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Ninety percent of Americans, if faced with a terminal illness, would prefer to be cared for and die in their homes, according to a recent Gallup Poll. For these patients and their families, both in-patient and home hospice care is available. In this two-part special edition of Families in Focus, the panel discusses what is being done to better care for patients who no longer respond to curative approaches and are in need of longer term palliative care. Hospice and palliative care involve a team-oriented approach to expert medical care, pain management, and emotional and spiritual support expressly tailored to the person’s needs and wishes. Support is provided to the person's loved ones as well. The focus of hospice relies on the belief that each of us has the right to die pain-free and with dignity, and that our loved ones will receive the necessary support to allow us to do so.
Tape Piece – Part 1 of this two part special begins with a mini-documentary produced by Paula M Levine that looks at the concept of hospice. We talk with Charles Violatti, M.D. Director, Radiation Oncology and medical director of Villa Marie Claire Hospice and Maria Monahan whose family benefited from hospice care when her husband George lost his battle with cancer.
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Dr. Charles Vialotti |
Anne Stout |
Mary Ann Christopher |
John Welshons |
Guests
Dr. Charles Vialotti – Director of Radiation/Oncology at Holy Name Hospital, and Medical Director of the Villa Marie Clare Hospice.
Anne Stout – Who lost her husband Brian to lung cancer. The Stout family received hospice care and support during that very difficult time.
Mary Ann Christopher – President and CEO of the Visiting Nurse Association of Central Jersey.
John Welshons – Noted author and grief counselor who has been with us many times before.
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