Hospice Offers Dignity at Life's End

For many families facing a loved one's terminal illness, hospice is a source of comfort and compassion. "Hospice provides physical care and symptom control, and emotional and spiritual support to the caregiver, patient, and family," says Susan Gilman, R.N., BSN, a certified hospice and palliative care nurse and Meridian Health's palliative care coordinator. "It's about improving quality of life, relieving suffering, and maintaining dignity."

The Focus of Hospice
Hospice can be an appropriate choice when a loved one is not expected to live beyond six months. It is open to people with any end-stage disease, such as cancer, heart failure, and stroke.

"The focus of hospice is no longer on curing a disease, but about improving the quality of the patient's life and supporting the family and patient," says Karen Stanton, administrator of Meridian Hospice, which provides services in Monmouth and Ocean counties.

Hospice care can be provided in any setting: in private residences, hospitals, long-term care facilities, and assisted living. Services are 100% covered by Medicare and most private insurance plans.

A Team Approach
At Meridian Hospice, the hospice care team is led by a medical director, William Lerner, M.D., who is board certified in hospice and palliative care. Patients receive care from certified nurses who specialize in palliative care.

Others who provide support include social workers, chaplains, home health aides, and volunteers. According to Dr. Lerner, the team also works closely with a patient's doctor at every step of the process to develop a care plan that meets the patient's and family's needs.

Meridian Hospice offers same-day admissions and has patient satisfaction scores of 99%. It is accredited by Medicare, Medicaid, and the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health Care Organizations. For more information about Meridian Hospice, please call 732-751-3750.