Both palliative and hospice care address physical, emotional, social and spiritual needs and seek to improve the quality of life for persons with a life-threatening illness and for their loved ones. Hospice focuses on relieving symptoms and supporting persons with a life expectancy of months, not years. Palliative care may be given at any time after diagnosis, and can improve the quality of life for seriously ill persons and their loved ones both during and after treatment.
Hospice care has a long history involving many partners in Connecticut. The first hospice program in the United States was established in New Haven in 1971 and the first freestanding inpatient hospice opened in Branford in 1980. This inaugurated the national hospice movement.
The palliative goal for the 2014-2017 Connecticut Cancer Plan is:
High-quality palliative care is available and accessible to all people living in Connecticut. Click on the link below to access the Palliative goal of the Connecticut Cancer Plan.
The Continuum of Cancer Control: Palliative Care
The hospice goal for the 2014-2017 Connecticut Cancer Plan is:
High-quality hospice care is available and accessible to all people living in Connecticut. Click on the link below to access the Hospice goal of the Connecticut Cancer Plan.