Sholom Community Alliance’s Medicare Certified Johnson Hospice Care Agency (JHCA), fulfils a crucial need in the Twin Cities community. JHCA combines ancient traditions with modern tools, and offers care to terminally ill clients - with specialized services for Jewish clients and families. While this hospice serves the entire community, it functions as a Jewish Hospice for the Jewish patients and families it serves.

Hospice offers terminally ill individuals an alternative to aggressive curative treatments, with care focused on the person, not the disease. Hospice empowers individuals to live with dignity and to live life to it fullest.

Hospice care is directed by the patient’s primary care physician and provided by specially trained professionals, clergy and volunteers through a unique interdisciplinary team approach with the patient and family as the center of care. Patients can choose to remain at home – or wherever appropriate cares can be provided. The Johnson Center on the Rossy and Richard Shaller Family Sholom East Campus offers private suites designed specifically for hospice patients.

The Agency’s medical director is Dr. Barry Baines and Rabbi Shalom Reznik-Bell serves as chaplain. To learn more about the Johnson Hospice Care Agency, call 651-328-2091 or visit our website.

 

Johnson Hospice Care Agency Mission: We are committed to providing comprehensive and compassionate physical, emotional and spiritual care to individuals and their families who are approaching the end of life. Johnson Hospice Care Agency provides care that reflects Jewish values of loving kindness, human dignity and community.

Answers to your questions

What is hospice?

Hospice is a philosophy of care that utilizes professionals and volunteers to address the physical, spiritual, financial, emotional and intellectual needs of the terminally ill patient and his/her family.

Who is a candidate for Hospice Services?

Someone who:

• Has a life limiting illness
• Chooses comfort care that manages symptoms rather than aggressive treatment focused on a cure
• Requests Hospice Services

How do I sign up for hospice?

Referrals can be made by patients, families, physicians or care givers. Please call  651-328-2091 and we will help you through the referral process.

Who pays for hospice?

Please call us and we will help you through the referral process. Hospice is paid for by Medicare, Medicaid and private insurances and may also be private pay.

Can I stay at home?

Yes, wherever you are most comfortable and where appropriate cares can be provided. Our goal would be to fulfill your personal wishes. Hospice will work with you to address your unique situation and ensure your well being and safety.

Do you provide spiritual support?

Hospice care is open to everyone, regardless of religious preference or spiritual beliefs. We have a Rabbi/chaplain on staff to provide spiritual support. We also work with the Twin Cities Jewish Healing Program.

Will hospice care will be available 24 hours a day?

Hospice staff member are not in your home 24 hours a day but a registered nurse is on call 24 hours a day and is available to answer any questions. Visits by hospice staff and volunteers are made per the patient’s individualized plan of care and on an “as needed” basis.

Hospice is not just for people with cancer

Individuals with many other diagnoses may benefit from Hospice, including;

• Heart, renal or liver disease
• Stroke
• Dementia/Alzheimer’s
• Coma
• HIV
• ALS

Signs that Hospice may be appropriate

• Continued decline in health status despite various treatments
• Experiences pain on a daily or almost daily basis
• Repeated multiple infections
• Experienced unintentional weight loss
• Stopped or contemplated stopping dialysis for kidney disease or chemotherapy/radiation for cancer treatment
• Changes in functional status in the past six months – e.g. dressing, bathing, getting out of bed, walking, eating and toileting
• Shortness of breath even while resting
• Difficulty swallowing

• For more information of hospice, call 651-328-2091