Palliative care is a system of care that focuses on symptom management, pain reduction, and improving quality of life. It may be provided to clients during periods of severe illness, even if they are not expected to die within six months. Patients can continue to receive disease modifying or potentially curative care while receiving palliative care. Hospice care is reserved for patients with life expectancy of six months or less. Many people confuse palliative care and hospice care, perhaps because palliative care is often given during hospice. However, they are not the same thing.