Comfort care provides some relief of symptoms if you have a disease that cannot be cured. When you are in the early stages of a life-threatening illness, the goal is curing the disease. When a cure is not possible, the focus is on quality of life and managing symptoms. Comfort care helps manage symptoms such as tiredness, shortness of breath, nausea, and vomiting. It also helps with pain control. It may include treatments such as chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery to give some relief from symptoms and improve the quality of life. Comfort care programs also try to help with mental health and spiritual needs.
The focus is on the care of the whole person, not just the disease. The goal is not to cure but to provide comfort and the highest possible quality of life. Another name for this type of care is palliative care.
People with life-threatening conditions may request comfort care. Specialists who provide comfort care may include:
People who provide comfort care get special training. Some may be certified as palliative care specialists. Comfort care can start whenever you and your family choose. Some people want to start when they first get sick. Some wait until comfort, support, and quality of life issues are major concerns.
Comfort care can be given in a wide range of places, such as a doctors' office, clinic, long-term care facility, home, or hospice facility. Many hospitals offer comfort care programs.
For more information about comfort care, contact:
National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization
Hospice help line: 1-800-658-8898
Web site: http://www.nhpco.org
