Adviser LeadingAge New York Winter 2014 Winter 2014 | Page 28

ENHANCING PARTNERSHIPS

27

A Win-Win Partnership
(continued from page 26)

attention, the hospice nurse will usually
assign an aide, and the resident benefits
immensely from that extra care. We
have residents that would not come
out of their rooms or participate in
activities without the encouragement
of hospice aides. The hospice staff
provides residents with care and
encouragement, providing a greater
opportunity for residents to participate
in activities. The comfort that residents
get from the aides helps with their
overall care because their personal
needs are better addressed.”
Another adult home, Glenwell, a
DePaul Senior Living Community in
Cheektowaga, also sees the benefits
of partnering with Hospice Buffalo in
their facility. Administrator Allison
Rath Garvey, M.S., had a close family
member receive care in the hospice
program and personally knows of the
numerous benefits of hospice care.
“We are grateful that Hospice Buffalo is
our local partner in providing in-home
medical support, pain and symptom
management, as well as help living
with serious illness,” noted Garvey in a
letter. She has been so impressed with
the benefits of the Hospice Buffalo/ALF
that she plans to hold two informational
sessions in November, designated as
National Hospice & Palliative Care
Month, to allow residents and families
the opportunity to learn about hospice
care and ask questions of hospice staff.

Surprising Response
One of the many benefits of having
hospice care in a facility is the
multidisciplinary staff that hospice utilizes
to enhance a resident’s and family’s
wellbeing. “You can tell once Hospice
Buffalo comes in, they involve the family,
they involve our staff and the resident
gets better care and more attention. I
think that’s what I’ve seen,” said DePaula.
“Even if the hospice aide is here for an
hour a day, it’s an hour that the resident
is occupied with somebody and they
are happy. It turns the day around. In
addition, Hospice Buffalo has medication
delivery and emergency delivery. If for
some reason, our pharmacy is closed, I
can contact Hospice Buffalo and they’ll
get it here within hours.”
DePaula has witnessed the improved
outcomes that occur when hospice is
involved. “We had one resident that would
just sit and stare at the dining room table
every day,” she recalled. “When Hospice
Buffalo’s music therapist came in and
played her guitar, the resident would just
light