Welcome to America's First Hospice
The Connecticut Hospice inaugurated hospice care in America in 1974.
Since then, it has been the beacon and teacher of the growing hospice
movement throughout the nation, and beyond.
The Connecticut Hospice addresses physical, spiritual, social, and
emotional needs of patients with advanced irreversible illness, and
their families. Such care is provided regardless of diagnosis and
as long as the Hospice level of care is needed by the patients.
Hospice care is provided in the home, or inpatient setting by a medically
directed, nurse-coordinated, interdisciplinary team, and continues
throughout the period of bereavement.
Hospice does not take a narrow view of complexities of the needs of patients with an irreversible illness and their families. While the control of physical pain and other physical symptoms is the central and primary concern for caregivers, it is not the only priority. The patient with an irreversible illness suffers from an array of emotional, spiritual, social and financial problems. The rationale for Hospice caregiving is that it is impossible for any one discipline to provide the range of services required. Through the team approach, Hospice helps patients and families attain optimum quality of life.
Timeline of Events |
1974 |
First Home Care Patient |
1979 |
Founded
teaching affiliate, the Connecticut Hospice Institute (Renamed the
John D. Thompson Hospice Institute in 1993) |
1980 |
Licensed
as a hospital, special hospice |
1980 |
Designated
statewide referral center for inpatient care |
1985 |
Only hospice
accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education |
1986 |
Medical
oncology fellowship rotations offered in conjunction with Yale University
School of Medicine. |
1988 |
Opened
first "Cottage" as a residence and treatment center for homeless
patients |
1996 |
Introduction
of web site and Hospice "Care Phone" |
1997 |
Authored
legislation on Physician Assisted Living and guest edited Connecticut
Medicine magazine devoted to subject. |
1997 |
Author
of "Hospice and Palliative Care" in Cancer Therapeutics |
1997 |
World
Class Textbook: Reichel's Care of the Elderly: Clinical Aspects
of Aging - "Management of the Dying Patient." |
1998 |
Accredited
with Commendation by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare
Organizations (JCAHO) |
1999 |
CBS News
60 Minutes news coverage re: Physician Assisted Living |
1999
(Feb.) |
United
States Postal Stamp issued commemorating 25th year of hospice care. |
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Linkages with Connecticut Hospitals
This list of Connecticut Hospitals presents these hospitals which refer
patients to The Connecticut Hospice.
|
| Backus Hospital Norwich |
Johnson Memorial Hospital
Stafford Springs |
Stamford |
| Bradley Memorial Hospital Southington |
Lawrence & Memorial Hospital Manchester |
St. Mary's Hospital Waterbury |
| Bridgeport Hospital Bridgeport |
Manchester Memorial Hospital Manchester |
St. Raphael's Hospital New Haven |
| Bristol Hospital Bristol |
Masonic Hospital Wallingford |
St. Vincent's Medical Center Bridgeport |
| CT Children's Medical Center Hartford |
Middlesex Hospital Middletown |
Sharon Hospital Sharon |
| Danbury Hospital Danbury |
Milford Hospital Milford |
Stamford Hospital Stamford |
| Day Kimball Hospital Putnam |
New Britian General Hospital New Britian |
Mid-State Medical Center Meriden |
| John Dempsey Hospital (UCONN) Farmington |
New Milford Hospital New Milford |
VA CT Health Care System West Haven |
| Greenwich Hospital Greenwich |
Norwalk Hospital Norwalk |
VA CT Health Care System Newington |
| Griffin Hospital Derby |
Rockville General Hospital Rockville |
Waterbury Hospital Waterbury |
| Hartford Hospital Hartford |
St. Francis Hospital Hartford |
Windham Hospital Willimantic |
| Charlotte Hungerford Hospital Torrington |
St. Joseph Medical Center |
Yale New Haven Hospital New Haven |
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Directions
From New Haven and Points South:
From I-95 going North, take EXIT 53. At end of exit bear right at
light . Go under the underpass in the left lane. At light, take a left
on to Short Beach Road for approximately 1 mile. Take left onto Double
Beach Road and continue to Connecticut Hospice entrance (Gatehouse) on
left.
From Hartford and Points North:
From I-95 going North, take EXIT 53. At end of exit bear right at
light . Go under the underpass in the left lane. At light, take a left
on to Short Beach Road for approximately 1 mile. Take left onto Double
Beach Road and continue to Connecticut Hospice entrance (Gatehouse) on
left.
From New London and Points East:
From I-95 going south take EXIT 54 (Cedar Street). At end of exit
take left and get into right lane. At the bottom of the hill, at the
light take a right and go through 3 lights on Route One. In the left
lane, go under the underpass. At light, take a left on to Short Beach
Road for approximately 1 mile. Take left onto Double Beach Road and
continue to Connecticut Hospice entrance (Gatehouse) on left.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who is eligible for hospice
care?
Anyone with a terminal
illness (i.e., an illness that cannot be cured by medical intervention)
is eligible for hospice care. For those people who desire control
of symptoms, The Connecticut Hospice provides appropriate medical,
nursing and alternative interventions to decrease symptoms and discomfort.
This program is called CAN SUPPORT and services are provided both
at the inpatient facility and in home care. For those people whose
illness is entering its final stages, The Connecticut Hospice provides
comfort care to eliminate pain and suffering at the end of life. Often,
patients report feeling much more comfortable and being able to actively
participate in life until the very end.
Will my physician be involved
in my care at The Connecticut Hospice?
The Connecticut Hospice
employs physicians and nurse practitioners who provide palliative
care to patients. Hospice clinicians do consult with patients’ community
physicians to determine extent of illness, treatments and interventions
already trialed, and any further appropriate treatment planned. The
Hospice clinicians do have specialized training in control of symptoms
and, therefore, are hospice patients’ primary providers at the inpatient
facility. Home care patients are managed by their own physicians,
but hospice clinicians are available to make home visits and suggest
treatments and interventions.
Who pays for my stay at The
Connecticut Hospice?
For people who do have
Medicare, the Medicare Hospice Benefit (part of Medicare A) pays 100%
for hospice services. For those who have private insurance, hospice
representatives contact the insurance company and set up a contract
for care.
What services are available
at The Connecticut Hospice?
The Connecticut Hospice
has an inpatient hospital and provides home care services. In both
settings, medical and nursing care, social work, arts therapy, spiritual
care, physical therapy, Reiki massage, and volunteer visits are available.
The nurse or other health care provider places a request with a service
for the patient. Volunteers may assist a family with rides to the
inpatient facility if needed.
Will my medications be continued
once I begin receiving hospice services?
All medications for
medical conditions are continued once someone becomes a hospice patient.
Changes in medications occur when the patient’s condition requires
different medications, i.e., a patient has more pain or is unable
to swallow pills. In both cases, different medications may be prescribed
and other medications discontinued. Hospice clinicians consult with
the patient and his/her family when medication changes need to be
made.
How long can I stay at The Connecticut
Hospice?
There is no set time
for discharge from The Connecticut Hospice. If a patient remains stable,
i.e., has no new symptoms and does not require changes in his/her
daily care, then the health care team will begin to discuss with the
patient and family where the patient may be served more appropriately.
If a patient exhibits symptoms and continues to need intensive medical
and nursing care, then he/she may remain at The Connecticut Hospice.
Patients who remain stable are discharged either to home or to another
facility. Most times, Hospice Home Care will continue to follow these
patients at home or, if The Connecticut Hospice has a contract with
the other facility, in that facility. At any point when the patient
develops more symptoms, he/she may be readmitted to the hospice facility
for symptom control or terminal care.
When may my family and friends
visit at The Connecticut Hospice?
There are no set visiting
hours at The Connecticut Hospice. Friends and family are required
to sign in at the front desk and may proceed to the second floor to
visit their loved one. In the evening and overnight, family and visitors
are asked to respect the peaceful and calm atmosphere so that patients
may be able to sleep.
Once I am a patient at The Connecticut
Hospice, will I be able to go home?
If a patient remains
stable, then he/she may be discharged to home or another facility.
Sometimes patients are eligible to remain at The Connecticut Hospice
for care, but want to see their homes one more time. With support
from their families, patients may be able to go home for a visit during
the day.
Will my grandchildren be able
to visit me at The Connecticut Hospice?
There is no age limitation
for visitors. Children must be supervised and remain respectful of
other patients’ rights. The arts department may be able to provide
activities while children’s parents are visiting loved ones. This
is best arranged in advance through the patient’s nurse.
Will my family be able to bring
in the family dog while I am at The Connecticut Hospice?
Pets are allowed at
The Connecticut Hospice. Dogs and cats should be on leashes and not
allowed to roam free. Other animals are also welcome. We do have volunteers
who bring their pets in for patients to enjoy.
For
more information please send email to: mgc@hospice.com
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