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Palliative Care

Community Hospice Resources

Home Hospice Services

The Visiting Nurse Service of Rochester and Lifetime Care are two local, medicare-certified Home Care Agencies that provide both palliative care and home hospice services. While family and friends provide most of the hands-on care, a primary nurse, social worker, and home health aide from the agency can help develop a safe plan of care, provide pain and symptom management, and help families anticipate future care needs.

Nursing Home Sites

Almost all nursing homes in the Greater Rochester area have a contract with one or both of the above Home Care Agencies to provide hospice services right at the nursing home, depending on eligibility and insurance. St John’s Nursing Home has a specialized Comfort Care Unit for individuals who have a prognosis of three months or less. St. Ann's Community also has a five-bed Palliative Center for Caring unit dedicated solely to hospice care.

Hospice Houses

The Rochester area and surrounding counties have a number of two-bed hospice houses, known as Hospice Houses or Comfort Care Homes for hospice patients with a prognosis of three months or less. These homes provide a comfortable, home-like atmosphere, are staffed primarily by highly trained volunteers, and are free to the patient.

The hospice homes within Monroe County include:

  • Advent House, 1010 Moseley Road, Fairport, NY 14450, 585-223-6112
  • Benincasa, 3880 Rush-Mendon Road, Mendon, NY 14506, 585-624-8070
  • Isaiah House, 71 Prince Street, Rochester, NY 14605, 585-232-5221
  • Journey Home Inc., 994 Long Pond Road, Rochester, NY 14626, 585-225-1240
  • Mt. Carmel House, 4 Planet Street, Rochester, NY 14606, 585-458-6508
  • Shepherd Home, 1959 Five Mile Line Road, Penfield, New York 14526, 585-381-0890
  • Sunset House, 3746 St. Paul Boulevard, Rochester, NY 14617, 585-467-3524
  • Webster Comfort Care Home Inc., 700 Holt Road, Webster, NY 14580, 585-872-5290

There are also hospice houses in Batavia, Clifton Springs, Geneseo, Naples, Ontario, and Victor, New York. You can contact the Department of Health in these counties for further information.

Acute Hospital Setting

For individuals whose life expectancy is less than two weeks or those whose symptoms are difficult to control, area hospitals provide hospice-like care for inpatients. At Strong Memorial Hospital and Highland Hospital, two units are staffed with nurses who have received additional education in end-of-life care. We make every effort to provide a quiet and private atmosphere with symptom relief and psychosocial support for the patient, family, and friends. St. Mary’s Hospital also has a 14-bed acute hospice unit for patients with acute symptoms, and for family respite care. Inpatient hospice care at area hospitals is open to patients affiliated with either Visiting Nurse Hospice or Genesee Region Home Care.

Helpful Resources

  • Compassion and Support - A caring consortium of individuals in Rochester, NY developed this excellent resource on end-of-life care.
  • National Hospice Organization
  • CompassionNet serves children with life-threatening illnesses and their families. This unique case management program is offered by Excellus BlueCross BlueShield and administered by Lifetime Care.