Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice outperforms national average at medicare.gov/hospicecompare

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Hospice is a program of care and support for people who are terminally ill. The focus of hospice is on comfort and quality of life rather than on cure. Hospice is most often provided where you live. Sometimes the hospice team will determine that you need short-term inpatient or respite care services.

When choosing a quality hospice it’s important to know how they compare to national averages. Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice exceeds national averages in reported categories as shown in the graphics below. This information can also be found on medicare.gov/hospicecompare. The Medicare website allows you to compare hospice programs in your geographical location. Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice also outperforms other hospice programs in our geographical area.

Suggested questions to ask when choosing a hospice

Click here for a printable guide to use when choosing a hospice. Consider what’s important to you and think about the questions listed in the guide. This is not a complete list, but a way to start the conversation about the care you desire. 

Celebrate Life 5K Walk on Sat., 9/29

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Click here to register! Registration fees will increase on day of walk.

On September 29, 2018, Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice will host the third annual “Celebrate Life 5k Walk.” The walk, which is being held at the New Jersey State Fairgrounds in Augusta, will start at 10:00 a.m. Pre-registration starts at 9:00 a.m. and opening ceremonies at 9:45. The walk is a way to help those dealing with a loss celebrate the life and memory of loved ones who have passed.

 

Dealing with the loss of a loved one is an emotional process that each person handles differently. The Joseph T. Quinlan Bereavement Center offers support to members of the community who are going through the grieving process. The proceeds from the walk will benefit the Joseph T. Quinlan Bereavement Centers located on 5 Plains Road in Augusta. The Center also has satellite offices located on 214 Washington Street in Hackettstown and The United Methodist Church on 206 E Ann Street in Milford, PA.

Participating in some type of memorial celebration can be a way to help cope with the loss of a loved one. Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice hosts several memorial events throughout the year including a Butterfly Release and Tree Lighting Ceremony. The Celebrate Life 5K was started several years ago as a way to bring families together in a celebratory atmosphere. During the opening ceremonies we present musical performances, inspiring speeches and well as an invigorating warm up. We also hold a symbolic lighting ceremony with each participant receiving an illuminated star light in remembrance of the person they are walking in celebration of.

Last year a special memorial wall was introduced to the event sponsored by BIGGS Kids. Participants are encouraged to bring a photo of their loved one to be displayed on the wall. Each year the photo tribute will grow as more photos are added at each event.

Those interested in participating in the walk can register online at KarenAnnQuinlanHospice.org/Walk. The cost is $25 for adults and $15 for participants 13 and under. Those interested are encouraged to register early as same day registration fees increase by $5 respectively. Vendor applications are also being accepted for $25. Registrations will also be accepted at the “Celebrate Life 5K” walk kick-off party, sponsored by Newton Medical Center, which will be held on Friday, September 28 in the Romano Conference Center located on the Newton Medical Center campus at 5 p.m. Everyone in the community is invited to attend the kick-off to learn more about the services offered at the Joseph T. Quinlan Bereavement Center as well as register for the walk, grab a healthy snack and get their walk t-shirt.

The Joseph T. Quinlan Bereavement Center provides grief support and counseling for hospice families and the community. No one is ever refused counseling services based on their ability to pay. 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.

Registrants are encouraged to form a team to raise funds. There will be prizes awarded to individuals and teams who raise the most money. Individuals who raise $100 or more will get a memorial marker with their loved one’s name displayed along the walk route. All money raised will stay in the community and benefit the Bereavement Center.

Food and refreshments will be provided the day of the walk and there will also be a vendor fair with a wide variety of items on display.

Please call 973-383-0115 ext. 131 for more information on how you can get involved. If you are unable to walk we always have need for volunteers to help out on the day of the event. On September 29, we will all walk together so that no one has to walk alone.

 

Expressive Arts program for adults slated

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The Joseph T. Quinlan Bereavement Center will present “Expressive Arts Workshop for Adults” on Tuesdays starting September 11, 6-8 p.m. The four-week series will be held at the Bereavement Center located on 5 Plains Road in Augusta.

 

“I’ve always wanted to do something for adults after seeing how well it has worked for the children, in terms of being able to externalize – give voice – to their many different feelings in grief,” said Diana Sebzda, MA, LPC, FT, Director of Bereavement. “On occasion, I have the parents/guardians participate in the same art activity that the children will be doing and it’s a great way for the parents to see how art can facilitate conversations in grief, express emotions and show others, through their art, how they are feeling.”

 

“This will be our first attempt at an arts workshop for adults and my hope is that the program will develop over time. The debut program will include four sessions, once a week, that introduce a different expressive art modality that could be helpful in expressing their grief – Music, Art, Drama and Writing,” said Sebzda. 

 

We would like to invite any adult, who has suffered a loss through death, to participate in this new workshop.  We will have reserved space for ten and the cost of registration is $100 to help cover the cost of materials and supplies. Those interested can register online at KarenAnnQuinlanHospice.org/ExpressiveArts or call 973-948-2283.

FREE Dental for Veterans

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Smiles for Our Heroes – A Mission of Mercy Event.

Get FREE Dental Services if you attend a Veteran’s Day event in November! Warren, Sussex, Hunterdon, Morris, Essex and Somerset Counties. Free dental services, food and more!

Saturday, November 3, 2018 & Sunday, November 4, 2018

17 South Warren Street, Dover 07801. Transportation pick-up points available in all counties served. Call Fergie at 973-328-9100 ext. 357 to see if you qualify. www.zufallhealth.org

Delta Dental

Zufall Health

New Jersey Dental Association

Stevens appointed to Memorial Board

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Janice Stevens was recently appointed to the Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice Memorial Foundation Board

Julia Quinlan, Co-Founder of Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice and Chairman of the Karen Ann Quinlan Memorial Foundation Governing Board is pleased to announce the appointment of Janice Stevens to the Governing Board.

 

Prior to moving to New Jersey 21 years ago, Janice worked for a large law firm as a paralegal dealing with worker’s compensation cases and insurance defense.  For the last 20 years, she has worked for Sparta Township in various capacities with her main focus in Land Use.  She is currently the Zoning Coordinator and Code Enforcement Official.  She also works closely with the Township’s Economic Development Committee, Environmental Commission and Green Team.  She was instrumental in helping bring Sparta to a Bronze Level in the Sustainable Jersey program and has kept the Bronze Certification active for the past 8 years. 

 

Throughout her time in Sparta, she has volunteered as a Sunday school teacher at First Presbyterian Church for over 7 years and was an Ambassador for the Newton Medical Center “Year of Women’s Health” campaign.    She also serves on the Karen Ann Quinlan Fashion Show Committee and has helped with the Tour De Farm, Wine and Cheese event and Sparta Farmers Market. 

 

Stevens was recently recognized at the 24th Annual Sussex County Tribute to Women Award Luncheon by the Boy Scouts of America for her commitment to serving the community.

 

The 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.

Hospice receives Greater Pike Community Foundation: Richard L. Snyder Fund Grant

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MILFORD — Proposals for making the Greater Pike area an even better place to live abounded in July as the Greater Pike Community Foundation’s Grants Committee reviewed and awarded grants to 27 local non-profit organizations for this year’s Richard L. Snyder Fund grant cycle.

There is a funding increase of nearly 70 percent over last year’s total of $52,000. The foundation will award $87,500 to 27 local non-profits from the Snyder Fund this year.

A reception for the recipients will be held from 5 to 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 7, at the Hotel Fauchère, Milford.

“To my knowledge, Greater Pike’s Snyder Fund granted the largest amount of money from a local funding source so far this year,” said Maryanne Monte, Greater Pike Board member and Chair of the Grants Committee. “It was heartening to learn about how so many community organizations are working to enhance the quality of life in the Greater Pike area.”

Dick Snyder, a local businessman and philanthropist who died in 2014, was one of the strongest supporters of non-profit organizations in Pike County. The donor designated fund was created at the Greater Pike Community Foundation by a distribution from a charitable trust created during Dick’s lifetime and distributed following his death to support the causes and charities he cared about most. Greater Pike received a record number of applications for Richard L. Snyder Fund grants this year. 

After a thorough review process by the Foundation’s grants committee, and approval by the Foundation’s board, the following grants were awarded:

BeautificationHistoric Preservation Trust of Pike County

Milford Enhancement Committee

Milford Garden Club

Milford Shade Tree Commission

Pike County Historical Society

Greene-Dreher Historical Society

Festival/ArtsAmerican Readers Theatre

Barryville Area Arts Association

Black Bear Film Festival

Kindred Spirits

Milford Presents

Milford Music Festival

Milford Readers & Writers Festival

Tri-State Chorale

Delaware Highlands Conservancy

Pocono Environmental Education Center (PEEC)

Peters Valley School of Craft

Health/DiversityDelaware Valley School District

Pike County Alliance for Prevention Programs

Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice

Safe Haven of Pike County; Pocono Fox Trot

Genuine Alternatives in Therapy (Gait)

Fractured Atlas

Green Trees Early Learning Center

Pike County Public Library.

The lasting power of Snyder’s thoughtful planning is evident in the work this funding, which is awarded annually, will make possible.

The Greater Pike Community Foundation (GPCF) was created to enable generous individuals, families and local businesses to maximize their charitable support through organized, targeted, long-term community philanthropy. The Foundation provides a permanent and personal way to give back to the region we love and have worked so hard to nurture and maintain.

Those interested in learning more about how to establish a fund at Greater Pike are encouraged to get in touch with any Greater Pike board member or contact Jim Pedranti, board chair, at info@greaterpike.org, 570-296-6959 or visitgreaterpike.org and Facebook.com/GreaterPike.

Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice invites community to join Book Club

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Join our Book Club!

            Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice in association with Black Dog Books of Newton, NJ is excited to announce the third book selection in our book club, “Everything Happens for a Reason: And Other Lies I’ve Loved.” We will meet at Black Dog Books on Sunday, August 12, from 12:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Kate Bowler is a professor at Duke Divinity School with a modest Christian upbringing, but she specializes in the study of the prosperity gospel, a creed that see fortune as a blessing from god and misfortune as a mark of God’s disapproval. At thirty-five, everything in her life seems to point toward “blessing.” She is thriving in her job, married to her high school sweetheart, and loves life with her newborn son.

Then she is diagnosed with stage IV colon cancer.

New York Times Bestseller – “A meditation on sense-making when there’s no sense to be made, on letting go when we can’t hold on, and on being unafraid even when we’re terrified.” -Lucy Kalanithi.

 

Click here to watch a short video from the author of the book Kate Bowler.

            The book club is open to anyone in the community. Registration is required as space is limited and can be done online at: KarenAnnQuinlanHospice.org/BookClub or by calling 973-383-0115 ext. 145.  The book can be purchased at Black Dog Books. Please call them at 201-230-3900, to secure your copy. There is no cost to join the club. Once registered you will be emailed or mailed additional information about the club.

Black Dog Books is located on 188 Spring Street in Newton. Light refreshments will be available for purchase from Between the Bread, located next door.

Click here to join the book club!

Sparta Kiwanis Helps Fund Quinlan’s Hero Club Endowment for Child Grief Counseling

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By JENNIFER DERICKS
Publisher,TAPinto.net 

 

SPARTA, NJ — The Hero Club at the Joseph T. Quinlan Bereavement Center is one step closer to reality having received a donation from the Sparta Kiwanis. John Quinlan, Director of the Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice foundation, presented the program to the club at their meeting at Homers restaurant. 

Kiwanis member Frank Cannistra introduced Quinlan and Diane Sebzda, Director of Bereavement, explaining the concept. The $3000 check from the Sparta Kiwanis was the fourth donation of a possible 12 slots to create an endowment to fund scholarships for children in need.

“A one time donation will help a child forever,” Quinlan said. According to Quinlan, the endowment would be conservatively managed, with five percent or $1500 used annually to provide scholarships.

“This past spring of the 12 children enrolled in the program, eight were scholarship,” Sebzda said. The cost for a child to attend the four week art and play based program is $150. They currently run two sessions but hope to add a third during the summer according to Sebzda.

The program is open to any child from any place, whether or not their loved one was in the Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice Quinlan said. They have treated children from Sussex, Morris, Warren and Pike counties and other areas including from as far away as Manhattan he said.

Sebzda and Quinlan the Children’s Art Bereavement Program not only helps the child but the parents as well.

“While the children are being taken care of the parents are in another room learning how to take care of the children,” Quinlan said.

The children are given craft or projects to work on while they talk and the modules change, “so they don’t even realize they are being helped,” Sebzda said. She showed a couple of examples of the projects the children have created and shared the stories of the children who created them.

A framed photo of a balloon that had been decorated with a black marker had the words, “I feel beaten up by grief” printed at the bottom. The face created on the balloon had marks and bandages depicting a face that was beaten up.

Sebzda show a second photo with a number of “emotion masks.” The children are given “white masks to decorate with how they felt when they found out about the loss and then a second one with how they look in class.”  

Pointing out a mask completely decorated with a mane of red feathers, Sebzda said it had been created by a nine year old who cared for his grandma by getting her milk and cookies every day after school. The grandmother was dying and in her last hours the boy was sent in the middle of the night to a friend’s house by parents looking to do the best they could for the boy.

The boy felt he should have been there when she needed him the most. The red feathers depicted the anger he felt.

The advice given to the parents touches on many topics such as whether or not to bring a child to a viewing according to Sebzda. The youngest child she has treated was one. 

“There is a saying, if you’re old enough to love you’re old enough to grieve,” Quinlan said. “Unresolved grief can be damaging to children.”

In the bereavement program they seek to give children an outlet to express feelings and thoughts “they don’t even have words for.”

Sebzda said they are told they can do “anything that doesn’t hurt themselves or others,” including crying or running, jumping and even playing music.

While the Hero Club is looking for $3000 donations, other individual donations are welcome, Quinlan said. “They can restrict the donation to ensure it goes to a specific program such as the Children’s Art Bereavement Program.”

They would also accept donations of art supplies to supplement the program, Sebzda said.

The Children’s Art Bereavement Program runs two hours, once a week for four weeks. 

“It will help them deal with future losses as well,” Quinlan said. “Each $3000 donation will help one child a year forever.”

Quinlan said they are seeking individuals or organizations who support children to fund the endowment. He would like to have the endowment fully funded by the end of this year.

“Children are an innocent population who shouldn’t have to experience grief,” Quinlan said.

Quinlan said they are seeking individuals or organizations who support children to fund the endowment. He would like to have the endowment fully funded by the end of this year.

“Children are an innocent population who shouldn’t have to experience grief,” Quinlan said.

Sparta Kiwanis President Ben Caruso said the endowment donation is in keeping with the Kiwanis mission of “serve the children of the world.”

Home for Hospice receives medical cart in memory of Woop

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Pictured from left to right: Elizabeth (Beth) Woop, wife; Beth Sylvester; Pat McCann; Michele Leinaweaver; Darlene Milkowski and Amy Snouffer (sister-in-law)

 

Christopher R. Woop of Oak Ridge, NJ, passed away almost a year ago on Saturday, July 15, 2017 at the Karen Ann Quinlan Home for Hospice in Fredon, NJ. Wanting to find some way to give back to the organization who helped Chris find comfort in his final days his wife, Elizabeth (Beth) Woop asked home administrator, Beth Sylvester what was needed at the home.

 

A new State law requires that all patient records be kept in a fireproof file cabinet that can be quickly relocated and accessible in case of an emergency. As this was a new regulation the organization had not yet purchased the item. Beth generously agreed to purchase the file cabinet which cost $1,000.

 

Recently, Beth and her sister Amy Snouffer of Sparta visited the Home for Hospice to see the cart and the special plaque that will be installed on it as a memorial in Chris’s name.

 

“I felt that I needed to do something to give back in some way for all that we received,” said Woop. “They were so good to us here.”

 

The Karen Ann Quinlan Home for Hospice is the only freestanding in-patient hospice provider in the area. The home offers 10 private rooms overlooking the stunning vistas of the Waterwheel Farm.

 

“We are so grateful to Beth and her family for their help in purchasing this needed piece of equipment,” said Sylvester, home administrator. “When we use it, we will remember Chris and his family.”

The Home for Hospice is designed to ensure that individuals receive excellent care amid a home-like setting while family members and friends may visit anytime to be with a loved one during their final days.

 

“At the Home for Hospice the atmosphere was so peaceful. As soon as Chris was admitted the nurses knew exactly what to do to make him comfortable. He was admitted directly from a hospital, and the five days that he was in the hospital were some of hardest to endure,” said Woop.

 

“I researched the home for hospice online and watched the video tour. I knew this was the place for Chris. When I found out there was a room available we moved Chris here immediately. The nurses understood what we were going through. They not only cared for Chris, but for the entire family.”

Chris was born on May 1, 1969 in the Bronx, NY to Judith (nee O’Rourke) and the late Robert Woop. He was raised in Butler, NJ and graduated from Butler High School in 1987. For the last 30-years he was the owner of Woop Brothers landscaping.

 

Comedy Night Brings Laughter to Pike County to Benefit Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice

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MATAMORAS, PA:  We’ve all heard the adage “Laughter is the Best Medicine” and professionals at the Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice agree. The hospice joins with event sponsors Pike County Light & Power and Davis R. Chant Realtors to welcome the tri-state community to its premier Comedy Night on Saturday, July 14 at the Best Western Inn at Hunts Landing on 120 6thStreet in Matamoras, PA. The event will feature the talent and comedy of Christopher Roach, Peter Sasso and Missy Allan. Proceeds from the evening will support the programs and services of Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice.
Guests may choose to register for the pre-show buffet dinner presented from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Best Western Inn at Hunts Landing’s Edgewater Restaurant and Lounge for $50.00 per person; or to attend the Comedy Night only at 8:00 p.m. for $35.00 each ($40.00 at the door.)  Throughout the evening a cash bar and concession will be available and guests are welcome to place their winning bid at the event’s Silent Auction. An additional event feature beginning at 6:00 p.m. and open free-of-charge to the community, is an impressive vendor presentation in the venue’s vestibule featuring the wares of area crafters, entrepreneurs and businesses. Comedy Night Tickets are available at www.karenannquinlanhospice.org/comedyor by calling 973-383-0115.
 
The Comedy Night’s featured entertainers include Sparta resident Missy Allan who likes to make people laugh and unlike others she happens to make a living at it as a professional comedienne. More recently she has parlayed her comedic talents into fundraising. Allan had first-hand experience of the care provided by Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice and visited the organization with a need to give back. She presented her impressive comedic resume and knowledge in show production as a starting point to this first Comedy Night – Laughter is the Best Medicine fundraising event. Missy Allan performs all over the country doing shows at venues such as Catch A Rising Star and The Stress Factory, but considers Sparta, NJ home. 

Headlining the event is Christopher Roach. Roach is a comedian and actor born and raised in New York. Roach has brought his unique and self-deprecating sense of humor to some of the biggest and best-known stages such as The Borgata in Atlantic City. Roach is a regular on the Kevin James show, a comedy series for CBS. “Kevin Can Wait.” The show centers on newly retired police officer Kevin, played by James, who discovers he faces much tougher challenges at home than he ever did on the streets. Roach plays Mott, one of James’ friends. Roach also wrapped CBS’ “Limitless” as Maurice, opposite actress Jennifer Carpenter and actor Jake McDorman.
 
The evening will also feature Peter Sasso, undeniably one of the industry’s most versatile entertainers.  His rapid-fire stand-up is met with non-stop, raucous laughter and hysteria by audiences of all ages.  As a Comedy Juggler, Peter Sasso entertains audiences with his quick wit and diverse juggling skills.  Audiences are mesmerized as they laugh along to his side-splitting “Gravity Defying Comedy.”
“The level of comedy that Chris and Peter bring to this event ensures a fun night,” stated comic Missy Allan. “In addition to the passion for the work they do, a true sincerity and community spirit shines through from both Peter and Chris as they signed on to support Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice.”
 
“The Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice professional team has embraced patients and family members throughout Pike County, PA for decades with hospice care and bereavement counseling. This community has championed our mission as a leading care-provider in the area and we are pleased to present “A Night of Comedy” to area residents,” said Cecelia T. Clayton, MPH, Executive Director of Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice.
 Join the fun and get your Comedy Night tickets at www.karenannquinlanhospice.org/comedy or by calling 973-383-0115.
 
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; please call 800-882-1117 to reach any of our services at either office; 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 proud to be the preferred hospice provider for Newton Medical Center and area Atlantic Health Care System.  The award-winning Home for Hospice is located in Fredon, NJ. The Joseph T. Quinlan Bereavement Center is open to hospice families and the community for bereavement support, counseling and educational opportunities; it is located at 5 Plains Rd. in Augusta with satellite offices in Pike and Warren Counties. For hospice programs, events, and more information visit www.karenannquinlanhospice.org or Facebook.com/KarenAnnQuinlanHospice.org.

Children & Grief

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Children and adolescents face losses every day, and they do grieve these losses. Of course, loved ones die—grandparents, parents, siblings, friends; so do beloved pets, often a child’s first experience with death. Other losses do not involve death but can generate grief, such as experiencing divorce or going to a new school. And as children move into adolescence there are more subtle but important losses—loss of identity, loss of roles, loss of self-esteem. Every child, just as every adult, will grieve in his or her own way.  Children respond to grief as adults do—physically, emotionally, behaviorally, even spiritually. It may seem daunting to have to explain death to a child, especially when there are no simple answers. The following guidelines may make this process easier.
What should I say? 

Consider a child’s age and ability to understand complex ideas. Many experts believe children do not have a mature understanding of death until about age 8 or 9. Younger children may think that being dead is temporary and that the dead person will return in the future.

 It is okay to say you don’t know the answer to a child’s question. You can even say, “No one knows for sure, but this is what I think.” If the child asks whether you will die, respond that everybody dies someday, but that you hope to live to do things with the family for a long time.

Use precise terms when talking about death. People typically refer to “losing” a loved one.  Children may interpret this literally and assume that the person can be found. You should also explain that being dead means that the body has stopped working and that it cannot be fixed. It no longer feels cold or gets hungry, and it does not feel any more hurt or pain.

Giving children information and choices when facing death and grief can be very helpful. Preparing children ahead of time for what they might encounter at the hospital or during the funeral can be very important. Once they have that information, let them make a choice. Perhaps they would like to go to the funeral, but would choose not to attend the service at the cemetery.

Remember that children cannot tolerate long periods of sadness; they may want to play and participate in their usual activities. This does not mean that they didn’t love the person who died, nor does it mean that they are being disrespectful. It is okay to permit or encourage children to have fun like they did before the death. Changes in the child’s behavior or patterns might be signs that the child is experiencing problems associated with the death. In these instances, it’s appropriate to obtain advice from a specialist in child bereavement counseling.

Ways to help grieving children

Many school-age children benefit by participating in bereavement groups with other children who have suffered losses. Children hate to be different from their peers; in a group, they discover they are not alone.

Art and other expressive approaches can be great ways to help children identify their feelings of grief. Activities might include painting a picture of the feeling; writing and drawing in a journal; reading books or watching movies that open up discussions of death and loss; making a list of what makes you angry, sad, afraid, frustrated, etc.
 

Children’s grief groups and camps

The Children’s Art Bereavement Program will be held on Thursday afternoons in July starting on July 12 – August 2, from 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. at the Bereavement Center located on 5 Plains Road in Augusta. The theme of the summer program is “The Sea Shore,” and it is designed for children (age 6-12) who have experienced the loss of a loved one through death. This program will focus on meeting the individual needs of grieving children through art and play. The cost of the program is $100 and scholarships are available

Article Courtesy of the Hospice Foundation of America.

Offering Spiritual Support for Family or Friends

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People who are very ill often ask spiritual questions, in seeking comfort, meaning and hope. While clergy, chaplains and other spiritual leaders may play an important role in spiritual care, family and friends can offer important spiritual support too.

If you have the opportunity to provide spiritual support for someone living with an illness, here are some suggestions:

Explore your own beliefs and values before you talk to others.

To support others spiritually, it’s important to understand your own spiritual beliefs about illness. Think of a time when you faced a major life transition, change or loss.

  • How did it affect you spiritually?
  • How did your spirituality affect the experience?
  • Did you discover spiritual strength during that time?
  • Did you ever question your faith?
  • How did you want to be supported spiritually?

If you have not been diagnosed with a serious illness yourself, exploring these questions will help you understand your spirituality when facing life-changing situations.

Even within families, among friends and in faith communities, people’s spiritual beliefs and experiences may be very different. Be clear that your beliefs and values reflect your own beliefs and yours alone.  Just as you would want another person to listen to you with respect and understanding, your family member or friend wants you to listen to them with respect and understanding as well.

It is common for people living with serious illness to ask themselves questions. As a “spiritual companion,” you can best support others by helping them explore these questions rather than providing the answers.

Be aware of spiritual pain and suffering.

Spiritual pain and suffering is as real and powerful as physical or emotional pain. There are many spiritual and religious issues people who have a serious illness may face and struggle with including the following:

  • Meaning and Purpose:Many people who are very ill question what their life means. They may wonder if they have done anything positive or lasting with their life. Some people ask “Why me?” or “Why now?” or “Why this illness?” The search for meaning and purpose may bring up a wide range of emotions, from anger and loss to relief and peace. Struggling with these questions can be a normal part of dealing with illness.
  • Guilt and forgiveness:As people face illness, they may reflect on difficult situations and experiences in the past. They may feel guilty about or blame others for things that have happened.
  • Loss of faith:Living with a serious illness can cause people to question their spiritual beliefs or faith. They may explore thoughts and feelings that differ from long-held beliefs. They may become angry with God, their religion, themselves, or with others who think they should believe a certain way.
  • Issues with faith tradition or faith community:Faith communities may be able to provide support from clergy or members by offering prayer, visits, sacraments or rituals. While some people find these to be very helpful when they are very ill, others may feel their traditions or community do not provide them with the support they need.

 

Remember that you are not in this alone. Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice offers a full continuum of high quality medical, emotional and spiritual services to hospice patients, their family members and the community. If you need help offering spiritual support to a friend or loved one consider talking to one of our chaplains who have expertise in spiritual care. They can give you guidance on offering support and understanding for someone who is very ill.

100th Year Birthday Celebration!

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Elsa G. Gorordo

NEWTON – Elsa G. Gorordo, of Newton celebrated her 100th birthday on Wednesday, June 13, 2018. She was surrounded by family, loved ones, friends and caregivers from Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice at Ave Care in Newton to celebrate the occasion. Gorordo, is wife of the late Luis Gorordo and mother to Elsa Schock of Sparta. Gorordo came to live in America in the early 60s from Cuba during the reign of Fidel Castro. She became a citizen of the United States in the 1970s. In Cuba, Gorordo was a middle school science teacher and a teacher of children with disabilities. After learning to speak English she taught Spanish to students in America. Her greatest joy has been caring for her grandchildren and she has three great grandchildren. She is admired by her family and friends for her love of God, people and life. A proclamation issued by the Board of Chosen Freeholders recognized and honored Elsa Gorordo’s 100 years of life.

Elsa Gorordo, Spanish Teacher in 1970

NHPCO Answers Question: What is Comfort Care?

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Inquiries have been coming in to the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization asking for an explanation of what is included in Comfort Care.

(Alexandria, Va) – It has been widely reported in a statement from the Bush family that former First Lady Barbara Bush has decided to forgo further hospitalizations and curative-focused medical treatments and has chosen to receive comfort care. Questions have come in to NHPCO asking for further details about what makes up comfort care.

Comfort Care refers to care plan for the patient that is focused on symptom control, pain relief, and quality of life. Often support is provided to family members to help them understand the care plan and to address needs and concerns they might have.

There are different forms of comfort care. Two of the best known are hospice and palliative care. 

Under hospice care, a person receives medical care as well as emotional, psycho-social, and spiritual care delivered by an Interdisciplinary team of professionals that includes a physician, nurse, social worker, allied therapists, counselors, home health aides, spiritual and grief support and trained volunteers. Each person’s care plan would be tailored to his or her specific needs with some patients requiring services that others might not need.

Palliative care means patient and family-centered care that optimizes quality of life by anticipating, preventing, and treating suffering. Palliative care throughout the continuum of illness involves addressing physical, intellectual, emotional, social, and spiritual needs and to facilitate patient autonomy, access to information, and choice.

“Under the philosophy of hospice and palliative care, the goal is care and not cure,” said Edo Banach, President and CEO of NHPCO. “The same principles would apply to comfort care.”

Under the Medicare hospice benefit, a person must have a prognosis of six months or less within the doctor’s best estimation; however, hospice can be provided for as long as the patient needs it and is not limited to six months. Palliative care provides care and services without the required six month prognosis and can be provided alongside curative or life-prolonging treatment.

Hospice care serves people coping with cancer, dementia, heart disease, COPD, renal disease and other illnesses. The majority of hospice care is provided in the home, yet hospice care also is provided in nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and in-patient settings.

Comfort care would reflect the principles of hospice and palliative care, specifically designed to meet the needs of the individual patient and family caregivers.  Hospice care provides the most comprehensive array of covered services.

In the U.S., hospice organizations are the primary providers of community-based palliative care and comfort care services.

“If a family is struggling with a serious or life-limiting illness, it is never too early to reach out to your local hospice and ask about care they offer and if it might be right for a loved one,” Banach said.

While more than 1.5 million patients avail themselves of hospice care every year, nearly 30 percent of Medicare beneficiaries received care for seven days or less, which hospice professionals consider too short a time to fully take advantage of all that hospice offers.

“One of the biggest misconceptions about hospice is that it’s giving up,” said Lori Bishop, NHPCO Vice President of Palliative and Advanced Care. “Hospice provides high-quality care and support to the whole person and to family caregivers with the goal of quality of life.”

Hospice Named Non-Profit Organization of the Year

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Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice was presented the Best Non-Profit Organization of the Year Award at the Sussex County Chamber of Commerce “Toast to the Stars,” Awards dinner on Wednesday, May 9th.

The award was presented in recognition of outstanding accomplishments by a non-profit organization with a reputation for excellence within the non-profit community, as well as with the public at large.

Other nominees and award winners can be viewed here. Click here.