CT Hospice Launches Specialized Dementia Care Program

BRANFORD, CT — The Connecticut Hospice has begun a program it says meets the special needs and care of persons who are in the late stages of dementia.

Called Magnolia Care, the "unique program" promotes personal-centered care aimed at providing dignity, comfort, and safety at the end of life.

The Connecticut Hospice has "developed the highest in professional skills for end-of-life care management," a news release on the program reads.

“We have been working on a program to help with this care, and we are very proud to introduce Magnolia Care, which will increase the services and support to patients and families with Alzheimer’s disease, and other cognitive failure,” CT Hospice COO Betty Brennan, RN, explained.

Over time, America’s first hospice progressed from its original beginnings—providing care for cancer patients and their families—to serving all patients, regardless of diagnosis. One of the conditions that has seen a huge increase in incidence is dementia, in part because other diseases can be cured or controlled, leaving more people to suffer from mental decline at the end of life. This can be particularly hard on families, who are often grieving the loss of the person they knew, while that loved one is still alive.

Magnolia Care takes a comprehensive approach that incorporates all the members of the hospice team, including nurses, social workers, chaplains, nurse aides, art and music therapists, and volunteers, in a plan of care that addresses the unique needs of each patient. All team members have successfully completed a certification class focused on person-centered dementia care and non-pharmacological interventions.

For information on Magnolia Care and all other care services available, visit www.hospice.com, or call 203-315-7500.

The Connecticut Hospice, a 501(c)(3) not for profit, was established in 1974 as the result of America’s hospice movement. Today, it continues to set the national standard for home and inpatient hospice care by providing hospice care in patients’ homes, skilled nursing facilities, long-term care facilities, area hospitals, and in-patient at its hospice hospital in Branford.