Click on the photo to learn more about the Joseph T. Quinlan Bereavement Center

We like to thank Thorlabs for allowing us to present at the Sussex County Chamber of Commerce B2B breakfast on Tuesday January 10. We were able to announce the location of the new permanent home of the Joseph T. Quinlan Bereavement Center to over 250 Chamber members. Here’s a quick overview of our presentation. If you would like to donate to the capital campaign to help us with the purchase please visit www.KarenAnnQuinlanHospice.org/Capital

All adults can benefit from thinking about what their healthcare choices would be if they are unable to speak for themselves.  These decisions can be written down in an advance directive so that others know what they are.  Advance directives come in two main forms:

• PROXY DIRECTIVE(Durable Power of Attorney for Healthcare)
  A proxy directive is a document you use to appoint a person to make healthcare decisions for you in the event you become unable to make them yourself. This document goes into effect whether your inability to make healthcare decisions is temporary because of an accident or permanent because of a disease. The person that you appoint is known as your “healthcare representative” and they are responsible for making the same decisions you would have made under the circumstances. If they are unable to determine what you would want in a specific situation they are to base their decision on what they think is in your best interest.
• INSTRUCTION DIRECTIVE(Living Will)
  An instruction directive is a document you use to tell your physician and family about the kinds of situations you would want or not want to have life-sustaining treatment in the event you are unable to make your own healthcare decisions. You can also include a description of your beliefs, values, and general care and treatment preferences. This will guide your physician and family when they have to make healthcare decisions for you in situations not specifically covered by your advance directive.

ADVANCE DIRECTIVE:  Your Right to Make Health Care Decisions

 You have the right to:

• Ask questions about your care.
• Completely understand your medical condition.
• Accept or refuse any treatments.
• Make future decisions by completing an Advance Directive.
• If you have a life-limiting illness – you have the right to choose the hospice of your choice.

Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice has ready-made packets with current Living Will information available FREE.  Please stop by our office at 99 Sparta Ave, Newton, NJ and request one at the desk.  You may call us at 973-383-0115, or at 800-882-1117 and we will have one mailed to you.

CHERRY HILL, NJ,  – Subaru of America, Inc. has announced the return of its annual Share the Love Event in 2016. This year, for the first time throughout the life of the program, there will be no cap on the total donation from Subaru of America to its Share the Love charitable partners. By the end of this year’s event, Subaru hopes to exceed a grand total of $90 million donated since the creation of Share the Love.

From November 17, 2016 to January 3, 2017, Subaru will donate $250 for every new Subaru vehicle sold or leased to the customer’s choice of charities. In addition to the four national charity partners, Subaru has chosen Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice to be the hometown charity for their customers to support. With some retailers again adding their own donations to the hometown charities, total donations by Subaru and its participating retailers are expected to exceed previous years.

“We at Subaru are thrilled to support our national and hometown charity partners for the ninth consecutive year,” said Alan Bethke, Senior Vice President of Marketing, Subaru of America Inc. “Through the Share the Love platform we are proud to continue our commitment to the causes our customers care about most and look forward to exceeding a grand total of $90 million donated through this initiative.”

On Tuesday, organizers of the Osterlof Open donated a check for $12,000 to the Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice. The funds will benefit the capital campaign for the Joseph T. Quinlan Bereavement Center.

The funds were raised during the Annual Osterlof Open which was held on June 16 at Crystal Springs Resort. 

The Carl T. Osterlof Foundation was started by Carl T. Osterlof’s wife, Joan and their eight children as a way to honor his memory and charitable virtues. The Open, ran by the friends and family of the late Osterlof, is a way to raise funds and awareness for charitable causes using his favorite leisure pastime, golf.

This year, in memory of Bonnie Synol’s husband Doug Synol, who was a patient of Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice, proceeds from the outing were donated to the Joseph T. Quinlan Bereavement Center. 

Doug Synol was a longtime member of the Osterlof Golf tournament committee.

Carl Osterlof presents a check for $12,000 to Julia Quinlan, Co-founder of Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice. Pictured left to right: Carl Osterlof, Cecelia Clayton, Bonnie Synol, Julia Quinlan and John Mauthe.

Volunteers were on hand  at the 16th Annual Cookie Exchange at Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice. Volunteers baked and wrapped trays of cookies to bring to our patients, families and those in our bereavement program. Hospice home care volunteers delivered the cookies to homes in Sussex, Warren and Pike counties. The event was organized by Sue Dougherty, volunteer coordinator. Thank you to all the volunteers who helped bake, wrap and deliver a bit of season to our patients.

The Friends of Hospice, a group of volunteers who raise funds for the Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice, recently donated a check in the amount of $33,300 to the hospice. The group sponsors several fundraisers during the year most notably the Wine and Cheese Festival, High Tea for Hospice and a Harley Davidson motorcycle raffle. Their donations enable the not-for-profit hospice to purchase items that may be needed for patient comfort and business operating efficiency.

The group, open to anyone in the community, meets the second Monday of each month at the Karen Ann Quinlan administrative office, located on 99 Sparta Avenue in Newton. More information about Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice and volunteering can be found online at KarenAnnQuinlanHospice.org

Featured in the photo from left to right: Bea Smith, Gay Van Etton, Lisa O’Hara, Julia Quinlan, Co-Founder of Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice, Nancy Gallo and Gail Burckes

In recognition of National Hospice Month, Julia Quinlan, co-founder of the Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice, accepted a proclamation from the Board of Freeholders presented by Freeholder Carl Lazzaro. Thank you Freeholders!

Congratulations to the Graduates! Sue Dougherty, Volunteer Coordinator at Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice, recently held a graduation ceremony for students of the Pike County, Hospice Home Care Volunteer Training Program.

Areas covered in the training program include understanding hospice, confidentiality, working with families, listening skills, signs and symptoms of approaching death, loss and grief and bereavement support.

We hold volunteer hospice training classes three time a year in different areas. The classes are four weeks long, two mornings per week.

Graduates from l to R: Mary Resteghini, Alysa Caustini, Christine Allen, Del Lipsky, Sue Dougherty, Volunteer Coordinator, and Francesca Cappellettiligi.

“We Honor Veterans” committee members from left to right: Anthony Grigal, Lisa Burse, Jackie Gieske and John Drinkard. Missing from photo: Steven Downing.

(NEWTON)— Veterans often carry experiences from their military service that present unique healthcare challenges, and unfortunately, many of them may not know about, or have access to, specialized care. To help provide Veteran-centric care and support that reflect the important contributions made by these men and women, Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice has been participating in We Honor Veterans, a pioneering campaign developed by National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization in collaboration with the Department of Veterans Affairs.

 Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice has recently become a Level Four We Honor Veterans Partner, the highest recognition of this exciting program! As a Level Four Partner, Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice has:

• Increased its professional and organizational capacity to provide quality services for Veterans and their families;
• Developed and strengthened partnerships with hospices, VA, Veteran organizations and other healthcare organizations;
• Promoted hospice and palliative care for Veterans; and
• Demonstrated the impact of its Veteran-centric organizational programs.

“By recognizing the unique needs of our nation’s Veterans who are facing a life-limiting illness, We Honor Veteran Level Four Partners are better able to accompany and guide Veterans and their families toward a more peaceful ending,” says NHPCO  President and Chief Executive Office, J. Donald Schumacher. “In cases where there might be some specific needs related to the Veteran’s military service, combat experience or other traumatic events, these partners are now capable of providing tools to help support those they are caring for.”

Though Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice has reached the highest achievement in We Honor Veterans, their ongoing commitment and dedication to Veterans ensures that they will continue to provide the best quality of care to those who have served our country.

The resources of We Honor Veterans focus on respectful inquiry, compassionate listening, and grateful acknowledgment, coupled with Veteran-centric education of health care staff caring for Veterans. To learn more about We Honor Veterans or to support this important work via a secure, online donation, please visit www.wehonorveterans.org.

Holiday Elegance Fashion Show – An elegant event for the fashion conscious

November 1, 2016 – Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice and Krave Café and Catering will present the third annual “Holiday Elegance” fashion show on November 10, from 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. at the Conservatory, located at the New Jersey State Fairgrounds in Augusta, NJ.

The red carpet, fashion show will showcase elegant holiday fashions for both men and women that will take you through the holidays…from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Eve…from family functions to formal functions. Attendees will be inspired by fashions for men from Onore and Felicia’s Boutique for women. Both designers are located in Sparta, NJ.

“For over 30 years our passion has been for fine men’s clothing. In today’s world, when most people order everything online, it’s difficult to find a full service tailor to customize your entire shopping experience. That is what we do, that is what we love,” said Richard Cintron, co-owner of Onore –  Fine Tailored Elegance.

“Our clients can visit us at our stores in New Jersey and New York or we can visit them for a full at-home or office wardrobe consultation. We take over 30 different measurements of your body to make sure that whatever we deliver to you has been crafted and tailored with care. We focus on the most minuscule detail,” said Cintron.

Phyllis Flanagan, owner of Felicia’s Boutique said, “Our philosopy is giving people good clothing, great value and the latest in fashion.” Flanagan, who also owns Flowers in the Attic, opened the clothing store, located in Sparta’s Upper Lake Plaza, in 2013. Felicia’s Boutique carries many familiar name brand lines and features jewelry, accessories, shoes and handbags.

There will be 22 “celebrity” models on the runway at the event. They include: Mary Bezak, Mira Cocozziello, Dr. Jon Connolly, Tracey deWaal, Joe Dipaolo, Christina Furgeson, Jim Furgeson, Yanina M. Hupka, Dr. Cynthia Jones, Ginnie Littell, Dr. Alexandra Miller, Bob Nicholson, Dr. Chris Robertozzi, Louis Ruggiero, Tom Ryan, Beth Sylvester, Lou Sylvester, Dr. Ed Tirpack, Laura Tirpack, Robin Tomlinson and Chris Wolverton.

The event will feature cuisine from Krave Café and Catering, wine tasting and a silent auction. All proceeds from the event will benefit the capital campaign for the Joseph T. Quinlan Bereavement Center. The Joseph T. Quinlan Bereavement Center provides grief support and counseling for hospice families and the community free of charge. The staff works to bring comfort and understanding to help families through difficult times. Individual counseling and ongoing support groups are offered. Support groups include: anticipatory grief support, school bereavement support, memorial services, grief lecture series, children’s bereavement art program and pet loss support.

The Bereavement Center is currently located in office space on Spring Street in Newton, NJ. The lease for the space expired in October and the center is seeking a permanent home in Sussex County.

Tickets for the event can be purchased by visiting www.KarenAnnQuinlanHospice.org/Fashion or by calling 973-383-0115.

Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice Makes More Meaningful Moments Possible

(NEWTON, NJ) – November is National Hospice Month and hospices across the country are reaching out to raise awareness about the highest quality care for all people coping with life-limiting illness.

“Hospice is probably the most important thing that people don’t know about. That’s why raising awareness during National Hospice Month is so important,” said Cecelia Clayton, MPH, Executive Director at Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice. “ ‘Know You Options’ is the theme of this year’s national campaign. Patients facing a life-limited illness have the right to choose the care they want. It’s important to make your wishes known to your family and doctors before the need arises.”

“National Hospice Month brings awareness not only to the hospice program but also to the nurses, home care aides, therapists, and social workers who make a remarkable difference for the patients and families they serve.”

“Every year, nearly 1.6 million people living with a life-limiting illness receive care from hospice and palliative care providers in this country,” said J. Donald Schumacher, president and CEO of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization. “These highly-trained professionals ensure that patients and families find dignity, respect, and love during life’s most difficult journey.”

Hospice is not a place. Hospice care programs provide pain management, symptom control, psychosocial support, and spiritual care to patients and their families when a cure is not possible.

Hospice care combines the highest level of quality medical care with the emotional and spiritual support that families need most when facing the end of life. Through this specialized quality care, we see many patients and their families experience more meaningful moments together. Hospice helps them focus on living despite a terminal diagnoses.

As Nancy Gallo, a hospice volunteer at Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice noted, “”Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice is a wonderful organization that helped me and my family get through the toughest days of my husband’s battle with cancer and which helped Joe die with dignity in his own home. Words cannot express how grateful I am that Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice was there to help us in our darkest hours.”

“Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice is truly a remarkable organization which provided us such amazing, unconditional support when we needed it most; thus, I felt the need to repay them in some way. To that end, I have been a volunteer at Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice for over a year and absolutely love being a part of this wonderful organization,” said Gallo.

Throughout the month of November, Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice will be joining organizations across the nation hosting activities that will help the community understand how important hospice care can be.

Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice opened on April 15, 1980, and is a not-for profit organization offering a full continuum of high quality medical, emotional and spiritual services to hospice patients, their family members and the community. The hospice has had remarkable growth and now serves Sussex, Warren, and Pike Counties. We are the preferred hospice provider for the Atlantic Health Care System in Sussex, Warren and Pike Counties.

In 2014, the Karen Ann Quinlan Home for Hospice opened. The Home for Hospice is the only free-standing in-patient provider for our area. The facility is designed to ensure that individuals with life-limiting illnesses who are not able to return to their own homes will receive gentle end-of-life care from our exceptional clinicians.

Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice has many community activities planned during the month of November including: Haircuts for Hospice, Holiday Elegance Fashion Show, a Caregivers Essay contest in partnership with United Way Caregivers Coalition, hospice volunteer training, a Flag raising ceremony on Veteran’s Day, “It’s a Wonderful Life” holiday concert and more. We will also be issued a proclamation from the Board of Chosen Freeholders on November, 9 recognizing National Hospice Month.

Please visit our website at www.KarenAnnQuinlanHospice.org to learn more about all our upcoming events and more information about hospice and advance care planning.