Each butterfly pictured represents a child that has used the services of the Joseph T. Quinlan Bereavement Center in the last five years.  You can try to count them, but it will be easier to tell you that there are 296 butterflies on this wall.  The Thursday before Thanksgiving is nationally recognized as Children’s Grief Awareness Day, so on this November 21^st, the bereavement center wanted to give a visual of how many children have had to deal with anticipatory grief and bereavement.

The day is designed to help us all become more aware of the needs of grieving children — and of the benefits they obtain through the support of others. Children’s Grief Awareness Day is an opportunity to make sure that grieving children receive the support they need.

Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice Reminds the Community that “#SoonerIsBetter!”

(Newton, NJ) – November is National Hospice and Palliative Care Month and hospice and palliative care programs across the country are reaching out to raise awareness about hospice and palliative care. Hospice is not a place but is high-quality care that enables patients and families to focus on living as fully as possible despite a life-limiting illness. Palliative care brings this holistic model of care to people earlier in the course of a serious illness.

“Every year, nearly 1.4 million people living with a life-limiting illness receive care from hospices in this country,” said Edo Banach, 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 and palliative care programs provide pain management, symptom control, psychosocial support, and spiritual care to patients and their families when a cure is not possible.

Hospice and palliative care combines the highest level of quality medical care with the emotional and spiritual support that families need most when facing a serious illness or the end of life.

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 and palliative care can be.

More information about hospice, palliative care, and advance care planning is available from Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice by call 973-383-0115 or visiting our website at KarenAnnQuinlanHospice.org or from NHPCO’s CaringInfo.org.

Vides and stories from families showing the many ways hospice and palliative care make special moments possible can be found at www.momentsoflife.org.

The month of November is National Hospice Month. Since 1993 Dr. Edward Tirpack has been hosting Dental Day for Hospice with the Friends of Hospice. This annual event celebrates the amazing work of the Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice. This year, Dr. Tirpack and Dr. Gilbert Tapia along with their highly-skilled dental team will once again host Dental Day for Hospice. They will be donating the proceeds from dental procedures provided on Monday, November 11, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m to the Friends of Hospice. Sparta Dental Designs is located at 16 Lafayette Road in Sparta. During this event donations will be accepted; 50/50 raffle tickets will be available for purchase and the Friends of Hospice volunteers will be in the Sparta Dental Designs living room to answer your questions about hospice. There will also be give-aways and light refreshments served.

Dr. and Mrs. Tirpack have been longtime champions of the hospice mission serving as board members, committee chairs and volunteers committed to raising funds and awareness for hospice care. “Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice is a not-for-profit organization and they will treat any patient regardless of their ability to pay,” said Dr. Tirpack, “That’s what inspires me. I hope to make the community aware of their outstanding hospice care and what services are in place to support patients and their family members.” Celebrating their dedication to Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice, Sparta Dental Designs was the first recipient of the Heart of Hospice Award in 2012. With any event, corporate support is always a winning recipe to ensure success. Benco Dental, a full-service dental distributor, has been the longtime event sponsor for Dental Day for Hospice under the leadership and personal contributions of territory representative Preston Hay.

“The commitment to Dental Day for Hospice from the doctors and the Sparta Dental Designs team is truly appreciated and has helped many patients and family members throughout Sussex and Warren Counties in New Jersey and Pike County, Pennsylvania from the revenue it has generated since its inception in 1993,” stated Lisa O’Hara, President of Friends of Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice. To secure an appointment for Dental Day for Hospice, please call Sparta Dental Designs at 973-729-2113. More information about Sparta Dental Designs can be found at www.SpartaDentalDesigns.com or like them on Facebook.

The Karen Ann Quinlan Memorial Foundation is passionately dedicated to providing Hospice care for the terminally ill and bereavement counseling for those who have lost loved ones.
Please call 800-882-1117 to reach all of our services at:
Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice at 99 Sparta Avenue, Newton, NJ
Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice at 104 Bennett Avenue, Milford, PA
Karen Ann Quinlan Home for Hospice in Fredon, NJ – an award winning hospice care facility!
The Joseph T. Quinlan Bereavement Center at 5 Plains Road, Augusta, NJ with satellite offices in Pike and Warren Counties.

For further information regarding hospice programs, bereavement programs, memorial or celebration events and much more, visit:
www.KarenAnnQuinlanHospice.org or follow on Facebook.com/KarenAnnQuinlanHospice.org.

Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice is an independently owned, not-for-profit hospice program and proud to be the preferred hospice provider for Newton Medical Center and the Atlantic Health Care System.

Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice received a grant award of $3,000 from the Richard L. Snyder Fund at the Greater Pike Community Foundation for grief and bereavement education and outreach.

The Great Pike Community Foundation was created to enable generous individuals, families, and local businesses to maximize their charitable support through organized, targeted, long-term community philanthropy.

Grief may be experienced in response to physical losses, such as death, or in response to symbolic or social losses such as divorce or loss of a job.  The grief experience can be affected by one’s history and support system. Taking care of yourself and accessing the support of friends and family can help you cope with your grief experience.

Mourning is the expression of the emotions and thoughts related to grief. Most individuals who suffer the loss of a loved one will grieve, but not all will externalize their grief. To mourn is to release those emotions in order to allow for healing. This release can be through emoting (crying, etc.), talking, writing, physical  activities (running, exercise) or any other healthy method of release.

Bereavement is the state of grief and a time period of mourning after a loss, generally referring to the loss of a loved one. Bereavement work involves the truthful and honest experiencing of the full range of emotions which occur during one’s grieving process. Every individual’s grieving process will be as unique as their relationship with their loved one. Throughout bereavement, grief can be cyclical, meaning that it can come and go. One moment may be different from the next and it sometimes feels as though you are moving backward along this road. You would not be the only person feeling that way.

The most important thing to remember during this time is to be compassionate toward yourself. Losing someone you love can change your entire world. It becomes important to honor and experience your needs and emotions as they are, not how you or anyone else wants them to be or thinks they should be. This is your time to do what is best for you.

The Joseph T. Quinlan Bereavement Center will hold an Expressive Arts Workshop for Adults on Wednesdays in September starting on the 4th. The weekly, two-hour workshop, 6 – 8 p.m., will explore ways to mourn and release emotions through various modalities including, art, drama, music, journaling and reading. The workshop is open to anyone in the community and registration is limited. There is a $100 fee to help cover the cost of materials and supplies.

Other resources available to everyone in the community include our Bereavement website CopeWithGrief.org. an online resource page which is readily available to you at any time.

Peer support groups can be a tremendous resource during challenging times. They provide an opportunity to share your story with others as well as to hear from others who have experienced the loss of a loved one. Please visit our website to view the group schedule. In the event you cannot access our online resources, please contact our Bereavement Center to speak with our staff at 973-948-2283.

If you find yourself continuing to struggle during your grieving process and feel you may benefit from some individual support, our Bereavement Center offers one-on-one counseling. There is a suggested donation amount of $25 per session, but no one is ever denied access to services based on ability to pay.

Joel T. Peterson, MSW, LSW

Bereavement Counselor

Community Outreach and Education

mailto:[email protected][email protected]

By Kelly Wallace, CNN – Full article can be read at click here.

(CNN) After horrific events like shootings or attacks by terrorists, parents are faced with this dilemma: What do I tell my kids? How can I talk to them about something so senseless and indiscriminate? About something that we can’t make sense of ourselves?

Limiting media exposure is key

How to reassure your child

Helping teens open up

Joseph T. Quinlan Bereavement Center

If you need additional help with talking to your children regarding their feelings of grief and anxiety related to national or personal family events , please contact us at the Joseph T. Quinlan Bereavement Center at 973-948-2283. We are available for group and individual counseling.

Follow us each week in the New Jersey Sunday Herald as we celebrate our 40th Anniversary by looking back at 40 Moments in our history. Learn how the organization was started and how we are still pioneers in the field of hospice care.

Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice was selected by SAGE Video to participate in “In Practice Video Series.” SAGE is currently developing a large collection of short, educational videos designed to supplement their collection of texts and academic materials by extending learning to practice – to show students and professors how the skills and theories in the texts can be applied in the workplace. The videos are developed to demonstrate effective practices as well as spark discussion and reflection in the classroom.

The Hospice was selected to participate in the Social Work video collection.  Through interviews and footage of our social workers in the field and in-office, students will be able to see the skills, traits and practices involved in being a hospice social worker as they are applied in everyday activities and interactions. 

“We were very honored to be the selected hospice for this education series,” said Marlina Schetting, COO, Administrator at the Hospice. “Out of all the hospices, nationwide, our name and reputation earned us this opportunity. It says a lot about the work we do and the impact our hospice has nationwide.”

Five Pebbles, production company led the development, production and editing of the video series. They sent a team to capture footage on a two-day shooting schedule.

SAGE Publishing is a leading international publisher of higher-education textbooks, journals and digital resources with offices in California, D.C., and London.

Five Pebbles, production company led the development, production and editing of the video series. They sent a team to capture footage on a two-day shooting schedule.

The videos can be viewed by clicking on the links below. The segments give an overview of the organization and a closer look at one component of the interdisciplinary team that is assigned to each patient. 

Interdisciplinary Teams

Life Review

Hospice Care

Cultural Competence

Group Grief Counseling

Grief and Bereavement

            Members of the “Hero Club,” were recently recognized with a plaque and champagne reception at the Joseph T. Quinlan Bereavement Center in Augusta. Each members of the club made a donation of $3,000 which will permanently fund the Children’s Art Bereavement Program. The money will go into an enduring endowment for the purpose of endowing scholarships to the program for children whose families would not otherwise be able to afford the $100 fee.

            The program helps children deal with grief after the loss of a loved one. “One in 20 children suffers the loss of a close family member by the age 18,” said John Quinlan, director of foundation at Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice.

            The art program, for children ages 6-12, helps them deal with the loss through artistic expression. It meets for two hours one night a week for four weeks, using art to help the children get in touch with their feelings. Parents must participate as well in a simultaneous group. This group is intended to be educational and supportive in nature.

            The program meets at the Joseph T. Quinlan Bereavement Center on Plains Road in Frankford. The next session will start on Tuesday, July 9, from 1 p.m. – 3 p.m. and will continue on Tuesdays throughout the month ending on Tuesday, July 30. The theme of the program is the jungle.

            About 30 children a year go through the program, which is held in the Spring, Summer and Fall, and about half of those cannot afford the cost, which the foundation has been paying as a scholarship, which creates a budget shortfall, Quinlan said.

            Members recognized at the reception include: The Family of Ronald and Mary Ellen Donner, The Families of Norman and Deirdre Worth and Michael and Margie Maneri, The Dietz Family, Kiwanis Club of Sparta, Heather and Peter Ronco in Honor of Ellen V. Nowicki, Parishioners of St. Mary’s Episcopal Church – Sparta, John and Peggy Post, Gregory and Jackie Buckalew, The Friends of Hospice, “Thank You Mom” Foundation, The Families of Joseph and Julia Quinlan, Paul and Maria Armstrong and Frederic and Karen DiMaria.

            Ten children are enrolled in each bereavement program class session. These programs have been offered for more than fifteen years. They were created in order to address the unmet needs of grieving children, who are frequently known as the “forgotten mourners.”

            “From a developmental perspective, young children lack the verbal capacity to express their grief, often leading to internalized emotions, which in turn can lead to somatic symptoms,” said Diana Sebzda, MA, LCP, FT, director of bereavement.

            “Since its inception, the program has provided an expressive outlet for bereaved children to get their “inside feelings out,” convey their emotions, process their feelings of grief and learn coping strategies to help in,” said Sebzda.

            “The generosity of the members of the ‘Hero Club,’ means that we will always be able to offer this program to the community. The help and support we can provide to these children can change their lives. Thank you, thank you, thank you,” said Sebzda.

            Anyone families interested in registering for the upcoming Children’s Art Bereavement Session can do so online at karenannquinlanhospice.org/CAT or by calling the Joseph T. Quinlan Bereavement Center directly at 973-948-2283. Individual and family counseling is also available to anyone in the community suffering the loss of a loved one. The Joseph T. Quinlan Bereavement Center is funded entirely from donations.

Congratulations to our recent Patient Care Hospice Volunteer Graduates! The next training course will be in September at the Bereavement Center in Augusta. Call 973-383-0115 ext. 121 for more details.

Nurses week is celebrated May 6 – 12 nationally. The purpose of this week-long celebration is to raise awareness of the value of nursing and help educate the public about the role nurses play in meeting the healthcare needs of Americans. The week ends on May 12, the birthday of Florence Nightingale.

Students at the Ogdensburg Public School with the help of one of their teachers Lisa Bruning have been working hard to make “thank you” cards for the nurses at Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice.  Lisa also enlisted the help of fellow teachers grades K-2 to help make cards as well.

When asked why they chose the local, not-for-profit hospice as recipients of the cards Lisa Bruning said.  “I think it is important for the kids to have an understanding of how working together in a small community can be so impactful and Karen Ann Quinlan has been a staple in this community for many years.”

Chelsea Choma, RN, BSN, MSN, CHPN, Clinical Director at Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice helped students kick-off the week-long celebration at Ogdensburg school at a special assembly for grades K-2 where she read the book, “Germs Are Not For Sharing,” by Elizabeth Verdick. After the reading, she did an exercise with the children about sneezing and covering their noses to avoid spreading germs. The kids all giggled as Chelsea sprayed them with a water bottle to imitate what it is like to be sneezed on.

“Lisa and I have been friends since the second grade and it was a wonderful experience to blend our two careers together to help spread education to the community. Engaging with all the students and being able to educate them on what a community nurse is and the types of things we do every day was a fulfilling experience.”   At the end of the assembly Choma was presented with more than 40 handmade cards to be given to the nurses at Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice.

“This will be such a personal and touching surprise for all of the nurses to receive these cards.  The nurses at Karen Ann Quinlan give so much to their patients and families every day. I am so proud to be able to present them with individual notes thanking them for their hard work”

“Nurses help people when they are sick,” said student Delila Nardini with a smile.

            Hospice nurses focus entirely on end-of-life care. A hospice nurse provides hands-on nursing care around the clock in the patient’s home or wherever the patient calls home. Hospice nurses manage pain and other symptoms, provide support to patients and families and assist in the process of death with dignity.

            Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice will hold a special breakfast in recognition of the special work that their nurses do. They also encourage everyone in the community to take time out to thank a nurse. “Nurses are at the forefront of improving patient care and transforming healthcare,” said Choma, “It’s nice to have a week to officially recognize all that they do to make our lives better.”

            The Karen Ann Quinlan Memorial Foundation is passionately dedicated to providing Hospice care for the terminally ill and bereavement counseling for those who have lost loved ones. Serving Sussex and Warren Counties NJ and Northeast PA. We are an independently owned hospice and proud to be the preferred hospice provider for Newton Medical Center and area Atlantic Health Care System.  For hospice programs, events, and more information visit www.karenannquinlanhospice.org.

We would like to thank Subaru World of Newton – a member of the World Auto Group for their generous support of the Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice Mission. As recipients of this year’s “Share the Love” campaign, Chris Dexter, general manager, presented a check for $16,685 to Julia Quinlan at a ceremony held today at the dealership. Thank you!..and thanks to everyone who bought a Subaru during the promotional period.

Q: Who will care for my pet when I am gone?

A: When facing a life-limiting illness many patients worry about who will take care of their beloved pets once they are gone.

Having a plan in place can help ease some of the worry and anxiety. Some options include: a will provision, a pet trust, a DIY pet protection agreement or an informal agreement with a family member or friend.

Every year between five and seven million companion animals enter animal shelters due to the death of their owners, reports the American Human Association. Of these, approximately three to four million are euthanized (60% of dogs and 70% of cats) when adequate homes cannot be found for them. Older pet owners usually have older pets that can be hard to find adoptive homes for.

Placing a pet in a shelter who has spent most of its life in a loving home, sharing a bed, sitting on the couch surrounded by its toys and memories can be very stressful to the pet. If no provisions have been made and no family or friends are able to step forward and care for the pet, a “no-kill” pet rescue organization like Father John’s Animal House in Lafayette can be an option to help the pet find a new home.

If you are caring for a pet whose owner has already died it’s important to evaluate if you have the financial means, space or time to take care of the pet. Also, find out if there are any provisions made for the pet in the owners will. These provisions can be helpful in providing financially for a pet’s care over the long-term.

Also, since a will goes into effect only upon your death, it cannot provide care for your pets if you become seriously ill.

A pet trust is a legal process that transfers ownership of your pets to a trust, which includes instructions for their care and money to pay for it. You name a caregiver, and you appoint a trustee to oversee that care and any related expenses. If you do not name a caregiver and trustee, the State of New Jersey will do so. Pet trusts are valid in the state of New Jersey.

If you opt for a living pet trust, as opposed to one that kicks in after you die, you provide for your pets if you become unable to care for them because of serious illness.

A DIY Pet Protection Agreement like the one available through LegalZoom, is valid in all states. This legal document allows you to specify a caregiver for your pets and leave money for their care. A Pet Protection Agreement is a contract between the pet owner and the pet guardian. The signature of both parties on the agreement makes it legal.

You can also set up an informal arrangement with a trusted family member or friend to take your pets when you die. It cost nothing to come to such an arrangement. You should make sure all family members and friends know about the agreement and will not put up a fight for your pets too. With this type of agreement, you have no control over the care of your pets after you die.

Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice sponsoring an “Our Pet, Advance Care Planning” Workshop on Friday, May 3, 2:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. at the Senior Life Center at SCCC. This FREE, informative workshop will host a panel of experts to review how to make sure your wishes for your pet are carried out if you are no longer with us. It will also cover topics on how to care for a pet who is facing a life-limiting illness, how to cope with your anticipatory grief and some options for honoring and memorializing your pet when they pass away. Those interested can register online at karenannquinlanhospice.org/OurPets or call 973-383-0115 ext. 145.