What is Comfort Care?
Comfort care is a specialized patient care approach focused on managing symptoms, relieving pain, and enhancing quality of life. It is typically offered to patients who have experienced multiple hospitalizations, where further medical interventions are unlikely to change the outcome. Comfort care can be provided through hospice care and palliative care services.
According to the National Institute on Aging, comfort care is "an essential part of medical care at the end of life." It addresses the comprehensive needs of individuals facing serious illness or nearing the end of life, including their physical comfort, emotional and mental well-being, spiritual concerns, and assistance with physical tasks.
Comfort care focuses on alleviating a range of symptoms, such as:
- Pain
- Breathing problems
- Skin irritation
- Digestive problems
- Temperature sensitivity
- Fatigue
- And more
By addressing these areas, comfort care aims to provide compassionate, holistic support during the most challenging stages of illness.
How long does comfort care last?
The duration of comfort care depends on the type of comfort care provided. According to the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO), under the Medicare hospice benefit, patients typically qualify if their doctor estimates a life expectancy of six months or less. However, if a patient lives beyond the six-month prognosis, hospice care can continue as long as a physician re-certifies the patient’s eligibility.
In contrast, palliative care does not require a six-month prognosis and can be provided at any stage of illness, even alongside curative or life-prolonging treatments. This flexibility makes palliative care a long-term option for managing symptoms and improving quality of life.
How much does comfort care cost?
The costs of comfort care vary based on the provider and specific services needed. However, over 85 percent of hospice patients are covered by the Medicare Hospice Benefit, with Medicaid and many private insurers also covering comfort care. While deductibles and co-pays may apply, organizations like Crossroads work closely with patients and families to ensure they receive the care and support they need. For more details, explore our guide on who pays for hospice care.
Contact us now to learn more.
The decision to pursue comfort care should involve the patient when possible, loved ones, and physicians. If you have questions about comfort care, Crossroads professionals are available 24/7 to provide support, including hospice, palliative care, grief counseling, and other services. View the locations we service, call us at 855-327-4677, or chat or email us with any questions via the green bar at the top of this page.