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NEWS |
| The
Importance of End of Life Care Options |
The Nov. 22, 2009 “60 Minutes” program featured a story about
the high costs of dying in our country, including the fact that
many ICU hospitalizations have no meaningful impact on end of
life care. The story also points out how most patients and
families are not made aware of options like hospice.
Click here to watch the story.
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| Hospice
Inpatient Experience for Clinicians |
- Ongoing, by appointment, at the Center for
Compassionate Care.
- CMEs available for physicians, CRNPs, RNs,
PAs, and other clinicians with an interest in hospice inpatient
care.
Click here for more information.
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| Family
Hospice Nurse Named “Best of the Best” |
Mary Jo Kniedler-McLaughlin, RN, has been
named one of ten “Best of the Best” nurses in Western
Pennsylvania by the Pittsburgh Post Gazette.
Mary Jo was nominated for this recognition by Junella
Heintzinger, whose companion, Ted, was under Family Hospice’s
care for close to two years for the management of his cardiac
disease.
Says Junella, “Mary Jo offered reassurance. She was honest with
Ted; she respected his intelligence and preserved his hope. She
talked with him in a way that allowed her to nurse without ever
making him feel like a patient. She made sure I had what I
needed to keep my sweetie and me safe and well. Mary Jo was like
a shining star to Ted, and she remains so to me. She is helping
me embrace the next part of my life.”
Congratulations to Mary Jo, who shares this honor with her
fellow nurses in acknowledgement of the extraordinary efforts
extended each day on behalf of Family Hospice patients and
families.
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| National
Award Bestowed for Photography |
Quality of Life Program Coordinator Paula
Church was awarded second place in the National Hospice and
Palliative Care Organization’s 2009 photography competition.
Paula’s winning submission, “Mr. M with Portrait”, highlights
Operation Respect, Family Hospice and Palliative Care’s
specialized program for Veterans and their families.
Congratulations Paula!
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Operation
Respect
A Program for Veterans and Families |
Pennsylvania has one of the highest populations of Veterans in
the United States with over 1.1 million having served, 25% who
reside here in Western Pennsylvania. Family Hospice and
Palliative Care’s Operation Respect is a
comprehensive home care and hospice program designed to meet the
unique needs of Veterans and their caregivers.
Hospice's attention to the individual's body, mind and
spirit encourages exploration of concerns that distinguish the
needs of the Veteran with life-limiting illness from other
patient populations. Many factors impact the Veteran's end of
life journey include age, whether enlisted or drafted, branch of
service, rank and combat or POW experience. Consequences for the
Veteran can range from limited social and financial resources to
a reluctance to admit pain to the possibility of complications
with medications.
View our brochure for details
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New Caregiver Training Program First of its Kind |
The first program of its kind nationally,
Family Hospice and Palliative Care now offers weekly two-hour
training sessions for its hospice and palliative home care
caregivers at The Center for Compassionate Care®, 50 Moffett
Street in Mt. Lebanon, PA. The sessions are designed to meet
physical and psychological concerns of persons charged with
tending to a patient in the home.
The program is free to families or other home caregivers of
Family Hospice and Palliative Care patients.
By the end of the session, caregivers will have:
- Physical care and safety of the caregiver and patient;
- Review of medications;
- Trained on medical equipment, including a hospital bed,
oxygen tank, nebulizer, wheelchair, stairs, feeding pumps
and Hoyer lift;
- Practiced basic patient skills such as positioning,
bathing and feeding;
- Participated in an interactive seminar on caregiver
concerns with The Center’s medical director, nursing staff,
physical therapist and social worker and experts;
- Learned from other caregiver questions and concerns;
- Developed greater personal confidence and skill level in
caring for a loved one.
Sessions are limited to 10 participants and will be held on
Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to noon.
Caregivers may repeat seminars. Session discussion topics
vary depending on needs of participants.
To register, call 412-572-8820 Monday through Friday between
the hours of 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
Click here for directions to The Center for Compassionate
Care®.
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| SPECIAL
EVENTS |
| 1st Annual
Memorial River Walk |
A beautiful autumn evening was
the setting for our inaugural Walk, on Sunday, October 11th at
the South Side Works and Heritage Trail. More than 500 people
participated, with proceeds helping our nonprofit develop
patient programs and provide free care for those who have no
insurance. Special thanks to our sponsors:
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UPMC
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ADP
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Cura Hospitality
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Huntington
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Huntington Insurance
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Jefferson Regional Medical Center
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St. Clair Hospital
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Thorp, Reed & Armstrong
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Beinhauer Funeral Homes
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Bethal Park Printing
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John Carberry
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John F. Slater Funeral Home, Inc.
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McKnight Medical
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Mike Muslim
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Nadine Bognar
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Parente Randolph, LLC
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Presbyterian Senior Care
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Rx Partners
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| 2009
Friends of Hospice Luncheon and Card Party |
The 19th annual Friends of Family Hospice
and Palliative Care Card Party and Luncheon took place Oct. 28th
at the South Hills Country Club in Whitehall. A sold-out crowd
of 300 enjoyed a delicious lunch, door prizes, silent auction,
and fashion show featuring items from Heirlooms: The Family
Hospice Resale Shop, in Bellevue.
The Friends of Family Hospice and Palliative Care has as its’
mission “to support the goals of Family Hospice and Palliative
Care by raising funds, promoting public awareness and enhancing
the spirit of welcome, warmth and compassion to patients and
their families.”
Family Hospice and Palliative Care is extremely grateful for
efforts of these gracious and enthusiastic “Friends!”
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| Free Cards |
| FHPC offers you four beautiful sympathy
cards and one attractive thinking-of-you card. When you use a
card, make a donation to help support
Family Hospice and Palliative Care's programs. To see the
cards and learn about ordering them, please
click here |
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EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES |
Living with Grief®:
Cancer and
End-of-Life Care |
The Institute to Enhance Palliative Care
presents the Hospice Foundation of America’s 17th annual
National Bereavement Teleconference on Wednesday, March 24, 2010
from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. at The Center for Compassionate Care, 50
Moffett Street, Mt. Lebanon.
The teleconference will address care options related to cancer
diagnoses as well as loss and grief reactions for patients,
families and professional caregivers. The program will also
examine psychosocial aspects of cancer, pain management, and
ethical issues related to the disease.
The program is free of charge and open to the public.
Continuing education contact hours (CEUs) will be available for
nurses, social workers, clergy, counselors, funeral directors,
psychologists, physicians, EAPs and nursing home administrators.
Cost to secure CEUs is $25 (credit card) or $35 (check).
To reserve a place, call 412-572-8747.
Click here for more information.
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