Hospice News
Saint Barnabas
Hospice and Palliative Care Center Urges Dementia Caregivers
to Seek Assistance
More than 5 million people in the United States have Alzheimer’s
disease – the most common form of dementia. Over
time, as the condition increasingly affects a person’s
memories, personality, and behaviors, it is common for loved
ones to feel emotionally, physically, and financially exhausted.
“When a loved one has advanced dementia the entire
family is impacted in countless ways,” says Maria Roesler,
RN, Director of Program Development for the Saint Barnabas
Hospice and Palliative Care Center (SBHPCC) in West Orange
which manages the SBHPCC Inpatient Units at Newark Beth Israel
Medical Center in Newark and Monmouth Medical Center in Long
Branch. “At some point in the disease process
it may be necessary for a caregiver to turn to health care
professionals for support and guidance.”
Recognizing the need many caregivers have for professional
assistance during the later stages of dementia, the SBHPCC
developed a unique advanced dementia care program. The
program’s main goals are to monitor and manage patient
symptoms and maximize comfort; provide information, support,
and assistance to caregivers and family members; and offer
a continuum of health care services to both the patient and
the family through the progression of the disease.
“Dementia caregivers are often so overwhelmed with
everyday responsibilities that they don’t take the
time to step back and evaluate their need for professional
intervention,” adds Roesler. “It is important
that they recognize the signs that indicate outside help
is needed. Such signals include the progression of
symptoms and medical complications; a decrease in the patient’s
ability to participate in daily activities; and an increase
in caregiver stress as patient needs escalate.”
For more information about the Advanced Dementia Care Program
offered by the Saint Barnabas Hospice and Palliative Care
Center, please call 973-322-4800.
Established in 1981, Saint Barnabas Hospice and Palliative
Care Center, an affiliate of the Saint Barnabas Health Care
System, provides comprehensive physical, emotional and spiritual
care and support services to patients with advanced illness
and their families throughout ten counties in the State of
New Jersey. The program, which serves infants, children, adults
and the elderly, honors the unique choices and values of patients
and their families while offering full access to the broad
array of services provided by the Saint Barnabas Health Care
System
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