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Community Corner

A Respite for Caregivers of the Chronically Ill

The Thomas Glasser Caregivers Center at Overlook Medical Center, the first of its kind in New Jersey, addresses the emotional needs, and more, of caregivers.

So often when a health issue strikes a family, the person who assumes the role of caretaker finds that it can be immensely stressful and altogether overwhelming.

This is precisely the situation that occurred with Claude E. Fusco, a retired Ernst & Young executive, who lost his wife Kathryn after a long battle with lung cancer in 2006. Under the weight of the physical and emotional strain Fusco subsequently suffered a stroke.

"Six months after she died I looked back and thought about how things were more difficult for the rest of us than I thought of and the impact it had on the family," Fusco, who has three children, said.

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Armed with the idea that a caregiver center would be beneficial for anyone going through a crisis as a caregiver, Fusco approached Overlook Medical Center with his idea for a center, and in doing so, referenced a similar center at a New York hospital as an example that it could be done.

"It did not take very much arm twisting to get them interested and bring it forward," Fusco said.

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Earlier this month, Overlook Medical Center opened its doors on the Thomas Glasser Caregivers Center, a place of respite and resource dedicated to caregivers of loved ones with extended hospital stays.

Reminiscent in appearance of a hotel suite, the center provides a quiet place to rest, reflect, and conduct private conversations; a resource library for caregivers; and a kitchenette for snacks and beverages and computer use, all free of charge. In addition, the center offers relaxation therapies, guided meditation, massage, and pet therapy; referrals for nutrition, exercise, wellness, and financial counseling; pastoral care; and support groups led by a licensed social worker.  

"We have made a commitment at Atlantic (Overlook's parent) to create a healing culture," said Alan Lieber, president of Overlook Medical Center.  "In creating a healing culture we are trying to look at all our patients' needs. It is important for us to not just provide technical medical care but to also meet spiritual and social needs. We have a big integrative medicine program so we are trying to incorporate alternative approaches to care."

The Caregiver's Center is not all that different in concept to Liam's Room, a palliative care pediatric room for terminally ill children that opened in 2009 at Overlook. "Liam's Room" is named after the son of Lisa and Peter McNamara of Westfield who died from a rare disease called Lissencephaly (Miller-Dieker Syndrome) in 2007. The room is equipped with all of the amenities a child's room might have at home, but also offers additional resources, such as desk where siblings can do homework, a sitting area with a pull-out couch and a microwave and a refrigerator. Staff also provide guidance to families throughout the emotional challenges of such situations.  

Palliative care is a collaborative approach to patient care. It relies on input from physicians, nurses, chaplains, social workers and psychologists, to relieve suffering in all areas of a patient's life. 

In some sense, the Caregiver Center is a Liam's Room for caregivers.

“The Caregivers Center provides a tranquil environment designed to help family caregivers effectively manage the stress and special needs associated with caring for a critically, chronically or terminally ill loved one during a hospital stay,” says Susan Thomas, R.N., B.S.N, manager of the Patient Experience and Volunteer Services.  “Once caregivers know we are here for them and have a center dedicated to their needs, they are extremely willing to let us help.” 

Thus far the response from caregivers has been overwhelmingly positive. Andy Severson, a native of Wisconsin, was in the Caregiver Center on Wednesday in support of his wife, a flight attendant who was diagnosed with an aneurism.

"I am teared out," Severson said. "From the time I came here I never felt so much compassion and understanding (from staff) in my life." 

Phoebe Pitarresi of New Providence has made use of the Caregiver Center for the past two weeks. Her husband was checked into the hospital for a shunt, but a few hours after the operation, doctors discovered that he had a blood clot and he later developed paralysis.

In addition to emotionals support, Pitarresi has utilized the massage services the center offers. "Between the hospital, the doctors, the nurses and the staff and the Caregiver Center lounge, it's a home run," Pitarresi said.

The Caregiver Center was made possible largely by a donation by Gerry Glasser, of Westfield, a current trustee of the Overlook Foundation and former Chairman of the Board, who pledged $700,000, the lead gift, to kick off the fundraising for the Caregivers Center on behalf of the Thomas Glasser Foundation.  The Thomas Glasser Foundation is named after Glasser’s son Tom, who died in the World Trade Center on 9/11. Tom is survived by his wife Meg, and their two sons, who live in Summit. 

Also contributing to the Caregivers Center was the Fusco family, the Glasser family, the Williams family, the Westfield Foundation, the Summit Area Public Foundation, Merck and the Overlook Auxiliary.  

Other leadership gifts came from Summit residents Trustee Chair Betsy Compton and her husband, Eric Grubman, and Michele and Don Weeden.  

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