Comedy Night Brings Laughter to Pike County to Benefit Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice

MATAMORAS, PA:  We’ve all heard the adage “Laughter is the Best Medicine” and professionals at the Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice agree. The hospice joins with event sponsors Pike County Light & Power and Davis R. Chant Realtors to welcome the tri-state community to its premier Comedy Night on Saturday, July 14 at the Best Western Inn at Hunts Landing on 120 6thStreet in Matamoras, PA. The event will feature the talent and comedy of Christopher Roach, Peter Sasso and Missy Allan. Proceeds from the evening will support the programs and services of Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice.
Guests may choose to register for the pre-show buffet dinner presented from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Best Western Inn at Hunts Landing’s Edgewater Restaurant and Lounge for $50.00 per person; or to attend the Comedy Night only at 8:00 p.m. for $35.00 each ($40.00 at the door.)  Throughout the evening a cash bar and concession will be available and guests are welcome to place their winning bid at the event’s Silent Auction. An additional event feature beginning at 6:00 p.m. and open free-of-charge to the community, is an impressive vendor presentation in the venue’s vestibule featuring the wares of area crafters, entrepreneurs and businesses. Comedy Night Tickets are available at www.karenannquinlanhospice.org/comedyor by calling 973-383-0115.
 
The Comedy Night’s featured entertainers include Sparta resident Missy Allan who likes to make people laugh and unlike others she happens to make a living at it as a professional comedienne. More recently she has parlayed her comedic talents into fundraising. Allan had first-hand experience of the care provided by Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice and visited the organization with a need to give back. She presented her impressive comedic resume and knowledge in show production as a starting point to this first Comedy Night – Laughter is the Best Medicine fundraising event. Missy Allan performs all over the country doing shows at venues such as Catch A Rising Star and The Stress Factory, but considers Sparta, NJ home. 

Headlining the event is Christopher Roach. Roach is a comedian and actor born and raised in New York. Roach has brought his unique and self-deprecating sense of humor to some of the biggest and best-known stages such as The Borgata in Atlantic City. Roach is a regular on the Kevin James show, a comedy series for CBS. “Kevin Can Wait.” The show centers on newly retired police officer Kevin, played by James, who discovers he faces much tougher challenges at home than he ever did on the streets. Roach plays Mott, one of James’ friends. Roach also wrapped CBS’ “Limitless” as Maurice, opposite actress Jennifer Carpenter and actor Jake McDorman.
 
The evening will also feature Peter Sasso, undeniably one of the industry’s most versatile entertainers.  His rapid-fire stand-up is met with non-stop, raucous laughter and hysteria by audiences of all ages.  As a Comedy Juggler, Peter Sasso entertains audiences with his quick wit and diverse juggling skills.  Audiences are mesmerized as they laugh along to his side-splitting “Gravity Defying Comedy.”
“The level of comedy that Chris and Peter bring to this event ensures a fun night,” stated comic Missy Allan. “In addition to the passion for the work they do, a true sincerity and community spirit shines through from both Peter and Chris as they signed on to support Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice.”
 
“The Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice professional team has embraced patients and family members throughout Pike County, PA for decades with hospice care and bereavement counseling. This community has championed our mission as a leading care-provider in the area and we are pleased to present “A Night of Comedy” to area residents,” said Cecelia T. Clayton, MPH, Executive Director of Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice.
 Join the fun and get your Comedy Night tickets at www.karenannquinlanhospice.org/comedy or by calling 973-383-0115.
 
The Karen Ann Quinlan Memorial Foundation is passionately dedicated to providing Hospice care for the terminally ill and bereavement counseling for those who have lost loved ones. Serving Sussex and Warren Counties NJ and Northeast PA; please call 800-882-1117 to reach any of our services at either office; Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice, 99 Sparta Ave., Newton, NJ and Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice, 104 Bennett Ave., Milford, PA.  Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice is an independently owned hospice program and proud to be the preferred hospice provider for Newton Medical Center and area Atlantic Health Care System.  The award-winning Home for Hospice is located in Fredon, NJ. The Joseph T. Quinlan Bereavement Center is open to hospice families and the community for bereavement support, counseling and educational opportunities; it is located at 5 Plains Rd. in Augusta with satellite offices in Pike and Warren Counties. For hospice programs, events, and more information visit www.karenannquinlanhospice.org or Facebook.com/KarenAnnQuinlanHospice.org.

Children & Grief

 

Children and adolescents face losses every day, and they do grieve these losses. Of course, loved ones die—grandparents, parents, siblings, friends; so do beloved pets, often a child’s first experience with death. Other losses do not involve death but can generate grief, such as experiencing divorce or going to a new school. And as children move into adolescence there are more subtle but important losses—loss of identity, loss of roles, loss of self-esteem. Every child, just as every adult, will grieve in his or her own way.  Children respond to grief as adults do—physically, emotionally, behaviorally, even spiritually. It may seem daunting to have to explain death to a child, especially when there are no simple answers. The following guidelines may make this process easier.
What should I say? 

Consider a child’s age and ability to understand complex ideas. Many experts believe children do not have a mature understanding of death until about age 8 or 9. Younger children may think that being dead is temporary and that the dead person will return in the future.

 It is okay to say you don’t know the answer to a child’s question. You can even say, “No one knows for sure, but this is what I think.” If the child asks whether you will die, respond that everybody dies someday, but that you hope to live to do things with the family for a long time.

Use precise terms when talking about death. People typically refer to “losing” a loved one.  Children may interpret this literally and assume that the person can be found. You should also explain that being dead means that the body has stopped working and that it cannot be fixed. It no longer feels cold or gets hungry, and it does not feel any more hurt or pain.

Giving children information and choices when facing death and grief can be very helpful. Preparing children ahead of time for what they might encounter at the hospital or during the funeral can be very important. Once they have that information, let them make a choice. Perhaps they would like to go to the funeral, but would choose not to attend the service at the cemetery.

Remember that children cannot tolerate long periods of sadness; they may want to play and participate in their usual activities. This does not mean that they didn’t love the person who died, nor does it mean that they are being disrespectful. It is okay to permit or encourage children to have fun like they did before the death. Changes in the child’s behavior or patterns might be signs that the child is experiencing problems associated with the death. In these instances, it’s appropriate to obtain advice from a specialist in child bereavement counseling.

Ways to help grieving children

Many school-age children benefit by participating in bereavement groups with other children who have suffered losses. Children hate to be different from their peers; in a group, they discover they are not alone.

Art and other expressive approaches can be great ways to help children identify their feelings of grief. Activities might include painting a picture of the feeling; writing and drawing in a journal; reading books or watching movies that open up discussions of death and loss; making a list of what makes you angry, sad, afraid, frustrated, etc.
 

Children’s grief groups and camps

The Children’s Art Bereavement Program will be held on Thursday afternoons in July starting on July 12 – August 2, from 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. at the Bereavement Center located on 5 Plains Road in Augusta. The theme of the summer program is “The Sea Shore,” and it is designed for children (age 6-12) who have experienced the loss of a loved one through death. This program will focus on meeting the individual needs of grieving children through art and play. The cost of the program is $100 and scholarships are available

Article Courtesy of the Hospice Foundation of America.

Offering Spiritual Support for Family or Friends

People who are very ill often ask spiritual questions, in seeking comfort, meaning and hope. While clergy, chaplains and other spiritual leaders may play an important role in spiritual care, family and friends can offer important spiritual support too.

If you have the opportunity to provide spiritual support for someone living with an illness, here are some suggestions:

Explore your own beliefs and values before you talk to others.

To support others spiritually, it’s important to understand your own spiritual beliefs about illness. Think of a time when you faced a major life transition, change or loss.

  • How did it affect you spiritually?
  • How did your spirituality affect the experience?
  • Did you discover spiritual strength during that time?
  • Did you ever question your faith?
  • How did you want to be supported spiritually?

If you have not been diagnosed with a serious illness yourself, exploring these questions will help you understand your spirituality when facing life-changing situations.

Even within families, among friends and in faith communities, people’s spiritual beliefs and experiences may be very different. Be clear that your beliefs and values reflect your own beliefs and yours alone.  Just as you would want another person to listen to you with respect and understanding, your family member or friend wants you to listen to them with respect and understanding as well.

It is common for people living with serious illness to ask themselves questions. As a “spiritual companion,” you can best support others by helping them explore these questions rather than providing the answers.

Be aware of spiritual pain and suffering.

Spiritual pain and suffering is as real and powerful as physical or emotional pain. There are many spiritual and religious issues people who have a serious illness may face and struggle with including the following:

  • Meaning and Purpose:Many people who are very ill question what their life means. They may wonder if they have done anything positive or lasting with their life. Some people ask “Why me?” or “Why now?” or “Why this illness?” The search for meaning and purpose may bring up a wide range of emotions, from anger and loss to relief and peace. Struggling with these questions can be a normal part of dealing with illness.
  • Guilt and forgiveness:As people face illness, they may reflect on difficult situations and experiences in the past. They may feel guilty about or blame others for things that have happened.
  • Loss of faith:Living with a serious illness can cause people to question their spiritual beliefs or faith. They may explore thoughts and feelings that differ from long-held beliefs. They may become angry with God, their religion, themselves, or with others who think they should believe a certain way.
  • Issues with faith tradition or faith community:Faith communities may be able to provide support from clergy or members by offering prayer, visits, sacraments or rituals. While some people find these to be very helpful when they are very ill, others may feel their traditions or community do not provide them with the support they need.

 

Remember that you are not in this alone. Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice offers a full continuum of high quality medical, emotional and spiritual services to hospice patients, their family members and the community. If you need help offering spiritual support to a friend or loved one consider talking to one of our chaplains who have expertise in spiritual care. They can give you guidance on offering support and understanding for someone who is very ill.

100th Year Birthday Celebration!

Elsa G. Gorordo

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NEWTON – Elsa G. Gorordo, of Newton celebrated her 100th birthday on Wednesday, June 13, 2018. She was surrounded by family, loved ones, friends and caregivers from Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice at Ave Care in Newton to celebrate the occasion. Gorordo, is wife of the late Luis Gorordo and mother to Elsa Schock of Sparta. Gorordo came to live in America in the early 60s from Cuba during the reign of Fidel Castro. She became a citizen of the United States in the 1970s. In Cuba, Gorordo was a middle school science teacher and a teacher of children with disabilities. After learning to speak English she taught Spanish to students in America. Her greatest joy has been caring for her grandchildren and she has three great grandchildren. She is admired by her family and friends for her love of God, people and life. A proclamation issued by the Board of Chosen Freeholders recognized and honored Elsa Gorordo’s 100 years of life.

Elsa Gorordo, Spanish Teacher in 1970

NHPCO Answers Question: What is Comfort Care?

Inquiries have been coming in to the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization asking for an explanation of what is included in Comfort Care.

(Alexandria, Va) – It has been widely reported in a statement from the Bush family that former First Lady Barbara Bush has decided to forgo further hospitalizations and curative-focused medical treatments and has chosen to receive comfort care. Questions have come in to NHPCO asking for further details about what makes up comfort care.

Comfort Care refers to care plan for the patient that is focused on symptom control, pain relief, and quality of life. Often support is provided to family members to help them understand the care plan and to address needs and concerns they might have.

There are different forms of comfort care. Two of the best known are hospice and palliative care. 

Under hospice care, a person receives medical care as well as emotional, psycho-social, and spiritual care delivered by an Interdisciplinary team of professionals that includes a physician, nurse, social worker, allied therapists, counselors, home health aides, spiritual and grief support and trained volunteers. Each person’s care plan would be tailored to his or her specific needs with some patients requiring services that others might not need.

Palliative care means patient and family-centered care that optimizes quality of life by anticipating, preventing, and treating suffering. Palliative care throughout the continuum of illness involves addressing physical, intellectual, emotional, social, and spiritual needs and to facilitate patient autonomy, access to information, and choice.

“Under the philosophy of hospice and palliative care, the goal is care and not cure,” said Edo Banach, President and CEO of NHPCO. “The same principles would apply to comfort care.”

Under the Medicare hospice benefit, a person must have a prognosis of six months or less within the doctor’s best estimation; however, hospice can be provided for as long as the patient needs it and is not limited to six months. Palliative care provides care and services without the required six month prognosis and can be provided alongside curative or life-prolonging treatment.

Hospice care serves people coping with cancer, dementia, heart disease, COPD, renal disease and other illnesses. The majority of hospice care is provided in the home, yet hospice care also is provided in nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and in-patient settings.

Comfort care would reflect the principles of hospice and palliative care, specifically designed to meet the needs of the individual patient and family caregivers.  Hospice care provides the most comprehensive array of covered services.

In the U.S., hospice organizations are the primary providers of community-based palliative care and comfort care services.

“If a family is struggling with a serious or life-limiting illness, it is never too early to reach out to your local hospice and ask about care they offer and if it might be right for a loved one,” Banach said.

While more than 1.5 million patients avail themselves of hospice care every year, nearly 30 percent of Medicare beneficiaries received care for seven days or less, which hospice professionals consider too short a time to fully take advantage of all that hospice offers.

“One of the biggest misconceptions about hospice is that it’s giving up,” said Lori Bishop, NHPCO Vice President of Palliative and Advanced Care. “Hospice provides high-quality care and support to the whole person and to family caregivers with the goal of quality of life.”