They are difficult subjects – terminal illnesses, death and dying. We will all face these issues at one time or another – either for ourselves or for someone we love. When is the right time to request or accept “end of life” care?

Common misconceptions about hospice care include the myth that death must be imminent. There is no better person to discredit that myth than Elda Caruso, a resident of Pinecrest Manor, who was in hospice care for more than nine months while residing at the skilled nursing facility. Hospice care can be provided anywhere the patient calls “home”, whether it be a residence, or an assisted living or skilled nursing facility. When Elda and her family chose hospice care, the family experience was one of comfort, dignity and peace of mind. 

The hospice team of CNI provides a comprehensive program of medical, emotional, and spiritual care under the guided supervision of the patient’s physician that goes far and beyond the normal scope of medical care. On the special day that Elda appeared in this photo, she received a perm and shower for her “Patient Wish Day”, coordinated by Pinecrest Manor and CNI’s Hospice Program. Pictured, from left to right: Daughter, Rosalie Caruso; Pinecrest Manor Certified Nurse’s Aide, Joyce Wolfel; Elda Caruso; Hospice Personal Care Aide, Jamie Snyder, Community Nurses CNA; Daughter, Janice Gratton.

Implemented at the right time in the right way, hospice care is actually a beginning for most families – a new opportunity to say things that need to be said, do things that need to be done, and get legal, financial, and personal affairs in order. “I can’t tell you the devastation that I’ve seen when end of life issues were not dealt with – the regret, guilt, and loose ends often take a toll on the relationships of the family members left behind, and the grief that families experience. What a wonderful opportunity hospice care provides to work through all the important issues before the inevitable happens – for families to share, bond, and plan together”, explains CNI Hospice Social Worker Joanne Straub.

Daughter Janice Gratton, from Erie, acknowledged “Along with having the extra staff time provided to mother and Pinecrest Manor by the Hospice team, the extra comfort and stress relief services that Hospice provided, such as massage and Reiki, were as much a help to us as they were to mother. Mother, who was such an positive, upbeat trooper through this whole thing, had an entire team of caregivers including her card playing buddy, Hospice Volunteer, Chris, who visited weekly on Tuesday and Thursday.”

According to daughter, Rosalie Caruso, “With our father it was such a different experience. Our father died so quickly that we only had a few weeks in the Hospice program and didn’t have time to see the advantages. With mother, it’s was such a different and positive experience because we had time to experience all the benefits that Pinecrest and Hospice can provide to the family. I’d really like to encourage families to consider Hospice as early as possible when you’re faced with a terminal illness. I’d like people to know that Hospice is not a ‘religious’ based program, which I think makes some people hesitant – although a Hospice chaplain can be provided if requested. I think Hospice is important because we all struggle with the issue of death – and you can’t totally get away from the fear that comes with a terminal diagnosis - but Pinecrest and Hospice really helped us through that process. They were both a blessing for our family.”

The Caruso’s are a family that was fortunate in that they used Hospice exactly as it was meant to be used – early on in the diagnosis. Hospice is a comfort care and pain control program for terminal patients and their family members. Hospice nurses have special training in pain management. Statistics show those who choose Hospice actually end up living longer; although a physician must document that they anticipate that the patient’s life expectancy is six months or less to have them qualify for Hospice, many patients end up living longer than anticipated and experience an enhanced quality of life. A hospice patient who shows signs of recovery or who changes his mind can be discharged from hospice and returned to traditional treatment if they wish. The patient can be readmitted to hospice should any changes occur.

PCM Administrator, Marlene Bauer, added “The unfortunate thing we see is that hospice care is either requested or accepted later than we’d recommend. Hospice provides time to get things in order – medically, personally, financially, and legally. These are decisions that shouldn’t be made hastily, including end of life care options such as whether or not you want emergency room treatments, blood supplies, etc. Hospice gives a family time to work through the issues and make decisions everyone can agree upon and that are in the best interest of the patient. Hospice care in a skilled nursing facility such as Pinecrest Manor adds an extra set of hands and additional hospice staff time which make it possible to provide special services that offer comfort to the terminal patient. Mrs. Caruso and her family made the decision to seek hospice care early, and their experience was extremely positive for them, and inspiring for the CNI and PCM staff. ”

For more information about Pinecrest Manor call 814-788-8213. For information on the CNI Hospice Program, contact us at 814-781-1415.