With all the exciting changes taking place at the Chelsea Jewish Foundation, it seems appropriate to discuss the Chelsea Jewish Community (CJC) and the various services offered by its agencies. CJC has been in place since the opening of its Visiting Nurse Agency in 1996 and its focus is on community or home-based programs. Currently, we have three home-based programs, which are distinguished below.
Chelsea Jewish Hospice and Palliative Care
Hospice is a program that helps individuals who are in the last stages of a serious illness such as cancer or heart failure. The main goals of hospice are to keep patients comfortable and to maintain their quality of life, which is done through medical services, emotional support and spiritual resources. Some people think that hospice is a last resort and that it means the person is giving up on life. However, hospice is simply a type of care that focuses on pain control and the quality of one’s life rather than the continuation of treatment. One of the unique features of hospice care is that the support given is not only for the patient but also for the patient’s family members. CJC’s hospice team is comprised of a Medical Director, nurses, social workers, a chaplain, and volunteers. Some of the distinctive features of hospice include:
- Access to your hospice team 24 hours per day, 7 days per week
- Medical supplies, equipment and bereavement services or counseling for your loved ones after your passing is included with the service
- If the patient is elderly, Medicare pays 100% of the services
Chelsea Jewish Visiting Nurse Agency
A Visiting Nurse Agency (VNA) is home health care that can be given in your home for an illness or injury that resulted in you being home bound. Home health care is usually less expensive, more convenient, and just as effective as care you receive in a hospital or skilled nursing facility. Examples of skilled home health care services include:
- Therapy services
- Patient and caregiver education
- Home Health Aide assistance
- Wound care for pressure sores or a surgical wound
- Monitoring serious illness and unstable health status
The goal of home health care is to treat an illness or injury while helping the client regain their ability to care for themselves. Home health care helps you get better, reclaim your independence, and become as self-sufficient as possible. CJC’s VNA is compromised of nurses; physical, occupational and speech therapists; home health aides; and social workers. Medicare covers 100% of the costs.
Chelsea Jewish Personal Care
A Personal Care Agency is a non-medical service that helps individuals maintain their independence in their own homes, whether it be their house, an assisted living residence, or long-term care facility. Typical services include: bathing and dressing; meal preparation; medication reminders; light housekeeping; and even running errands or grocery shopping. The highly skilled caregivers are trained to care for clients with specialized conditions such as Alzheimer’s, Acquired Brain Injuries, and other life limiting diseases. Personal Care is a great way for loved ones to stay independent at home while receiving professional care. Additionally, clients typically find they have a new companion in their life now that they are being looked after by a professional. Most personal care services are privately paid for by the individual, but certain situations exist where a third party will cover the cost of the service.
If you are looking for visiting nurse, personal care, or hospice services for yourself or your loved one, please call us today at 617-884-8306. We would be happy to conduct an assessment to determine how our agencies can best meet your needs.
This blog is courtesy of Greg Ryan, Executive Director, Chelsea Jewish Community.
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