Comfort Care in Westchester County
Comfort care is centered on the unique needs of the patient and their loved ones.
At Calvary we work to provide care and comfort to address the physical, emotional, social, and spiritual needs of the patient and family. Comfort care takes planning and communication to provide for the best possible quality of life for the patient. In planning we work to address and anticipate, the treatment of symptoms associated with life-limiting illness.
Home care, hospice care, hospital care – what’s the difference?
Comfort care as it is sometimes called is defined as a patient care plan focused on symptom control, pain relief, and quality of life.
Comfort care modalities can take many forms and often include, hospice care and palliative care.
What is Palliative Care?
Palliative care means comfort and support for patients with serious illnesses. Specialized medical providers focus on relieving pain and associated symptoms, reducing stress, and generally improving the quality of life for patients and their families. Palliative care can be given while other ongoing treatments are being applied. This aspect sets palliative care apart from hospice care.
Home care, hospice care, hospital care – what’s the difference?
In the words of Nancy S. D’Agostino, RN, MSN., Vice President of Community Patient Services; “The primary difference is the goal of care. People come into a traditional home care program like Calvary’s Certified Home Health Agency to get better after a serious illness or surgery. So, they might still be receiving chemotherapy, blood transfusions or diagnostic tests in pursuit of a cure. Sometimes, we’re helping our home care patients recover from an acute episode. Sometimes, we’re helping them stabilize before choosing a hospice.
Hospice is a philosophy of end-of-life care rather than a physical place. Patients with a life-limiting illness, who are no longer pursuing treatment and want to spend their final days at peace and in comfort, are candidates for hospice care.”
