HOSPICE CARE
Long Beach Medical Center has made Caring for Life a phrase that succinctly describes what we are all about. We are committed to compassionate, high quality care at every phase of life - and that extends to end of life care, as well.
Our hospice programs, both at home and inpatient, offer comfort, support and guidance for terminally ill patients and those who love them. Terminal illness is defined as those individuals who are in an advanced stage of disease with six months or less to live.
Collaborating with Hospice of New York, Hospice Care Network and Metropolitan Jewish Hospice Care, renowned leaders in end of life care, to assist us in providing support, comfort and care to individuals who are in an advanced stage of disease with six months or less to live.
Directed by Martin Grossman, M.D., a board-certified physician specializing in hospice and palliative care, our care team includes social workers, nursing staff, pastoral care, and trained hospice volunteers, all of whom share the belief that dying with dignity is the right of every individual.
Together, we strive to affirm the power of choice for the patients in our care while preserving an enriched quality of life, and always with a deep respect for the patient’s wishes at the heart of it all.
Hospice Care at Home:
When confronted with the fact that a cure is no longer possible, some individuals feel the best place for them is in the comfort of their own home. Our hospice care partners are all well-established agencies who offer comfort and palliative care with compassion and dignity. Together, with the patient and family, they help each individual live each day to its fullest by enabling them to remain in a familiar and supportive environment surrounded by people they love and possessions they cherish
Inpatient Hospice Care:
For some individuals with terminal illness, returning home may not be possible. Long Beach Medical Center has responded to these needs by offering hospice care in its skilled nursing facility, The Komanoff Center for Geriatric and Rehabilitative Medicine.
Our 6-bed hospice program offers palliative and supportive care in a comforting, home-like environment. Patients and family members receive support, guidance, and spiritual care, as well as effective pain control in a staffed and supervised setting.
“Inpatient hospice is a desirable option for many individuals,” states Dennis Conway, Administrator of the Komanoff Center. “Many people facing end of life do not want to burden family members at home. The frail elderly may not be physically able to care for their terminally ill spouse, and job responsibilities can prevent family members from providing care around the clock. Inpatient hospice answers all of these needs with compassion and dignity.”
The Hospice philosophy advocates sensitivity to the needs of the dying patient, and their families, and fosters some degree of meaningful acceptance in the dying process. It provides a supportive environment where the individual’s medical, emotional and spiritual needs are met and the family is supported and guided throughout the experience.
“Hospice services are an appropriate extension of The Komanoff Center’s services”, said Mr. Conway. “The Komanoff Center cultivates an environment of respect and dignity for the residents living here. It is this same culture of caring that we offer to those facing the end of their life.”
With its waterside setting and newly landscaped gardens, the Komanoff Center offers a serene and calming environment for patients and families. Rooms are spacious and provide an area for displays of family pictures and personal mementos. Family members can relax in comfortable lounges or sunny dining rooms that overlook Reynold’s Channel and are encouraged to stay overnight with their loved one if they choose.
“The staff at the Komanoff Center understands how difficult the end-of-life experience is for all involved,” Conway said, “yet we believe we can offer patients and their families the assistance they need during this difficult time.”
The Komanoff Center for Geriatric and Rehabilitative Medicine is a hospital-based, TJC-accredited facility providing short-term rehab, long-term skilled nursing care and hospice care.
For more information on Hospice care, please call our Social Services Department at The Komanoff Center for Geriatric and Rehabilitative Medicine at (516) 897-1110.