Advance Directives, Hospice & Support

Doylestown Health Hospice has been serving patients and families in Doylestown and the surrounding communities for more than 35 years. Our goal is to enable those in hospice care to live as fully and comfortably as possible, wherever they choose to call home.

Our multidisciplinary hospice team includes physicians, nurses, home health aides, social workers, chaplains, volunteers, counselors and more, working together to care for you and your loved ones. Assistance with psychosocial, spiritual, caregiver and bereavement support is also available.

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Advance healthcare directives are spoken or written plans and information that you make about your choices for medical care. Planning and writing your advance directive lets you control your healthcare at a time when you may not be able to make your wishes known, and informs healthcare providers and loved ones of the treatment decisions you have made.

In the state of Pennsylvania, there are two types of advance healthcare directives:

• Living Wills
• Healthcare Powers of Attorney

Ask about and discuss the ethics of your care with your healthcare provider, including resolving any conflicts that might arise such as, deciding against, withholding, or withdrawing life-sustaining care.

It's best to provide a copy of your advance directive, living will, durable power of attorney for healthcare, and any organ or tissue donation permissions to the health care professionals taking care of you.

Resources

Get started planning your healthcare wishes with these helpful resources:

• Your Guide to Advance Healthcare Decisions
• Advance Directive

Being a caregiver for a family member or loved one can be both challenging and rewarding. Doylestown Health Hospice provides support for the entire family including caregivers through support groups, counseling, respite volunteers and more. We are also there to help you through practical matters like insurance paperwork and finding community resources.

We want you to enjoy precious moments with your loved one while you can. If you have questions about the condition of your loved one, a nurse is on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to help you understand what to watch for or expect.

If you would like more information about caregiver support, please contact us.

Bereavement support is an integral part of the care offered by Doylestown Health Hospice. We provide continuing contact and personal support for families and friends for up to one year following the death of a loved one.

Our support groups and educational programs provide an opportunity for individuals living with loss to share their experiences. We believe that participants are the true teachers for one another. Hospice staff facilitates all groups and attends all Hospice-sponsored programs. While serving and supporting Hospice families is our priority, our programs are open to the broader community as well.

Bereavement support groups are also provided on an ongoing basis to help individuals and families during their time of grief. If you or a loved one live outside of the area, we can assist in locating resources closer to home.

For more information or resources, please call our office at 215.345.2079.

Bereavement support is an essential part of the care we offer. Support is available to family members and loved ones for 13 months following the death of a loved one. For support on your journey of living with loss or for more information on support groups, educational offerings and community resources, please call our office at 215.345.2079.

Support groups and educational programs provide an opportunity for individuals living with loss to share their experiences. We believe that participants are the true teachers for one another. Hospice staff facilitates all groups and attends all Hospice-sponsored programs.

Being sick and in the hospital is difficult, for patients and for families. Pastoral Care is here to help by providing emotional and spiritual support, and an open, listening ear. Experienced, well-trained chaplains are available to provide spiritual care to patients and their families during their hospital stay. All spiritual services are offered with respect and acceptance of individual religious or spiritual practices. People heal better when they feel heard and seen.

Chaplain services are available 24 hours a day. Trained chaplains are in the hospital Monday through Friday from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, and are on-call at other times for emergencies. Rabbis, Catholic Priests, Protestant Ministers and clergy of other faiths can be contacted upon request.

If you could use extra support, please contact us. Perhaps you are struggling with decision-making, processing a new diagnosis, or making the transition to comfort care: in all of these situations and more, a listening ear and non-judgmental caring presence can make a difference. To contact Pastoral Care, you can call extension 2269 if you are within the hospital, ask your nurse to contact Pastoral Care, or call the Operator. You can also reach Pastoral Care from outside the hospital at 215.345.2269.

The Mary and Gerald Santucci Chapel is located in Doylestown Hospital and offers a safe space of sanctuary for prayer, meditation or quiet reflection for all people: patients, family members and staff. There are a variety of spiritual books and prayers available for your use in the bookcase. The Chapel is also used for hospital community-wide worship services to mark Thanksgiving, Chanukah, Christmas and Good Friday, as well as upon request for departments mourning the loss of a co-worker.