March 10, 2015

Residential Hospice Care Options

By Karen Hendricks

Hospice of Central Pennsylvania offers a unique option to families: the region’s only stand-alone hospice residential facility, the Carolyn Croxton Slane Residence, 1701 Linglestown Road, Harrisburg.

“It’s a homelike setting for people who can’t be treated in their own home,” says Hospice of Central Pennsylvania President and CEO Gil Brown. “Maybe it’s because there aren’t resources in their home for around-the-clock care, or family members who’ve been caring for them for so long they need respite. Perhaps they have acute symptoms and need a nurse present 24 hours a day. Any of those reasons lead them to become a resident.”

Brown says the residential hospice provides temporary care as opposed to long-term care, with most clients staying 30 days or less. Despite the brief lengths of stay, Brown says it makes a substantial difference in patients’ lives.

“A lot of patients treated in the residence come there from a hospital. They leave a typical hospital setting—sterile and industrial, with machines beeping, noise in the hallway—and find themselves in a suburban ranch style home with a private room. The family has access to their loved one 24 hours a day; they can bring a dog or cat, or the grandkids. There are beautiful landscaped gardens and walkways that are wonderful to spend time in--it really does feel like a home.”

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