Hospice is a compassionate program for those with a limited life expectancy in a homecare setting or a contracted skilled nursing facility. Hospice services are coordinated by an interdisciplinary team (physician, nurse, home health aide, nutrition counselor, social worker, pastoral care counselor, and trained volunteers) who ensure continuity of patient and family care. Supportive Care, a newly developed program, offers services to terminally ill patients and their families who are not yet able to accept the concept of Hospice care.

Hospice offers:

• Nursing care with an emphasis on pain and symptom management
• 24 hour on-call registered nurse
• Inpatient and respite care at BMHMC
• Assistance with personal care
• Spiritual and emotional counseling
• Prescribed medications, medical supplies and equipment
• Physical, occupational and speech therapy
• Nutritional counseling
• Friendly visits by trained hospice volunteers
• Bereavement support
• Children's bereavement camp
• Memorial service throughout the year

• Participate in decisions about care
• Maintain a sense of control
• Reach an improved level of physical, emotional and spiritual comfort
• Find answers to questions about the course of the illness
• Obtain needed equipment, supplies and medicines
• Receive practical assistance with day-to-day living
• Learn skills to confidently provide care
• Understand that Help is always available
• Reach out to others affected by the illness and impending loss
• Know that Care will be provided regardless of insurance coverage or ability to pay

Criteria for admission:

• Diagnosis of any time-limiting illness
• Resident of Suffolk County
• Patient and family consent to palliative care (focus on comfort, not cure)
• Presence of a significant other person who can aid the patient and act as a liaison between patient and Hospice

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