Comfort Care or Hospice Care? Is There a Difference?

Lower Cape Fear LifeCareHospice, Planning for End of Life

Updated July 2025

What is Comfort Care? Does Comfort Care Mean Death?

The term “comfort care” is often used to describe hospice care; they mean the same thing.

The term refers to the goal of care which is to keep the patient “comfortable” by managing their pain and symptoms, and relieving anxiety, to improve their quality of life.

What is the Definition of Hospice?

Hospice care is for patients with a life-limiting or terminal illness when treatment is no longer an option or no longer desired, and they have a life expectancy of six months or less. Hospice care allows people to die with dignity, free of pain, surrounded by those they love.

Why Get Hospice Comfort Care?

Hospice care helps improve quality of life, not just for the patient but for the whole family. It is a whole-body approach that provides physical, emotional, and spiritual care. To accomplish this, the patient receives an interdisciplinary team (IDT) that includes a physician, nurse, nursing aide, social worker, chaplain, and volunteer(s). The level of care and support the team provides is a comfort to both patients and families.

What Does a Hospice Care Team Do?

Develop a plan of care based on what’s important to the patient and their loved ones
Meet hygiene needs to keep the patient feeling clean and comfortable
Through regular visits, they will monitor pain levels, symptoms, and emotional and spiritual distress so that any issues can then be addressed by the team
Provide education and information for family caregivers on their loved one’s disease
Help identify available resources to meet specific needs they may have
Offer companionship for the patient and respite for family members through a volunteer(s)
Address anticipatory grief for patients and their loved ones
Provide 24/7 clinical support for patients and their families – nights, weekends, holidays, whenever critical assistance is needed

Studies show that hospice patients live longer, generally, when comfort care begins early. This means more time to hold a hand, share special moments, and say “I love you.”

Unfortunately, most people wait far too long before seeking hospice care and miss out on the months of benefits it offers.

Do I Have to Go to a Hospital to Get Comfort Care?

Ninety-five percent of hospice care patients receive care where they are most comfortable – right where they live. This may be a private residence, or an assisted living or skilled nursing facility. Hospice care can also be provided in hospitals.

What is included with comfort care in the hospital or at home? If pain and symptoms can no longer be managed at home, Lower Cape Fear LifeCare patients have exclusive access to our three inpatient hospice care centers. These facilities provide around-the-clock care in a serene, home-like setting.

Is Hospice Care Expensive?

Hospice care is covered under the Medicare Hospice Benefit and provides for months of care and support. All expenses including care, medications, medical equipment, and supplies are covered by Medicare. Medicaid and most private insurances also have a hospice benefit. As a nonprofit, Lower Cape Fear Hospice never refuses anyone care based on their ability to pay.

How do I Get Comfort Care for Myself or a Loved One?

Anyone can refer someone for hospice care: a family member, friend, pastor, doctor, and even the patient themselves. Simply submit the online referral form or give us a call at 800-733-1476.

We’ll answer your questions and schedule an assessment to determine if hospice care is appropriate. From there, we’ll coordinate with your doctor to get you or your loved one the care and support they need.

Next, we’ll take a closer look at how hospice and palliative care can improve the quality of life, help you or your loved one transition in comfort and answer one of the most common questions we receive about hospice and spirituality.

Hospice Helps You Transition in Comfort

Everyone deserves the comfort that hospice care provides. Dr. Ted Winneberger, hospice physician, explains how life-limiting illnesses progress, and how the goal of hospice is to help people have as many good moments as possible for as long as they can.

Hospice care transitioning means enjoying every precious moment that is possible.

The truth about hospice is that our goal is to minimize discomfort so that we can help everyone enjoy every moment for as long as they can. We want to keep their symptoms and pain managed when their body starts to fail. Because this is such an uncomfortable time, our goal is to relieve that discomfort for as long as possible in every way we can.

How Stress Affects the Body at The End-of-Life Transition

To fully understand the many benefits associated with hospice care transitioning, it’s vital to review how stress affects all of us and the toll it takes on the body.

Anytime we are stressed, our bodies are forced to use up our energy reserves faster. As a result, stress causes us to lose a lot of energy, leaving us exhausted. However, eventually, our bodies will replace some of that energy with sufficient rest and self-care.

This changes when we begin transitioning to end-of-life. During this period, our bodies lose the ability to replace all the energy that we need.

As a result, we start sleeping more. As stress continues, our bodies will begin to take energy away from non-vital organs in order to keep the vital organs functioning. Stress shortens our lifespan.

Hospice Care Transitioning Is Key to Managing Stress and Actually Living Longer

There are extensive studies that have shown the difference that managing stress can make. For example, if two people have the same disease, and one is in hospice and the other is not, research has shown that the person in hospice will actually live longer because we manage the symptoms that are causing stress.

Stress Management and Hospice Care Transitioning Make You More Comfortable

Managing and relieving pain and discomfort means that your body isn’t undergoing as much stress. The result is that our patients have more energy.

This energy means they’re able to create and enjoy new, precious memories of special moments. We’re giving them more energy to do the things they’d rather be doing. Maybe that means a visit with family and friends, or perhaps checking an item off their “bucket list.”

The goal of hospice care transitioning is to help ease the end-of-life journey. That’s why you refer your loved one to hospice—you want them to get the most out of the time they have.

Individualized Care to Help Create More Pleasant Moments

We want every single person in hospice to have as many good moments as possible, for as long as possible.

But we understand that everyone is different. They have different needs, different diagnoses, and different goals for their hospice care transition. We treat every single patient as the individual that they are.

This means every patient has a tailored hospice care plan that relieves discomfort and stress while minimizing the amount of medication to just what they need…and no more than that.

Hospice Cares for the Whole Family

We also address family needs. We are always aware of the role that family and loved ones play in the end-of-life transition. That’s why we work hard to enable your family to create as many memories as possible to get the most out of these moments.

We also offer extensive support for those who have lost a loved one through grief care.

Questions About Hospice Eligibility? Simply Contact Us

We hear the statement over and over:

“I wish I had contacted hospice sooner…”

We want you to know and understand if you or a loved one qualifies for hospice care. By starting hospice earlier, you create a space where stress and discomfort are expertly managed, freeing you and your family to enjoy the time that is left.

So, if you have questions about hospice care transitioning or whether or not you or a loved one is hospice-eligible, just call our number, 800-733-1476, and let us know. We’ll be happy to come out, talk to you about it, and take time to address any concerns you may have. We’ll let you know if you or your loved one qualify for hospice and how we can help ensure a less stressful and more meaningful transition.

Hospice Improves Quality of Life

Hospice care focuses on pain and symptom management, including anxiety and depression, to improve quality of life for the whole family. Kelly Erola, chief medical officer, explains the benefits of hospice care for those living with a life-limiting illness and the importance of getting care early.

The truth about hospice is that we are here to help patients live as well as possible for as long as possible. We are not here to hasten death. We can’t change the fact that the patient is dying. It’s the disease that’s causing it, but there’s no reason for anyone to suffer. And that’s what patients tell us.

People are most concerned about suffering at the end of life. They know they’re going to die, but they don’t want to suffer, and that’s why medications and support are there to ensure that the patient’s pain and symptoms are managed at the end of life. Hospice care is designed to provide the support and care in the last six months (or more) of a patient’s terminal illness. Hospice improves quality of life.

Patients Live Longer in Hospice

Studies have actually shown that patients benefit from hospice support and actually do live longer, and that’s because they get pain and symptom management. This includes management for the physical symptoms such as:

Shortness of breath
Nausea
Anxiety

In addition, hospice also provides:

Emotional support
Spiritual support
Support for their family

There’s also education, so the patient and family understand what is happening and know what to expect as the illness progresses. With improved symptoms, patients actually live longer.

Hospice provides extra support such as respite care and volunteer services that can give some relief to the family, so that they are better able to take care of the patient.

Hospice is Not Just for the Last Days of Life

Because patients are often referred to us too late, many people think hospice care is just for the last days of life. And that if you sign up for hospice it means you’re dying and that it’s going to happen in a few days.

Hospice care is there to benefit the patient and family. It gives them a dedicated care team consisting of a physician, nurse, aide, social worker, chaplain, and volunteer. The focus is on caring for the whole person – body, mind, and spirit. The team also provides education and support for the family. Assistance is available 24/7 – nights, weekends, and holidays.

The eligibility for hospice is determined by the patient’s physician and the hospice physician. If you’d like any more information, all you have to do is to call Lower Cape Fear LifeCare. We can answer any questions you have to get you the care and support you and your loved ones need.

Hospice is Not Religiously Affiliated

Hospice respects each individual’s religious and spiritual beliefs. Jason Clamme, director of community engagement, explains how Lower Cape Fear LifeCare’s chaplains help care for each patient and family’s spiritual and religious needs as part of the hospice philosophy.

Is Hospice Religiously Affiliated? We Take a Closer Look

The truth about hospice care is that it welcomes patients of all spiritual and religious beliefs and practices. But is hospice religiously affiliated?

Lower Cape Fear LifeCare is not religiously affiliated– we are not backed by any one particular religion or denomination. Therefore, we are open to patients of all religions, all faiths, and all spiritualities. As hospice providers, we are concerned with a patient’s pain and symptom management. We believe in caring for the whole person – body, mind and spirit.

Many patients may draw strength from their faith or spirituality at this stage in their lives. So, while hospice is not religiously affiliated, we do respect and honor the personal spiritual journey of our patients if they have a spiritual discipline.

Our Team Helps Provide Better Quality of Life

We have team members who focus on the physical quality of life, including:

Doctors
Registered nurses
Nurse aides
Social workers
Volunteers
Counselors (for both the patient and their family)

The Role of Chaplains in Hospice Care

While hospice does have chaplains, they do not emphasize any one set of beliefs, but rather respect the patient where they are in their spiritual journey. Many patients find comfort in exploring their faith when in transition, but this decision is left up to the patient. This is because hospice is not religiously affiliated.

Lower Cape Fear Life Care has professional chaplains who are part of the hospice care team for our patients and families. If a patient and family have their own personal faith leader, we certainly call them in and bring them into the fold as part of the team.

Respecting Differences While Physically Caring for the Patient

Many times, different religions have different protocols at the end of life, and we want to honor and respect those.

For example, some may want certain family members present and others not. In addition, some religions may have preferences in what is done with the body, both before and after. Since we are not religiously affiliated, we strive to follow any protocols that are in line with the patient’s religion or spiritual beliefs.

Bereavement and Grief Support Encompasses All Backgrounds

Our respect for our patients’ beliefs and philosophies extends to our bereavement and our grief care for our families.

Bereavement and grief support is offered to families of all backgrounds, and hospice care meets them where they are in their beliefs and philosophies.

We want to meet them where they are and what they believed was true about the person for whom they cared for and loved.

A Family Member in Need? Remember That Anyone Can Refer to Lower Cape Fear Life Care

Let Lower Cape Fear LifeCare be a resource for you. We are here to provide care and support and compassion for people dealing with end of life.

If you have any needs, any concerns for you, your family members, friends, please don’t hesitate to call. Anyone can refer to us at any time, there’s no obligation, there’s no commitment. Get the information that you need by giving us a call at 800-733-1476.

Key Takeaways

- Comfort care and hospice care mean the same thing—both focus on relieving pain and symptoms to improve the patient’s quality of life during a life-limiting illness.
- Hospice care is for those with a life expectancy of six months or less and is intended when curative treatment is no longer effective or desired.
- Hospice care supports both patients and their families, providing physical, emotional, and spiritual care through a compassionate, interdisciplinary team.

The hospice team helps with everything from managing symptoms to providing education, companionship, and 24/7 clinical support.

Most patients (95%) receive hospice care at home or in familiar settings, not in hospitals, to stay where they’re most comfortable.
Hospice patients often live longer when care begins early, giving more time for meaningful moments with loved ones.
Comfort care in a hospital or hospice center is available when symptoms can’t be managed at home, with access to serene, specialized inpatient facilities.
Hospice care is fully covered by Medicare, Medicaid, and most private insurance plans, and Lower Cape Fear LifeCare provides care regardless of the patient’s ability to pay.
Anyone can make a hospice referral, including the patient, family, friends, or healthcare providers, simply by submitting a form or calling the organization.
Hospice care focuses on maximizing comfort and minimizing pain during end-of-life transitions.
Managing stress is essential, as stress depletes energy and shortens life expectancy, especially during serious illness.
Research shows that patients in hospice often live longer than those who do not receive hospice care due to better symptom management.
Effective pain and symptom control helps patients conserve energy and enjoy meaningful experiences with loved ones.
Hospice care is highly personalized, with each patient receiving a tailored plan that respects their goals and needs.
Hospice also provides emotional and spiritual support to the entire family, helping them make the most of their remaining time together.
Grief support services are available for families after the loss of a loved one.
Many people delay contacting hospice, missing out on the full benefits of care—starting earlier allows for better comfort and quality of life.
If you’re unsure whether you or a loved one qualifies for hospice, you’re encouraged to call and request an evaluation.
Hospice care focuses on enhancing comfort and quality of life for those living with a life-limiting illness—not on hastening death.
The main goal is to prevent suffering by managing pain, anxiety, depression, shortness of breath, and other symptoms.
Patients often live longer with hospice care because of improved symptom control and reduced stress.
Hospice also supports emotional and spiritual well-being for both the patient and the family.
Comprehensive education is provided so families know what to expect as the illness progresses.
Support services include respite care and volunteers to give families a break and reduce caregiver burden.
Hospice is not just for the final days—care can begin as soon as a terminal diagnosis is made and the patient is eligible.
A full care team is available 24/7, including a physician, nurse, aide, social worker, chaplain, and volunteer.
Eligibility is determined by both the patient’s doctor and a hospice physician, and inquiries are welcome at any time.
Hospice care is not associated with any specific religion or denomination.
Patients of all spiritual backgrounds—or none—are welcome and fully supported.
Chaplains are part of the care team but only provide spiritual support if the patient desires it.
Hospice chaplains do not promote any one belief system and meet patients wherever they are in their spiritual journey.
Religious customs and end-of-life rituals are respected and incorporated into care whenever possible.
Families of all backgrounds receive personalized grief and bereavement support after the loss of a loved one.
Anyone—family, friends, clergy, or the patient—can make a hospice referral at any time with no obligation.

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Sources:

Connor, Stephen R. et al. “Comparing Hospice and Nonhospice Patient Survival Among Patients Who Die Within a Three-Year Window,” Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, Volume 33, Issue 3, 238 – 246 https://www.jpsmjournal.com/article/S0885-3924(06)00724-X/fulltext

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