Care Services

Care Services in the Greater Pittsburgh Area

Since our founding in 1900, the mission at St. Barnabas Health System has been to provide individual and institutional services that support the health, education, and social needs of others. Our care services for older adults are an important component to achieving that goal. 

Serving the greater Pittsburgh area, including Allegheny, Beaver, and Butler counties, our compassionate team is here to enhance your quality of life through numerous options for care, which range from minimal in-home assistance with daily activities to end-of-life care.

A rehabilitation specialist works with a patient

Hospice Care

Hospice care at St. Barnabas is set apart by our dedicated team. Our team consists of attending physicians, nurses, aides, social workers, bereavement counselors, spiritual coordinators, and volunteers. Led by our medical director, the team collaborates to keep loved ones as comfortable as possible while involving patients and families in every decision. We are known for our strong internal communication that keeps all on-call nurses and other personnel updated with the latest information on each family member, while our team also works to keep loved ones current about the patient’s condition. What’s more, hospice care is available in the patient’s home, but if the need arises, they can be transferred to a more advanced medical center.

Our hospice services include 24/7 on-call nursing for changes in patients’ conditions and provide the following and more:

  • Physician services
  • Nursing and respite care
  • Pain and symptom management
  • Medication administration
  • Medical supply and equipment assistance
  • Nutritional, spiritual, and bereavement counseling
  • Hospice aid and homemaker services
  • Social worker and volunteer services
  • Physical, occupational, and speech therapy when appropriate

Not sure if hospice care is right for you or your loved one? St. Barnabas debunks some common misconceptions here:

Myth: Hospice Means Giving Up Hope.

Fact: Hospice means care that promotes quality of life and comfort, with research showing that many live longer with hospice care than without. Some patients even show improvement and can be discharged. While preparing a plan of care, St. Barnabas encourages hope should the illness be incurable.

Myth: Hospice Is Only For Cancer Patients.

Fact: Hospice is for anyone who has a life-limiting illness.

Myth: Hospice Means Someone Only Has Days Or Weeks To Live.

Fact: Hospice is intended for patients with a prognosis of six months or less to live, assuming the illness runs its normal course. Fortunately, many live beyond this six-month period with hospice care, though it does not hasten or prolong death. The earlier patients elect for hospice care, the more benefits they and their loved ones will receive.

Myth: Hospice Is Where You Go To Die.

Fact: Hospice is not a physical location but a service. Our hospice care commonly takes place at the following:

  • The patient’s own home
  • A skilled medical center
  • A living assistance community
  • At a hospital, if the need arises

Myth: Hospice Means Stopping All Treatments.

Fact: Treatment continues with hospice care, with the focus shifting from curative treatment to modalities that promote quality of life, including pain and symptom management via pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions.

Myth: Once You Elect Hospice, There Is No Turning Back.

Fact: Patients can decide to revoke hospice at any time should they decide to pursue curative treatment again. Patients can also re-elect hospice at a later time.

Home Care

Whether a patient calls their house, apartment, or a living assistance community home, this home care option enables them to receive the following services in a comfortable, familiar environment:

  • Disease management and teaching
  • Glucose monitoring and diabetic education
  • Infusion therapy
  • Medication management and teaching
  • Administration of injections and education
  • Wound care and wound vac therapy
  • Ostomy care and teaching
  • Tube feedings and instruction/education
  • Catheter care
  • Pain management
  • Post-surgical care
  • Laboratory testing
  • Physical, occupational, and speech therapy
  • Medical social services
  • Home health aides
  • The transition to memory, respite, or hospice care when necessary

Home care services from St. Barnabas are administered by skilled registered nurses who plan and direct care under the guidance of the patient’s physician. We also work closely with insurance companies to arrange payment for home care services. For more information, call our home care team at 724-444-5502.

Memory Care

Memory care and caring for patients with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia, these services are rooted in a person-focused approach and utilize therapeutic programs, one-on-one activities, and more to encourage engagement. Security is also top of mind, which is why St. Barnabas utilizes a modern alert system to prevent unsupervised, potentially harmful actions.

Looking for resources and an understanding environment? Learn more about the dementia support groups at St. Barnabas.

Respite Care

When caretakers need a shoulder to lean on, we are there to provide trusted respite care services at the following St. Barnabas living assistance communities:

These communities offer attractive respite care amenities, including luxurious accommodations, three delicious and nutritious meals per day, and more.

Place Your Trust In St. Barnabas

When you or a loved one requires care services, turn to St. Barnabas Health System. For more information, contact us today and ask about how we serve active adults throughout Allegheny, Beaver, and Butler counties.

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