FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:

Beth Stroud
Catholic Hospice
TEL:  724.933.6222
FAX: 724.933.6225
CELL:  412.848.8081

bstroud@catholichospicepgh.org
www.catholichospicepgh.org

CATHOLIC HOSPICE RECIPIENT OF $25,000 GIFT

Monies to be Used for Pioneer Caregiving Program

(Wexford, PA, December 6, 2011)  Catholic Hospice was the recent recipient of a $25,000 gift funded by the George H. Campbell, Lillian S, Campbell and Mary S. Campbell Foundation through PNC’s Private Foundation Management Services.  The monies will be used for Catholic Hospice’s pioneer P.E.A.C.E. program – Personalized Education, Assistance, & Caregiving at End of Life which is Catholic Hospice’s Free “Caregiving” Fund.  This program enables Catholic Hospice to provide caregivers for extended lengths of time to their patients with extenuating circumstances – elderly caregivers, transient children, caregiver burnout, etc.

Under the Medicare Hospice Benefit, hospice is designed as supportive care with family members serving as the primary caregiver.  Hospice team members are required to make routine visits, but as dictated by Medicare, they are not permitted to remain in the home overnight or for extensive periods of time.

“What we have recognized on a regular basis are families who need additional support in the home, however following the Federal Medicare Law, 24 hour caregiving is only warranted in crisis circumstances and for short periods of time, say three to five days, until the crisis is resolved,” explained Catholic Hospice Founder/Executive Director, Cristen Krebs, DNP, ANP-BC.  “The highest percentage of our patients never experience a ‘crisis’ as defined by Federal law, so they never qualify for the continuous care portion of the hospice benefit. They simply need an extra set of hands to help and comfort.”

Prior to formally developing P.E.A.C.E., Catholic Hospice had piloted a trial caregiving program with their patients when the need arose. Mel Bundy, whose daughter had received care from Catholic Hospice was part of the pilot program.  “The caregivers fit into my daughter’s home as though they were part of the family,” commented Bundy.  “The relief from the pressure we felt was incredible just knowing there was someone there we could rely on so that we could occasionally leave the bedside.”

Through this program, patients under routine hospice care who qualify will have private caregivers placed in their homes for a minimum of four hours to a maximum of 24 hours at a time.  Caregivers will be able to provide personal care, meal preparation, light housekeeping, and essentially safety support.  Not only will patients receive one on one care, but those providing the care will be specially trained on end of life issues and expectations.

The P.E.A.C.E. program is the first of its kind in the area and is specifically designed for Catholic Hospice patients.  “This gift will enable us to fill a gap of great need for our families,” said Patty Beaumont, Corporate & Foundation Relations.  “It is our hope that others will identify with this program and also contribute to enable us to provide even more assistance for years to come.”

Catholic Hospice is the area’s only independent nonprofit hospice program.  Guided by the Church’s teachings on end of life care, the program is also the only pro-life hospice program serving Pittsburgh and surrounding communities.  Care is provided to those of all faiths who meet the Medicare Hospice Benefit criteria for any end stage illness.  Catholic Hospice’s service area includes Allegheny, Beaver, Butler and Washington counties.  Most insurances are accepted, and out of network coverage is explored on a per patient basis.  Patients who qualify for care are never turned away.

Tax deductible gifts to the fund may be made by sending a check, payable to Catholic Hospice’s Free Caregiving Fund, 6200 Brooktree Road, Ste. 220, Wexford, PA 15090.  For further information on Catholic Hospice please call 1.866.933.6221.