Just as you have agency in your routine medical care, the same is true when faced with a diagnosis of a life limiting illness. While some choose to pursue treatment, others decide to seek hospice care. Neither option is right or wrong—the choice is fully dependent on the patient and their wishes.
Once you’ve made the decision to pursue hospice care, you have the right to choose your hospice provider and physician. After selecting your care team, it is beneficial to begin receiving services as soon as possible so we can form a strong relationship. Building supportive relationships with our patients and their families is pivotal to offering the best possible care and support during this phase of life.
Our services span multiple disciplines, with specialists available to visit you throughout the week. Expert hospice nurses help you to manage your pain and administer treatments that ensure your comfort. They also educate you and your loved ones about your medications, medical equipment, safety measures, etc. and collaborate with your other caregivers. Home Health Aides provide personal care and light homemaking services such as changing linens or preparing a small meal. Social work services are available to offer support, planning, and coordination of care. We can also provide spiritual support through the JAA’s Rabbi Dovid Small and Pastor Mark Snavely, who can offer guidance, conversation, and fellowship.
Sivitz Hospice has an active volunteer program of compassionate individuals who are skilled in aromatherapy, Reiki, hand massage, music therapy, and who can provide a comforting presence, among other offerings.
Rabbi Small, Sivitz Hospice’s Bereavement Coordinator, also extends bereavement support to families coping with the loss of a loved one. This personalized assistance is specifically designed to address the individual needs of each family during their grieving journey.
Hospice is not a place, but a way of caring for people with a life limiting illness. At Sivitz Hospice, our goal is to ensure that you have a high quality of life while providing comfort for both you and your loved ones.
We welcome you to contact our Hospice Director, Stacey Tabanli at the Sivitz office 412-422-5700. Or for more information you can view our website at: https://www.jaapgh.org/sivitz-hospice-palliative-care/
-Stacey Tabanli, RN, CHPN
Director of Professional Services, Sivitz Hospice & Palliative Care