On Wednesday, June 5, at the Annual Home Care – Hospice Conference & Exhibition held in Atlantic City the Home Care and Hospice Association of New Jersey presented the Martha Esposito Award to Lee Ellison.

Ellison was recognized for outstanding contribution to the hospice industry through pioneering the End-of-Life Doula (EOLD) movement at Quinlan Care Concepts by establishing their Navigators program. In collaboration with International Doula Life Movement the organization has trained 31 End-of-Life Doulas to date. This groundbreaking initiative, led by Ellison, provides crucial emotional, spiritual, and physical support to patients and families before, during and after end-of-life transitions, focusing on advance directives, grief support, legacy projects, holistic comfort care practices and normalizing the conversation about death and dying.  

“25 years ago Julia Quinlan received the Martha Esposito award for her work in the hospice industry. It’s such and honor to receive this award as we celebrate 45 years of serving the community – continuing her work with innovative and pioneering programs to help our families,” said Ellison.

“End-of-life doulas have been in existence since the beginning of time. Introducing them in home care and hospice is a natural progression. We can all work together to normalize the conversation about death and dying because a life well lived deserves a good death. We’re all going to die, but we don’t know when, where, or how. What we can do is prepare and that’s were our Quinlan Care Navigators and end-of-life doulas come in,” said Ellison.

Mary Pradilla was presented the Carol J. Kientz Member of the Year Award at the the Conference. The award was given to a member who has gone above and beyond the benchmark of involvement in and commitment to the Home Care & Hospice Association of NJ and it’s work to serve as a catalyst for excellence in home care and hospice in New Jersey.

For more information about the Quinlan Care Navigators program please visit: quinlancare.org. If you are interested in becoming an end-of-life doula, the next in-person class starts on August 23 and information can be found online at Quinlancare.org/Navigators or by calling 973-782-1255.

National End of Life Doula Day (or National Death Doula Day) is observed on April 20th every year. This day aims to raise awareness about the role of end-of-life doulas and the benefits they provide to individuals facing death and their families. Doulas offer holistic support, including physical, emotional, and spiritual care, helping to navigate the end-of-life journey with compassion.

• What is an End-of-Life Doula?An end-of-life doula is a non-medical professional who provides support to individuals facing death, their families, and friends. They offer comfort, guidance, and advocacy throughout the end-of-life process.
• Why is National Death Doula Day Important?This day helps raise awareness about the valuable role end-of-life doulas play in providing compassionate and holistic care during a difficult time. It also encourages conversations about end-of-life planning and dying well.

Why we need End-of-Life Doulas now more than ever:

1. There are 76.4 million Baby Boomers living in the US and 20% of them do not have children to act as caregivers
2. 9/10 people want to be kept at home if they become terminally ill – yet over half are dying in the hospital or long-term care facility
3. In 2034, adults aged 65 and over will outnumber children aged 18 and younger for the first time in US History. The number of people aged 65 and over is projected to increase from 52 million in 2018 to 98 million by 2060.
4. As the number of elderly people is increasing, the number of medical professionals is decreasing. The US could see a shortage of 120,000 physicians ad will need 12 million new nurses by 2030.

• What do End-of-Life Doulas Do?They may assist with:
  • Emotional support: Providing comfort and understanding to those facing death and their loved ones.
  • Spiritual support: Assisting with finding meaning, peace, and connection during this time.
  • Family support: Helping families navigate the emotional and practical challenges of end-of-life care.
  • Advocacy: Helping ensure the individual’s wishes and preferences are honored.
• How to Celebrate National Death Doula Day?You can celebrate by:
  • Learning more about end-of-life doulas and their work .
  • Sharing information about the day with your network .
  • Supporting end-of-life doulas and organizations that provide this care. 

Quinlan Care Concepts partners with International Doula Life Movement to offer comprehensive EOL Doula training to all members of the Quinlan Care Navigators team. To learn more about becoming an EOL Doula please visit: https://www.internationaldoulalifemovement.com/newjersey-death-end-of-life-doula-specialist-program/

🌟 Supporting Life’s Final Chapter: Becoming a Death/End of Life Doula🌟

Are you curious about the profound and meaningful work of a death/end-of-life doula? This workshop is your opportunity to explore this transformative path and discover if it resonates with your passion and purpose.

✨ What is a Death/End-of-Life Doula, and what do they do?

✨ Are doulas new?

✨ How are doulas different from hospice care?

✨ Why do we need doulas if we already have hospice?

✨ Is this calling for you? How to know if it’s the right fit.

✨ Can you make a living as a doula?

✨ Are Certifications Needed? What about Accreditations?

✨ What should I consider when choosing the right end-of-life doula program for me?

🎓 Special Feature: Get inspired with a real-life case study from an IDLM graduate, highlighting the impactful role of a doula in action.

🗓️ Date: January 13, 2025

⏰ Time: 6:30 PM CST

📍 Location: Online

💻 Register here: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUtc-CorDMiGtycGZF72dVDFwtLLsJ3icQ7

Start your journey into a world of compassion, care, and purpose. 💚 For more information on the upcoming in person End-of-Life Doula training in Sussex County please give us a call at 973-782-1255 or visit: https://bit.ly/IDLMTrain.

Conversations about death, dying and facing one’s own mortality are difficult topics. The checklist of things to get accomplished when there is limited time available can seem overwhelming. Navigators, End-of-Life Doulas (EOLDs) are available to ease your fears, address your questions and provide education and support. The program, launched by Quinlan Care Concepts, is staffed by graduates of International Doula Life Movement (IDLM) who are available to provide compassionate, non-judgmental, non-medical support to individuals and their families nearing the end-of-life.

Participants in the Navigators program do not have to be on our Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice or Quinlan Palliative Care programs to use the service. The Karen Ann Quinlan Friends of Hospice, a philanthropic group, provided the funding for the training and certification of participants in the program. The certification included over 70-hours of specialized training. After two cycles of training the Navigators program will be staffed with more than 20 IDLM trained EOLD’s. More trainings will be offered in 2025 to staff, volunteers and those in the community who are interested in the program.

“This is how we give back to the community that has supported us for more than 44 years,” said Lee Ellison, Director of Marketing and Media at the organization and a Navigators, EOLD. “End-of-life doulas bridge gaps in care and can help create legacies, conduct rituals, plan vigils, lead guided visualizations and lend a helping hand when needed.”

“We can start as early as when anyone wants to talk about their death and figure out advanced directives or end-of-life wishes,” Ellison said. “We can also offer support when someone is no longer conscious to help their loved ones understand the process, educate them about what dying looks like, and then remain with them afterward to talk about the grieving process.”

The services provided by Navigators, EOLDs can include legacy projects, such as helping create memory books, stories or recordings designed to preserve memories, reflect on life experiences, and leave a lasting impact message that honors the person’s life and values.

EOLDs also offer emotional support which includes companionship and support to the dying person and their family and loved ones, helping them navigate their feelings and fears about death. “We also assist with practical matters by providing resources about end-of-life options and facilitating communication between loved ones,” said Ellison.

An EOLD is an advocate for the patient and family providing education about the dying process and what to expect while providing empowerment to make informed decisions. The EOLDs in our Navigators program personalize support based on individual needs, beliefs, and desires for how you, your family and loved ones wish to experience the end-of-life. We work to enhance the quality of the dying journey and ensure it aligns with your personal values and preferences. While EOLDs support those who’ve arrived at the end of their days, they can also make those final moments something their loved ones will carry forward and treasure.

We understand that you may have questions and look forward to providing support. For more information about the Quinlan Care Concepts Navigators EOLD Program please call us at 973-506-8233 or online at QuinlanCare.org/Navigators.

Our mission: Quinlan Care Concepts/Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice is a not-for-profit, organization which provides a full continuum of high quality medical, emotional and spiritual services to hospice patients, their family members and the community.

NEWTON­ – May 22, 2024 — Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice, a division of Quinlan Care Concepts has been named a 2024 Hospice CAHPS Honors Award recipient by HEALTHCAREfirst, a leading provider of CAHPS and bereavement survey programs for home health and hospice agencies. This prestigious annual review recognizes agencies that continuously go above and beyond in providing high-quality care for patients and compassionate caregiver experiences. It acknowledges the highest performing agencies by analyzing the performance of the Hospice Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS) survey satisfaction and quality measures.

To be considered for this award, the hospice agency must have scored above the HEALTHCAREfirst National Performance Score on the Hospice CAHPS Willingness to Recommend question. Once that criteria is met, performance is evaluated utilizing a set of 23 additional quality indicator measures. These scores are then compared on a question-by question basis to a national performance score calculated from all partnering hospices contained in HEALTHCAREfirst’s Hospice CAHPS database. Special recognition, Honors Elite, is awarded to those hospices that score above the national performance score on 100%, or all twenty-four, of the evaluated questions.

“We began our Annual Hospice Honors Award program more than ten years ago as a way to highlight those agencies that are truly leading the way in providing and demonstrating quality patient care,” said Jeremy Crow, Head of RCM and CAHPS Survey, Home Health and Hospice.

“We congratulate Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice, New Jersey and Pennsylvania on this recognition and are so proud and honored that they have chosen to partner with us in helping drive success for their agency.”

Woody Hungarter, RN, BSN, MS, President credits the entire staff at Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice for this outstanding accomplishment. He said, “We are honored to be one of three Hospice Honors Elite recipients in Pennsylvania and one of two Hospice Honors recipients in New Jersey. To achieve “Elite and Honors” status validates the exemplary care extended to our community by our dedicated team.”

Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice a Division of Quinlan Care Concepts is an independent and local non-profit organization that provides a full continuum of high quality medical, emotional and spiritual services to individuals requiring hospice, their family members and the community. The organization serves families in Sussex, Warren and Pike County, PA. For more information on the services they provide, please contact us at 800-888-1117.

NEWTON – International Doula Life Movement (IDLM) founder Anna Adams and Executive Director Pamela Carter visited the Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice administrative office to begin the IDLM – Death/End of Life Doula Specialist Program training. IDLM has partnered with Quinlan Care Concepts – Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice to provide training KAQ Hospice Volunteers and Employees to be End-of-Life Doulas.

Doula, n. (dou; la);

A non-medical professional who provides support to another individual during a time of transition by providing education, information and resources; emotional and holistic care; and physical support. 

“The doula movement is rapidly growing and for good reason. In times of transition or crisis, individuals and families need compassionate support to prepare emotionally for change. Well-trained doulas guide people to make the best choice for them,” said Anna Adams, founder of IDLM.

“The International Doula Life Movement offers international doulas — of all specialties — a values and mission-based education, resource center, and community committed to helping them support others,” said Adams.

A death doula is a person who helps support the dying or their loved ones through the end of life with non-medical support.

“We are thrilled to have Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice joining us and look forward to being a part of the Quinlan Care Concepts Team,” said Pamela Carter, IDLM Executive Director.

The trainings, generously funded by the Karen Ann Quinlan Friends of Hospice, started on Friday, May 3. Two trainings, with 10 students each, are planned for 2024 and more trainings will be held in 2025 for volunteers, employees and those in the community who wish to participate in this specialized, 70+ hour certification course. This initiative is part of the strategic plan for Quinlan Care Concepts to offer complete end-of-life services to the community. Upon graduation ILDM certified EOL Doulas will available to help families in the communities that we serve.

On our 44th Anniversary Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice is proud to announce the branding of our four divisions, Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice, Karen Ann Quinlan Home for Hospice, the Joseph T. Quinlan Bereavement Center and Quinlan Palliative Care under the umbrella of Quinlan Care Concepts. Each division name remains the same. Quinlan Care Concepts more accurately reflects the spectrum of services we offer and our commitment to being end-of-life specialists in the communities that we serve. Our quality, compassion, and commitment to those we serve remains the same. Stay tuned for more updates from your local, not-for-profit, award-winning hospice since 1980!

The winning number for the 2024 Hospice Honors program booklet was 2284. If this number is in your journal please call Jennifer Smith at 973-383-0115 ext. 106.

Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

DATE: March 4, 2023

What is Palliative Care and How Can it Help?

NEWTON — There’s an important medical term that you may not have heard of: Palliative Care (pronounced PAH-LEE-UH-TIVE). “Palliate” means to make comfortable by treating a person’s symptoms resulting from a serious illness. Hospice is just one form of palliative care that many Americans have heard of.

Both hospice and palliative care focus on helping a person be comfortable by addressing issues causing physical or emotional pain, or suffering. Hospice and other palliative care providers have teams of people working together to provide care. The goals of palliative care are to improve the quality of a seriously ill person’s life and to support that person and their family during and after treatment.

For more than forty years, Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice has been caring for people at the end of life while hospice nationwide has served more than 1.5 million patients and their family caregivers each year.

Palliative care is specialized medical care for people living with a serious illness. This type of care is focused on providing relief from the symptoms and stress of the illness. The goal is to improve quality of life for both the patient and the family.

Palliative care is provided by a specially-trained team of doctors, nurses and other specialists who work together with a patient’s other doctors to provide an extra layer of support. Palliative care is based on the needs of the patient, not on the patient’s prognosis. It is appropriate at any age and at any stage in a serious illness, and it can be provided along with curative treatment.

Hospice focuses on relieving symptoms and supporting patients with a life expectancy of months not years. Palliative care may be given at any time during a person’s illness, from diagnosis on and is appropriate for any stage of a serious illness.

If you or a family member would like to learn more about Quinlan Palliative Care, please call 973-888-9100 a FREE consultation. You may also visit our website at https://www.quinlanpalliativecare.org.

Click here for a printable fact sheet. Click here for a Spanish printable fact sheet.

Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice can help you understand more about palliative care and hospice and determine what might be best for you or your loved one. Contact them at 800-882-1117 or visit their website www.karenannquinlanhospice.org.

Karen Ann Quinlan Memorial Foundation is passionately dedicated to providing hospice care for the terminally ill, bereavement for those who have lost loved ones palliative care for those seeking an extra layer of care while seeking curative treatment.

Serving North and Northwest NJ and the Pike County area PA; please call 800-882-1117 to reach any of our services. For programs, events, and more information visit www.karenannquinlanhospice.org.

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Click here for a complete 2023 Lights of Life Memorial Program Booklet.

Click on the image above to view the 2023 Lights of Life – Featured Stars.

Earlier today, an intimate group of hospice and palliative care leaders gathered in America’s town square, Times Square, NYC, to honor the life and legacy of former President Jimmy Carter. President Carter reaches the six-month milestone on hospice this week and continues to enjoy time with his family and loved ones in his hometown of Plains, Georgia.

Among those in attendance were several speakers: NHPCO COO and interim CEO, Ben Marcantonio; Susan Lloyd, CEO of Delaware Hospice; Jacqueline Lopez-Devine, Chief Clinical Officer (CCO) of Gentiva. NHPCO members are encouraged to write their own tributes to President Carter’s impact on the hospice and palliative care community using the hashtag #candlesforcarter. A recording of the event is available here.

All of the Hospice Honors 2023 event journals had a lucky number hidden in the book. The attendee with number 1349 is the recipient or two tickets to the 2023 Wine and Cheese Festival presented by the Friends of Hospice. The event will be held on Sunday, September 10 at the beautiful Water Wheel Farm in Fredon. To claim your tickets please contact Jennifer Smith at 973-383-0115. Congratulations.

Thank you to everyone, including the honorees, presenters and sponsors for making last night such a success. All proceeds from the event with benefit the Julia Quinlan Home for Hospice Endowment Fund.

Woody Hungarter, RN BSN, MS and President of Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice recently earned a End-of-Life Doula Certificate from The University of Vermont Professional and Continuing Education.

Earners of this designation are prepared to offer non-medical, compassionate care to those facing the end-of-life, complementing the support provided by hospice, palliative care, and each client’s natural network. They understand common terminal conditions and diseases, pain management practices, the active dying process, and helpful interventions to ease client suffering. Earners provide unconditional positive regard and nonjudgmental support while engaging in open dialog with clients.

EOL Doulas support clients with individualized, compassionate care in several ways, including emotional, spiritual, informational, and physical support, which greatly helps to lower stress levels, aid in comfort, and promote personalized, even positive, dying passages for clients and their loved ones.

We would like to congratulate Woody on this accomplishment.