What type of support, services can I expect when placed in hospice care?

Hospice provides support and comfort for people who need end-of-life care. Opting for hospice care is one of the most compassionate decisions you will ever make. You can receive hospice care in your own home, a residential facility, such as the Karen Ann Quinlan Home for Hospice in Fredon, or in assisted living centers, nursing homes and hospitals. Some patients receive care in the homes of friends or family.

 

According to the Hospice Foundation of America, a third of all Americans choose hospice care when they are dying. But hospice isn’t only for the dying. Loved ones also benefit from hospice care, as workers will support them through some of the most difficult moments in life.

 

Here are some of the support services you can expect from Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice:

  • Every patient who receives hospice treatment must be qualified by a physician. All care is directed by your primary physician.
  • Nursing care and services are provided by or under the supervision of a registered nurse. At Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice our nursing staff is available to patients and families 24-hours a day.
  • Medical Social Service is provided by a qualified social worker under the director of a physician.
  • Our hospice Medical Director will oversee the general needs of the patient working in tandem with the attending physician which includes palliation and management of the terminal disease and related conditions.
  • Home Health Aides provide personal care services. Aides’ services are provided under the general supervision of a registered nurse.
  • Chaplain Services are available to provide/facilitate spiritual counseling.
  • Volunteer services are available to assist the patient/caregiver in any one of a multitude of ways from providing comfort and respite to the family, an avenue of socialization for the patient; assistance with shopping, etc. All volunteers have completed a Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice training course.
  • Bereavement Services are provided for 13 months following the patient’s death to family and significant others. Additionally, the Joseph T. Quinlan Bereavement Center holds bereavement and grief recovery support groups in all the communities served by Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice.

 

The staff at Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice is trained to offer peace of mind in addition to medical care. We hear it so many times, patients and families tell us: “We wish we’d called hospice sooner.” Patients and families can benefit most from hospice care when they seek support earlier rather than in a crisis.

 

The best way to determine if you or your loved one could be helped by hospice is to call us at 800-882-1117. There is no cost and calling does not commit you or your loved one to hospice care. Perhaps there are other resources in the community that could be of help to you; our social workers or nursing team will help guide you.

Who chooses my hospice provider?

You do. It can be in consultation with your physician or you may consult with the hospice of your choice. According to Medicare today, “a patient is free to choose any qualified agency offering him/her services.” Your physician or the hospice professional staff can determine if your illness is hospice appropriate according to Medicare/Medicaid guidelines.

Sadly when you or family members speak to the doctor or a hospital social services department about hospice, asking the right questions can come with a lump in your throat. Once we come face to face with that difficult decision, it will be a very trying time; a loved one has been diagnosed with a terminal illness.

When met with the prospect of hospice care, first ask for what hospices are available and then if you need to get information from the hospice of your choice, there are very basic questions that should be asked.

• What specific services are offered?

• How often will a nurse or hospice staff visit?

• Are they accredited?

• Is care available seven days a week, 24 hours a day?

• Does the hospice provide pharmacy and home health equipment?

• What social services are available?

• What spiritual support and/or anticipated grief counseling is provided?

• Do they have certified trained volunteers?

• Can the hospice provide services in a nursing home, hospital or a home for hospice?

Patients have the basic right:

• To choose any Medicare-certified agency.

• To be told when Medicare will not cover a service.

• To receive services the doctor ordered.

• To be involved in care planning.

• To choose to transfer to another hospice provider if unhappy with current agency.

Do hospice patients live longer than those who do not choose hospice?

Recent studies have shown that hospice care may prolong survival as much as 29 days or more for terminally ill patients. Two studies in the Journal of Pain and Symptom Management in 2004 and 2007 reported in both cases patients who chose hospice care lived an average of one month longer than similar patients who did not choose hospice care. In addition, a new study released by the New England Journal of Medicine found that some cancer patients who received palliative care lived, on average, almost two months longer than those who received standard care. Researchers also found that patients receiving palliative care correlated a higher quality of life through the final stages of their illness. “With earlier referral to a hospice program, patients may receive care that results in better management of symptoms, leading to stabilization of their condition and prolonged survival, “ wrote the authors of the study from the New England Journal of Medicine.

“There’s an inaccurate perception among the American public that hospice means you’ve given up,” said J. Donald Schumacher, president and CEO of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization. “Those of us who have worked in the field have seen firsthand how hospice and palliative care can improve the quality of life and indeed prolong the lives of people receiving care.”

Researchers cited several factors that may have contributed to longer life among patients who chose hospice. Patients in a weakened condition sidestep the risks of over-treatment when they make the decision to receive hospice care.

Second, hospice care usually improves the monitoring and treatment patients receive.

And primarily, the hospice model of care provides a team focused on the emotional and spiritual wellbeing, as well as the physical health of the patient.

Support and training for family caregivers are provided as well. Combined, this may increase the patient’s desire to continue living and make them feel less of a burden to family members. In total, facing end-of-life decisions is being proven to be more stable when the body is being treated in its entirety, mind and spirit.

 

Thanks to Thorlabs

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

New Year’s Resolution – Prepare Advance Directive

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.

Subaru Annual Share the Love Event

share_the_love_event_horiz_newCHERRY 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.”

 

Osterlof Foundation donates to Bereavement Center Capital Campaign

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.

2016 Christmas Cookie Exchange

cookiebakeVolunteers 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.

Friends donate $33,300

 

friendsofhospicecheck

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

 

Congratulation Graduates!

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.

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

KAREN ANN QUINLAN LIGHTS OF LIFE MEMORIAL WILL ILLUMINATE THE MEMORIES OF LOVED ONE’S THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

iliff_trees NEWTON – November 1, 2016 – Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice is privileged to join with families each year to remember the lives of loved ones throughout the holiday season. The Lights of Life Memorial Tree Lighting has been a seasonal staple for friends and family in the tri-state area for over twenty-five years. Its outreach extends into three locations; Sussex and Warren Counties, NJ and Pike County, PA, where families are invited to participate in this commemorative tradition. The Warren County Lights of Life Memorial will be held Tuesday, November 29 at 7 p.m. at the Wayne Dumont, Jr. Administration Building, 165 Route 519 South, Belvidere, NJ; the Pike County Lights of Life event will be held Thursday, December 1 at 7 p.m. at Church of the Good Shepherd on Catharine and 5th Street in Milford; the Sussex County Lights of Life Memorial will be held Friday, December 2 at 7 p.m. in the atrium at the Performing Arts Center on the campus of Sussex County Community College. Each of the Lights of Life Memorial Services are accented with guest readers that include area leaders, hospice employees, volunteers and family members. “We are pleased to welcome families to gather with us once again this year at one of our event locations. These are very special evenings for so many and each are highlighted with music and thoughtful reflections,” stated Julia Quinlan, Co-Founder and President of Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice. At the conclusion of each of the Lights of Life presentation, a memorial tree will be lit to commemorate the shining place our loved ones have held in our hearts and minds. Warren County’s Lights of Life Memorial Tree will be featured on the grounds of the Wayne Dumont, Jr. Administration Building; Pike County’s Lights of Life Memorial Tree will glow at the Memorial Park, located on the corner of Catharine and 5th Street in Milford, and Sussex County’s Lights of Life campaign will illuminate Newton Town Square Park’s live evergreen, along with several trees adorning the gazebo. The thousands of white lights and decorative Moravian stars represent donations sent to Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice in memory of a family member or friend. “The memorial service and tree lightings provide a meaningful way for people to come together and share the emotions commonly experienced throughout the holidays. Lights of Life is a thoughtful, comforting service at which participants can honor and remember their loved ones,” stated Louis Ruggiero, President of Iliff-Ruggiero Funeral Home. Iliff-Ruggiero Funeral Home has been the Event Sponsor of the Lights of Life Tree Lighting and Memorials for over a decade and continues to assist Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice with the presentation of this community outreach to area families. For a $100.00 gift, participants are invited to remember a loved one this holiday season and will also receive a commemorative Lenox ornament chosen to highlight the 2016 event. With a $20.00 donation donors will have their loved ones name remembered. With each donation, participants are able to send an acknowledgement with a commemorative star lapel pin to a designated recipient. To remember a loved one this holiday season, please visit www.karenannquinlanhospice.org/events or call 800-882-1117 for assistance. The Karen Ann Quinlan Memorial Foundation is passionately dedicated to providing Hospice care for the terminally ill and Bereavement for those who have lost loved ones. Serving Northwest NJ and Northeast PA; please call 800-882-1117 to reach any of our services. Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice, 99 Sparta Ave., Newton, NJ and Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice, 104 Bennett Ave., Milford, PA. Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice is an independently owned hospice program and the preferred hospice provider for the Atlantic Health Care System in our area of service. The Karen Ann Quinlan Home for Hospice in Fredon offers in-patient units, respite care, and routine hospice care to eligible Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice patients. For programs, events, and more information visit www.karenannquinlanhospice.org. Stay up to the minute with us! Facebook.com/KarenAnnQuinlanHospice.org.

Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice Recognized as a We Honor Veterans Level Four Partner

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

“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 benefits Bereavement Center

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.