Non-Profit Hospice Offers Higher Level of Care and Services

SOMERSET, N.J. - Dec. 30, 2014 - PRLog -- As a Non-Profit company, Stein Hospice Offers Strong Personalized Attention, Ideal Nurse to Patient Ratio, Unique Programs to Bring Comfort, and Care to Families in Need.

When the family of a loved one or a patient themselves is facing the final chapter of their lives, emotions can often interfere with their understanding of the benefits of choosing a non-profit hospice versus one that is for-profit.

Making the patient as comfortable as possible, providing attentive and professional care, and unique services that extend to the family’s needs should be at the forefront of the decision making process. These unique qualities help to set apart non-profits like Stein Hospice at The Oscar and Ella Wilf Campus for Senior Living from all the rest.

Bruce Birnberg, executive director, pointed out that the first hospices in the United States were established in 1970, many of which began in church basements. Hospice as we know it today began as a faith-based model. It is estimated today, that hospice programs serve over 450,000 terminally ill individuals and their families each year.

“There was a time going back about 15 years ago, that you would find that the huge majority of hospices were non-profit like Stein, but that reality has switched. The whole thing has turned on its head with the industry dominated by for-profit hospices,” he reported.

The public doesn’t always understand the differences between for-profit and non-profit hospices, he said, “This happens when the patient or their family are forced to make decisions on information thrust upon them during a crisis.  They automatically think that if a professional staff member is suggesting a particular hospice, that it will be fine and they just sign up.” Unfortunately, most people don’t know that they do have a choice, or that they can ask questions and they don’t fully understand that there can be vast differences between hospices. Care and services are not always the same from hospice to hospice.

Sharon Criscione, Stein Hospice’s clinical director, stressed that families should realize that a non-profit hospice can offer a smaller nurse-to-patient ratio, guaranteeing greater personalized, one-on-one attention for both the patient and their family.

Birnberg added, “At Stein Hospice, our nurse-to-patient ratio is 1 nurse to 10 patients, while most for-profit hospices in New Jersey have 25 patients to 1 nurse.” This creates a huge difference in the type of actual care that will be provided.

“Because of our lower ratio, we are able to make more visits and to be more attentive to the patients’ needs,” informed Criscione.

“We don’t hold back on supplies,” she added, “but offer whatever the patient needs for comfort. Patient care, comfort and family support is our ultimate goal. We don’t have any other goal that we need to reach.”

While she explained that for-profit hospices employ more aggressive marketing strategies to draw in more families, Criscione said non-profits like Stein funnel their money and energy instead into the patient’s care, comfort and satisfaction.

“Our nurses provide care that is so knowledgeable and compassionate. They really spend time with the families. Our nurses don’t just go in and out of the house quickly, but we stay as long as we need to because we have that luxury with our low nurse to patient ratio,” Criscione continued.

At Stein Hospice, patients and families receive an immediate response to their requests for help, with nurses available on a 24-hour basis, including weekends and holidays. Whether patients are in their homes, a hospital, nursing or assisted living facility, our caring staff is ready to serve and address medical decisions, patient needs, spiritual guidance, and wishes at the end of life. Complementary therapies, such as massage and harp therapy, are also available for patients and their families to help with stress management.

Members of the community eagerly pitch in to support one of Stein Hospice’s most generous and notable endeavors – The Chicken Soup Project. Volunteers cook homemade soup to help warm and nourish the patients and their families during this difficult time. Other volunteers deliver many kinds of non-medical support to the patient and family to help wrap them in loving comfort.

Stein Hospice also offers bereavement support for patients’ family members and community members, as well as an annual memorial service, which is a testament to loved ones lost during the year. A monthly support group provides help and camaraderie whenever necessary.

To learn more about Stein Hospice, call Sharon Criscione at (732) 227-1212 or email Hospice@wilfcampus.org.

The Oscar and Ella Wilf Campus for Senior Living is comprised of Stein Assisted Living with the Jaffa Gate Memory Care Neighborhood, Stein Hospice, Wilentz Senior Residence, Wilf Transport, Wilf At Home, and The Foundation at the Wilf Campus. For more information, contact us at (732) 568-1155, info@wilfcampus.org or visit us at www.wilfcampus.org.