For many the word “hospice” creates a picture of only the final days of life. But hospice is not about giving up. It is about making every day count by providing comfort, and a team of compassionate professionals who help patients live as fully as possible while supporting the people who love them.
When treatments no longer provide a cure or meaningful benefit, hospice focuses care on comfort, dignity, pain and symptom management, emotional support, and help each patient make the most of every day. Nurses, aides, social workers, chaplains, volunteers, and other therapists and specialists work together to care for patients and their loved ones.
Hospice helps families redefine hope around what matters most: meaningful time together, relief from pain, peace of mind, emotional support, and the chance to share stories, music, laughter, and love. By listening to each person’s priorities, hospice helps make those moments possible.
At NJHealth Hospice and Palliative Care, every care plan begins with the person—not just the diagnosis. Along with expert clinical support, our specialized services address physical comfort, emotional well-being, personal history, and the connections that give each day meaning.
Music therapy helps create those meaningful moments. Guided by each patient’s preferences and personal history, familiar songs can ease anxiety, lift mood, encourage communication, prompt cherished memories, and bring loved ones together. NJHealth is one of only a few hospice organizations that offer both music therapy and massage therapy. These two complementary therapies have proven to reduce pain, lessen anxiety, improve mood, and overall well-being.
“I feel that music therapy was exceptionally good for Mom and myself as well,” said Sandy Stroble about her experience with her mom Carole, who passed earlier this year. “Mom was almost like her old self again during music therapy sessions.”
NJHealth is also proud to offer its Five-Star Veteran Care Program, created to recognize the distinct experiences and needs of those who served our country. Team members receive training in military culture and veteran-centered care, and meaningful recognition can include personalized pinning ceremonies that honor each veteran’s service and story.
“I may have served in the military, but you people do one hell of a job serving others,” said patient Tom Meisner of Margate who served in the Navy and was recognized with a pinning ceremony.
Our team brings expert care to patients with a wide range of advanced illnesses. We have specialized experience in caring for people living with dementia and other neurological diagnoses, as well as cancer and cardiac disease. Because each condition can affect comfort, communication, mobility, symptoms, and family needs differently, our interdisciplinary professionals tailor care to the individual—managing pain and symptoms, supporting dignity and quality of life, and giving caregivers practical education, guidance, and reassurance throughout the journey.
Most importantly, NJHealth believes hospice care should never be one-size-fits-all. Each plan is shaped around the patient’s needs, preferences, goals, values, and life story. Our experienced and dedicated professionals bring specialized care to the bedside while helping families feel informed, supported, and never alone.
You do not have to wait for a crisis to ask about hospice. A conversation today can help your family understand the options, plan with confidence, and access support sooner. To learn more, visit www.njhealthteam.com or call 856-696-5340.
