My doctor suggested morphine to ease some of the pain I am experiencing with my life-limiting illness. I am afraid of morphine because I have heard that it speeds death?

Morphine is a powerful analgesic that is used to relieve pain. It acts directly on the central nervous system (CNS) to decrease the feeling of pain. It can be used for both acute and chronic pain.

Many people worry about the use of morphine. Morphine and other medications in the morphine family, such as hydromorphone, codeine and fentanyl, are called opioids. People worry that opioids will speed the dying process or they will become addicted.

Morphine is sometimes used when a person is in the advanced stages of illness, and his or her overall condition is declining. If the person is experiencing moderate to severe pain or shortness of breath, his or her doctor will often prescribe morphine. This opioid helps maintain the person’s comfort throughout the illness and up to the time of death. The person declines because of the illness with or without the morphine.

There is no evidence that opioids such as morphine hasten the dying process when a person receives the right dose to control the symptoms he or she is experiencing. Research suggest that using opioids to treat pain or shortness of breath near the end of life may help a person live a bit longer. Pain and shortness of breath are exhausting and significantly impact the person’s quality of life.

If a person has never received morphine, the initial doses given are low. They are gradually increased to relieve the person’s level of pain or shortness of breath. Once a person has used morphine, it can either be used occasionally or more continuously as needed. There is not an immediate addiction to the drug.

There are many opiates available today which are many times stronger than morphine. The effects of morphine are well documented, and when used appropriately it can be an important part of symptom management in hospice care.

Hospice doctors and nurses teach patients and families about when and how to use morphine and other symptom management medications, so that patients can be comfortable, and can enjoy an optimum quality of life while remaining in the setting of their choice.

The month of September has been declared Pain Awareness Month.  Pain Awareness Month is a time when various organizations work to raise public awareness of issues in the area of pain and pain management. It’s important to know how to manage pain in those experiencing a life-limiting illness. Sometimes a preconceived idea about morphine can delay or halt the use of a medication that can offer pain and symptom relief. If you would like to learn more about hospice care and management of pain due to a life-limiting-illness please contact our office at 973-383-0115.

Susan Dell , RN
Nursing Supervisor
Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice

Call 973-383-0115 for more information

Mary Ellen A. discusses her experience at the Home for Hospice. She tells how the home and staff were so welcoming it was like family. https://youtu.be/u_WYymFGGUM

Karen Ann Quinlan Home for Hospice has been nominated for the prestigious Sussex County Economic Development Partnership New Business Award. The Sussex County Economic Development Partnership will hold its Awards Luncheon on Friday, September 23, 2016 at 12:00 Noon at The Lafayette House, Lafayette, NJ.

We Procrastinate.  We’re not proud of it, be we all do it.  It’s no secret that many of us “hit the ground running” each day; come up for air on weekends and marvel, perplexed and vexed, at the passage of time.  No wonder talking “face to face” has been put on hold.  Multi-tasking and technological advances, such as voicemail, email, facebook, tweeting and text-messaging, have nearly rendered dialogue as an archaic art form.

And yet, we know there are really important circumstances that warrant more than a perfunctory “fly by” chat with our spouse, child, colleague or friend.  Serious illness is one of the critical issues requiring a deliberate and sensitive discussion with our loved ones.  The value of having a true “heart to heart” talk with our family regarding our health, health care wishes and future health care cannot be underestimated.

A recent survey, conducted by the Conversation Project, reported that 90% of people say that talking with their loved ones about end-of-life care is important, but only 27% have actually done so.

80% of people say that if seriously ill, they would want to talk to their doctor about end-of-life care. 7% report having had an end-of-life conversation with their doctor.

Similarly, 70% of people surveyed say they want to die at home, but in reality, 70% die in hospitals or institutions.

I would urge everyone to make the time for meaningful, albeit challenging, conversations about life-changing issues.  If you find the task daunting, there are many wonderful social workers, counselors and clinicians in your community that are trained to help.  You’ll be so glad you did!

Marlina R. Schetting, MSW, LCSW, CT
Administrator
Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice 

When is the right time to have that difficult conversation?

Karen Ann Quinlan Charitable Foundation is a recipient of a Google Ad Grants award. The Google Ad Grants program supports registered nonprofit organizations that share Google’s philosophy of community service to help the world in areas such as science and technology, education, global public health, the environment, youth advocacy, and the arts. Google Ad Grants is an in-kind advertising program that awards free online advertising to nonprofits via Google AdWords.

Call 973-383-0115 for more information

Sue Dougherty, volunteer coordinator at Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice, will hold hospice volunteer training starting September 7. The training sessions will be held at the Joseph T. Quinlan Bereavement Center, located on 61 Spring Street in Newton, NJ. The training is free, but pre-registration is required. You can click here to register for the classes. Volunteers are a pivotal part of the hospice team and you can contact Sue at 973-383-0115 to find out how you can get involved. . https://youtu.be/0f-Mej4af90

Owner of Iron Temple of Martial Arts https://www.facebook.com/ITMMA/ in Hampton and Sergeant with the NJ State Police, Dave Fritsch and office manager Laura Battaglia presented at Karen Ann Quinlan’s in-service on Tuesday. The presentation “When the Situation Becomes Volatile” covered topics that attendees can use in both professional and personal situations. The in-service programs are a value to everyone in the association and help to ensure that we have a well-trained and supported staff.
Many thanks to Dave and Laura! The presentation was awesome!

Dave and Laura of Iron Temple Martial Arts presented at a recent in-service at Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice.

Call 973-383-0115 for more information

We will come talk to your group at no-charge to you. Topics can include advance directives, living wills, POLST and hospice vs. palliative care and more. Contact Anthony Grigal, Community Liaison at 973-383-0115 for more information. https://youtu.be/PjfDoKV4yaQ

Marlina Schetting and Stephanie Bootsma recently spoke to the Frelinghuysen Senior Club.

Marlina Schetting, MSW, LCSW, CT, Administrator of Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice recently gave a presentation to the Frelinghuysen Seniors Club. Topics included hospice care and challenges of dealing with alzheimer disease.

Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice would would love to speak with to your group. Our coverage area is vast, serving patients and families throughout Sussex and Warren Counties in NJ, Pike County, PA and surrounding areas. Our knowledge and educational resources are comprehensive.

It would be our pleasure to send a hospice professional to meet with your group to share details and solutions to some of the difficult issues facing families, friends and colleagues who are dealing with the terminal illness of a loved one.

To discuss scheduling a presenter please call 973-383-0115 to speak with Anthony Grigal or email agrigal@karenannquinlanhospice.org.

Visit the Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice booth at the NJ State Fair/Farm and Horse Show. Our booth is located in the Kosa Sussex County Building. While you are there enter to win a 2016 Harley-Davidson FLSS Softail Slim S worth $18,899! Tickets are $20 and only 1500 will be sold!

You can also purchase your tickets at:https://karenannquinlanhospice.org/

Volunteers (l-r) Bea Smith, June Roberts, members of the Friends of the Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice volunteer group.

Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice has been named a 2016 Hospice Honors recipient by Deyta Analytics. The Hospice Honors is a landmark compilation of hospices providing the best patient and caregiver experience. Established by Deyta Analytics, this prestigious annual review recognizes hospices that continuously provide the highest level of quality as measured from the caregiver’s point of view. Hospice Honors acknowledges high performing agencies by analyzing performance of Hospice CAHPS quality measures.

“Hospice Honors is a landmark compilation of hospices that provide the best patient and caregiver experiences,” said Bobby Robertson, President and CEO of HEALTHCAREfirst. “I am extremely proud of Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice for achieving this highest of honors and congratulate them on their success.”

Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice was one of three hospice providers in the State of New Jersey to obtain the Deyta Analytics Hospice Honors accolade in 2016. Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice Executive Director, Cecelia Clayton credits her professional staff for going above and beyond to meet the needs of the patients and families served. “We are pleased to be in the company of other award-winning hospices and healthcare facilities nationwide. To be the only hospice in Northwest New Jersey to receive this continued recognition validates the exemplary care extended to our community by our dedicated team,” said Clayton.

Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice 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 and nationwide-wide at the Home for Hospice in Fredon, NJ.

Cecelia Clayton, MPH, Executive Director of Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice was awarded the “Women in Business Award” at the 31^st Annual Quality in Business, Quality in Living awards dinner held at Crystal Springs Country Club earlier this year. The award was established by the Sussex County Chamber of Commerce and acknowledged community leaders in 17 categories for their contributions to the quality of life in the community and workplace.

Clayton was awarded in recognition of her established track record of significant accomplishments in the community and business. Clayton has worked for Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice and the community in various capacities since July 1990. As Director of Volunteers, Clayton initiated many of the organizations bereavement education groups which eventually led to the creation of The Joseph T. Quinlan Bereavement Center in 2000. The center ensures that bereavement programs are available not only to hospice families, but to anyone in the community that is grieving a loss through death. To-date there are three centers in Newton, Hackettstown and Milford, PA.

In 2002 Clayton was named the Executive Director at Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice. Under her tenure the hospice has achieved growth from a small hospice of fewer than 50 patients a day in Northwest NJ to one that is now licensed and operates in two states, NJ and PA and the Home for Hospice in Fredon which can accept patients nationwide.