What Is Comfort Care?

Comfort care is a way to look after patients with life threatening diseases. It is also known as hospice care, end of life care, and supportive care. Comfort care includes care for patients within the last days to months of their lives.

Who May Need Comfort Care?

Persons may need comfort care if they have a terminal illness. For example, persons with terminal cancer or end-stage renal, cardiovascular and respiratory diseases would benefit from this type of care.

Where Can Comfort Care Happen?

Care happens wherever it is needed. These places include:

• The patient’s home
• Clinics
• Hospitals
• Nursing homes
• Hospice facilities

What Are The Goals Of Comfort Care?

The goals of comfort care include:

• Enhancing the patient’s quality of life
• Helping patients maintain some functions
• Relieving physical, emotional, spiritual and psychological suffering.

Component Of Good And Effective Comfort Care

Comfort care should include the following:

• CLEAR AND HONEST COMMUNICATION - It is important for the patient to know:
  ● What is happening;
  ● What might happen;
  ● Their rights;
  ● How they are going to be cared for.
• SYMPTOM MANAGEMENT SKILLS - A good physician should be able to treat symptoms such as, but not limited to:
  ● Pain;
  ● Nausea and vomiting;
  ● Dyspnea (painful breathing or shortness of breath);
  ● Delirium.
• DIGNITY CONSERVING CARE - It is important for patients and families to feel cared for. The Unit of care must always demonstrate compassion.
• PSYCHOSOCIAL CARE - This should include :
  ● Discussion of fears for the future;
  ● Integration of Family support;
  ● Support with one’s spirituality.

All persons have the right to determine how they wish to engage both life and death. HIV is not a death sentence. This section though, is designed to support PLHIV who may experience other conditions that may require this type of care.