Download the September/October 2013 Issue - Ocean Medical Center

Meridian Health
Nurse Treasures
Meridian’s Compassionate
Hospice Care
Carol Anne Giordano enjoys vegetable and
flower gardening. The Manalapan resident is
grateful for the thoughtful care and support
her in-laws received from Meridian At Home.
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Carol Anne Giordano spent more
than 30 years as a registered nurse
and health care professional providing
comfort, care, and support to
families. During the past year, roles
were reversed and Carol Anne and
her husband, Charlie Jr., trusted the
hospice care of their family members
to Meridian At Home, Meridian
Health’s home care services company.
Planning for the Unexpected
In 2012, Carol Anne’s father-in-law,
Charlie Giordano Sr., was stricken
with brain cancer, and a few months
later, his wife, June, was diagnosed
with lung cancer.
After undergoing surgeries and
hospitalizations, both entered
Meridian Health’s Rehabilitation
and Nursing facility in Ocean
Grove, Manor by the Sea, initially
for rehabilitation therapy. As their
conditions and need for care
progressed, both Giordanos became
residents and eventually received
hospice care at the facility from
Meridian At Home. In addition to
providing hospice care in the home,
Meridian At Home can provide these
services at any care facility.
As a health care professional, Carol
Anne recognized the importance
of early planning for the possibility
of hospice care. “Hospice is often
contemplated in the midst of a
crisis, making it more challenging to
establish an individualized plan of
care for the patient and family,” she
says. “Though difficult, our family
discussed and incorporated hospice
care into early planning. As a result,
my in-laws received months of
thoughtful and individualized care,
and we had quality time with our
loved ones.”
Support During a Difficult Time
Meridian At Home’s interdisciplinary
team includes a social worker, nurses,
home health aides, a chaplain, and a
medical director, who work closely
with the family and attending
physician to coordinate care and
services for up to six months. Hospice
care is often fully covered by private
insurance and Medicare, and includes
medical equipment and supplies and
other services.
Licensed and hospice certified
social worker Nancy Donahue
worked closely with the Giordanos.
At Your Side When You Need Us
“The Meridian At Home hospice team
truly works together to understand
the needs of the family, and to
provide resources, exceptional care,
and educate the family,” Nancy says.
“Every family is different, and our
training not only allows us to make
the patient comfortable and maintain
the patient’s dignity, but also support
surviving family members as they
cope with and accept the death of
their loved one.”
Aside from medical care, the
emotional support provided by the
hospice team proved invaluable
for Carol Anne. For instance, the
caregivers knew how important it
was for her mother-in-law to look
her best each day and have her hair
done. “Those are the little things that
brought joy to my family and that we
will never forget,” Carol Anne says.
“The Meridian At Home hospice team
not only provided an exceptional
level of care and quality of life for my
in-laws, but they became an invaluable
and trusted 24/7 support system.”
Every moment of life is precious. Meridian Hospice is
committed to helping patients live their remaining days in the
greatest possible comfort and dignity. Call 1-800-655-2555 or
visit MeridianAtHome.com/Hospice to learn more about our in-home
health care services.