Hospice
Giving Back to the Community
“By creating this service, it’s giving back to the community.” These powerful words spoken by Jean Masciarelli, Director of Home Health Services overseeing Milford Regional’s newly named VNA and Hospice of Greater Milford, describes the Medical Center’s intent in developing a program for individuals facing the last six months of their lives. It is designed to assist the ill patient, who decides that they no longer want to receive cure-oriented treatment.
“The community has been so supportive of the Visiting Nurse Association (VNA) over the years and that is greatly appreciated by each and every member of our staff,” explained Jean. “It’s wonderful to give back.” The VNA of the Greater Milford-Northbridge Area, whose ties to the community go back over 100 years, became part of Milford Regional Medical Center in 1997. Adding hospice completes the circle of their already extensive home health services. Their new name, VNA and Hospice of Greater Milford, is a reflection of Milford Regional’s dedication to this much needed service in satisfying the continuum of care.
According to the Hospice Foundation of America, one out of three people in the United States choose hospice care when they are dying. Jean said that the focus centers around palliative care – medical care or treatment that reduces the severity of disease symptoms, rather than striving to halt, delay or reverse progression of the disease itself or provide a cure.
“Hospice is a philosophy about how you live the end of your life,” Jean said. “The goal is to keep you comfortable, and to keep you in your home if at all possible, so when you reach the end of your life, it is in familiar surroundings with family around you, maybe even with a pet around you.”
Although the program will have a medical advisor, patients can still expect to see their own primary care physician. Jean said that the VNA and Hospice will provide a multi-disciplinary team to support the patient and the family. This team includes a nurse, a social worker, home health aides for personal care and pastoral counseling. A primary caregiver, who could be a life partner, relative, or friend, is trained to work closely with staff to help with feeding, bathing, administering medications, and monitoring changes in a patient’s condition.
“The goal is to control the symptoms,” explained Jean. If the patient has pain or nausea, it would be giving them medication or non-medication type measures which could be done to control symptoms. If you combine listening to music, massage or relaxation techniques, or stroking a pet, the body naturally releases endorphins. When necessary, medication is also used to minimize pain. Hospice staff not only brings support but also the clinical expertise that the patient and family need at this delicate time.
She said that patients determine the hospice services they want to access. For example, they might prefer their own clergy to a pastoral counselor, or might not feel comfortable with a social worker. During this difficult and stressful time, Jean said that patients and their families benefit from easy access to a well-developed hospice program offered locally.
“It’s the patient’s choice, whatever they want to do,” she said. “There is also a volunteer component, someone to come read to you, play cards, sit with you, or take you outside and enjoy the day. If your primary caregiver needs to go to a doctor’s appointment, we can provide a volunteer to stay with you during that time.”
“Hospice staff members are on-call,” Jean continued, “and because we’re a local agency, our staff is local and can get there much quicker than if someone is coming from 35 or 40 miles away. We also have access to the patient’s medical record at Milford Regional, and the Medical Center can see our medical record as well. It’s a lot easier on the patient not having to repeat everything.”
Until now, Jean said the VNA’s main focus has been helping home health patients return to their prior level of functioning; however, it’s not uncommon for a patient to transfer into a hospice program. She said that individuals are referred to hospice when life expectancy is approximately six months or less. With the addition of hospice to the VNA’s services, current patients can continue seeing familiar faces, Jean noted.
“There is no disruption in their care,” she said with satisfaction. “The staff has been asking for this for a long, long time and this will make them happy. They get attached to their patients and want to be able to support them right through to the end.”
For more information on the hospice program, contact the VNA at 508-473-0862.