Scotch Plains, New Jersey May 2, 2019 (Issuewire.com) - Hospice Patients May Request Special Meals for Themselves and Their Families that Evoke Happy Memories and Create New Ones for Those with Life-Limiting Illnesses
At the Center for Hospice & Palliative Care, a terminal illness or diagnosis for hospice care does not mean the end of sampling life’s pleasures, nor forgetting happy memories of delicious meals around the family table. With that in mind, Jean Doyle, RN came up with the idea for Memory Meals—specially prepared meals that help Center for Hope patients reminisce on happy moments and days, and provide gustatory pleasure.
“The desire to enjoy favorite foods from their youth, or that remind them of significant moments in their lives, is often expressed by our patients,” said Doyle, manager of the non-profit’s Elizabeth residence. “I’m delighted that our food service team has answered the call for these foods with such enthusiasm, skill and real love for what they’re doing and who they are serving.”
The Center for Hope has two residential facilities, in Scotch Plains and Elizabeth, where patients may enjoy a Memory Meal themselves or share with loved ones. Recent Memory Meals include traditional Greek food that one patient grew up with and made for her family, who joined her for dinner. Another was a full lobster dinner for a man who had never tried lobster before but always wanted to. The story about Memory Meals is on page one of the Center’s spring newsletter at http://www.cfhh.org/hope-matters-newsletter.html.
The cooks behind Memory Meals are enjoying the program as much as the patients. At the Center for Hope in Elizabeth, where the program was piloted, the cook is also Greek, and the request for an authentic homestyle meal connected her personally to the patient through their shared heritage. At the Center’s Scotch Plains residents, the food service manager said how privileged he and his team felt to be able to make such a positive impact on a patient through their cooking skills.
Nancy Rager, RN, the administrator in Scotch Plains, said that Memory Meals are providing a wonderful way to enhance the hospice experience for both patients and their families. “Hospice is all about providing comfort care that enables our patients to enjoy quality time, without pain and with dignity,” said Rager. “This program helps us create wonderful memories for patients and their families and bring joy to them during a difficult period.”
The Center also provides hospice care for terminally ill patients where they reside in Union County and surrounding areas. For more information about the Center’s hospice and palliative care services or the Memory Meal program, visit www.cfhh.org or call (908) 889-7780.
About Center for Hope Hospice & Palliative Care, Inc.
Center for Hope Hospice & Palliative Care (Center for Hope) is a non-profit, community-based organization that provides terminally ill patients with hospice care, and their families or loved ones with physical, emotional, and spiritual support during their time of need. The Center actively supports the individual's right to live out the remainder of their life with dignity and in comfort, surrounded by the love of family and friends, and eased from the burdens of physical, emotional, spiritual, financial or social distress. Center for Hope welcomes all terminally ill patients, their families and loved ones without concern for race, ethnicity, religious affiliation or ability to pay. It also offers pain and symptom management for chronically ill and seriously ill patients through its palliative care program. Center for Hope operates two facilities in Scotch Plains and Elizabeth; the latter provides nearly $3.5 million a year in charity care. For more information, visit www.cfhh.org.
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