific to the very end of life, while palliative care can begin at any stage of illness. It can be offered alongside treatments like chemotherapy, dialysis, or surgery. The goal isn’t to take away hope, but to help people live more fully and more comfortably, even while navigating illness.
Living with a serious condition is often overwhelming, both physically and emotionally. Palliative care acknowledges that reality. It’s about reducing pain, easing symptoms, and supporting patients and families through the challenges of illness so they can focus on what matters most.
Depression and Emotional Distress in Palliative Care
Facing a serious medical condition can stir up deep emotions—sadness, fear, hopelessness, or even a sense of loss of purpose. For some, these natural reactions can grow into depression, which makes the burden of illness feel even heavier.Patients with advanced illness often experience psychological distress. While it’s normal to grieve and struggle when health declines, there’s an important difference between expected sadness and a more serious psychiatric disorder like major depression.
In fact, certain medical treatments, such as chemotherapy, can even cause depression as a side effect. And just like in the general population, many people with serious illness develop treatment-resistant depression—meaning standard antidepressants don’t work well for them.
This presents a difficult challenge in palliative care. Traditional antidepressants can take weeks to work, but for someone living with advanced illness, time is often short. Relief is needed sooner.
How Ketamine Therapy Helps Depression in Palliative Care
Ketamine therapy has emerged as a promising, innovative approach for treating depression in patients with serious illness. Administered in low subanesthetic doses, ketamine is thought to:- Stimulate repair of damaged neural connections
- Stabilize brain receptors involved in mood regulation
- Provide rapid relief of depressive symptoms
Recent studies have also explored the use of ketamine-assisted psychotherapy, where ketamine’s rapid mood effects are combined with guided therapy. This approach has shown potential in easing not only depression, but also existential distress—the deep emotional suffering that can arise when patients face the meaning of illness, mortality, and uncertainty.
Compassionate Palliative Care and Ketamine Treatment at Keta Medical Center
At Keta Medical Center, we understand the unique challenges that come with serious illness. Our goal is to provide relief, comfort, and support—helping patients and families navigate this time with dignity and compassion.Ketamine therapy offers a powerful option for those facing depression, anxiety, or existential distress in palliative care. At Keta, every treatment plan is carefully personalized. Our team collaborates with referring providers to ensure seamless, coordinated care. Above all, we prioritize safety, comfort, and respect—so patients feel supported every step of the way.
