Founded in 1978, Hospice by the Sea, Inc. has a long and proud history of providing quality end-of-life services to nearly 70,000 patients and families in Palm Beach and Broward counties. Since its beginning, Hospice by the Sea has expanded its programs to meet the growing healthcare needs of the community.
November 2009 is National Hospice & Palliative Care Month, Family Caregiver Month, and Home Health Care Month. In alignment with these national observances, Hospice by the Sea provides an array of holistic programs designed to treat illness and nurture health through a blend of education and complementary, medical and supportive therapies. In the past year alone, Hospice by the Sea provided cared to nearly 5,000 individuals through one or more of the following programs: Hospice Care, Palliative Care, Home Health Care, Family Caregiver Support and Bereavement Care. Within the Hospice Care Program, interdisciplinary teams of physicians, nurses, nurse assistants, social workers, complementary therapy practitioners, spiritual counselors and volunteers provide individualized, end-of-life hospice care to terminally ill patients. In addition to skilled medical care, the Hospice Care Program focuses on the psychosocial and spiritual needs of patients and family members and provides Complimentary Therapies to significantly relieve anxiety, pain, and agitation. 90% of Hospice by the Seas patients receive care in the place they call home; the remaining 10% are cared for within Hospice by the Seas two inpatient care centers: Hospice by the Seas Care Center in Boca Raton and Memorial South Hospital in Hollywood. The services offered by Harbor Palliative Care are designed to manage the pain and other physical symptoms experienced by patients of any age and at any stage of a progressive illness. Harbor Palliative Care also focuses on psychosocial and spiritual needs, as well as the quality of life for patients and family members. Harbor Palliative Care is a facility-based, consultative program staffed by pain and symptom management specialists. Harbor Palliative Cares impact is evidenced by patient-reported pain ratings before and after palliative care interventions. Harbor Palliative Care is currently available within Memorial Regional Hospital, Memorial Regional Hospital South, and Whitehall Nursing Home in Boca Raton. FocusCare is a licensed, Medicare/Medicaid-certified home health agency, providing in-home skilled nursing care and emotional support for homebound patients. FocusCare offers a care management approach to home health care and specializes in services for patients with high-risk diagnoses. Through the Aloesea Caregiver Program, family caregivers gain knowledge, skills, care and support to better care for themselves and their loved ones. The Aloesea Caregiver Program includes three major components: The Sylvia Wolens Caregiver Education Program educates and supports family caregivers through printed materials and educational workshops highlighting the basic techniques of caring for a progressively ill individual at home. In addition, a free educational DVD entitled, “A Lifeline for Caregivers,” is available to those seeking information on caregiving techniques. Complementary Therapies offer a holistic approach to relieving stress and promoting the health and well being of family caregivers. Current therapy offerings include Reiki, Healing Touch, Yoga, Guided Imagery, Meditation and Drum Circle. Caregiver Comfort Circles bring family caregivers together to share experiences, gain new knowledge and create bonds. The primary goal of these support groups is to encourage self-care. The Bereavement Care Program offers families receiving hospice services up to 13 months of individual, group and family counseling after the loss of a loved one. Hospice by the Seas Bereavement Support Groups are open to anyone who has experienced a loss. In addition, children between the ages of 5 and 15 have the opportunity to attend Camp Good Grief, a unique weekend bereavement program specifically for children who have lost a loved one.
