CARING FOR
RESIDENTS AT THE END OF LIFE
The Abramson Residence offers a comprehensive Palliative Care Program for residents
near the end of life who are in need of comfort care. The program was developed
by senior researchers at the Center’s Polisher Research Institute, together
with a multi-disciplinary team drawn from the Center’s staff.
Palliative care team members are specially trained to meet the unique needs of families
and residents coping with end-of-life issues. The palliative care team includes
medical, nursing, chaplaincy, social work, psychology, rehabilitation, activities
staff members and volunteers.
The Palliative Care
Program centers around four core elements:
- Pain management
to reduce physical discomfort and
suffering
- Holistic treatments,
such as aromatherapy, massage and music therapy, to promote physical comfort and
well-being
- Psychological
and spiritual counseling, based on Jewish values, to enhance an individual's peace
of mind
- Research and
education leading to the development and sharing of best practices for end-of-life
care
The Center’s
physicians, in conjunction with residents and their family members, determine if
end-of-life care is appropriate. There is no extra cost to residents or their families.
Bereavement counseling is also offered to residents’ families and staff members.
Web Site Offers
Help on End-Of-Life Care to Caregivers of Persons with Dementia
Family members and professionals caring for persons with dementia who are at the
end of life can now find information, news, and a forum to exchange ideas, in one
easy-to-use Web site called “Palliative
Dementia Care Resources Online”. There is no cost to use the Web site.
Developed and maintained by the Polisher Research Institute of the Madlyn and Leonard
Abramson Center for Jewish Life, the Web site was created with the help of a grant
from the Farber Family Foundation of Philadelphia.
Palliative Dementia Care Resources
Online guides family caregivers and professionals to relevant news and information
on topics such as “managing life’s changes, preparing for life’s
end, and coping with grief and loss.” An online forum provides families and
professional caregivers the opportunity to exchange views, and to express questions,
concerns and possible solutions. Also available is an up-to-date listing of palliative
care conferences and educational events being held world-wide.
For more information about Palliative
Dementia Care Resources Online, call the Polisher Research Institute at
215-371-1896, or e-mail sandersen@abramsoncenter.org.
For more information on our Palliative Care Program,
call 215-371-3600 or e-mail us at info@abramsoncenter.org
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