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Let the healing begin with us.
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The Heart Behind Sawtelle Family Hospice House
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Sawtelle Family Hospice House
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When caring for a loved one at home gets to be too overwhelming, families in our area have a place to go where they can find help and hope. The Sawtelle Family Hospice House offers compassionate end of life care to patients and invaluable support to family members.
The Sawtelle Family Hospice House is a restored antique colonial home that sits on two private acres. There are 9 private bedrooms along with a kitchen, dining room, great room and four season sun room. |
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The gardens at Sawtelle Family Hospice House
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The beautifully landscaped lawn and gardens offer a peaceful respite for patients, families, and visitors alike. Families have been pleasantly surprised by how uplifting the building is. "When you walk in, it doesn't have a hospital feel", says Jim Frontero. "It feels like home." Olivia Sullivan, a hospice resident, adds,"You feel like you belong here. I've never seen so many smiling people all at once."
The Hospice House gives high level hospice care 24 hours a day. The caring staff not only offer knowledgable symptom and pain management, they also care for the emotional and spiritual needs of the patient as well.
A variety of team members work together to bring comfort to people facing the end of life. In addition to medical staff, there are social workers, chaplains, physical therapists and expressive therapists on hand to deal with patient and family needs.
An amazing 50% of the hours devoted to hospice care goes to family members. In a home setting, the family member is also the caregiver and tensions can run high.
At the Hospice House, the family member gets to be just that - a family member. They can come visit and enjoy spending time with their loved one and other family members.
Immediate family members have access to their loved one 24/7, although visiting hours for extended family and friends is 8 am - 8 pm. One family member can stay overnight right in the patient's room if they like. It is truly a more comfortable environment for everyone involved. |
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It doesn't have a hospital feel. It feels like home.
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David Agahigian is the administrator of The Sawtelle Family Hospice House. After 32 years of being a partner in a healthcare agency, this seemed to be a natural progression of his interests and experience. When asked how he keeps from being overwhelmed by a sometimes challenging job, Dave gives high praise to the dedicated staff. "The hospice nurses and aides are a special breed. Many came on board when the house opened and are still here because they are so good at what they do. They make my job easier because we work as a team with a common goal."
The Sawtelle Family Hospice House is very proud to have it's own music therapy program. Dave was a true skeptic when it came to music therapy. He brought the program on board as a trial but now he wonders how they ever got along without it. Music therapy involves a highly trained therapist that uses music to reach the patient and offer comfort and happiness. Sometimes the entire family gets involved and participates in picking music and singing along. Dave describes the satisfaction of seeing patients who have been unresponsive smile when the music starts. "It's an awesome sight!"
There are 37 dedicated volunteers on the Hospice House staff and Dave is proud to note he knows of no other local agency that has that many volunteers. Anyone can volunteer and go through the formal training program they have in place. A prospect must pass the program and do some further hands-on training sessions to be welcomed on board. Besides being companions to hospice house residents, volunteers can cook, do laundry, go shopping, make bereavement check-in calls and do light clerical duties. Suzie Yoffe is the volunteer coordinator and she would happy to talk to you about volunteering.
Please call her at (781)-224-3399 or email her at syoffe@vnaofme.org to get more information. Most insurances, including Medicare and Medicaid, pay for all hospice services at the Hospice House at a rate of 100%, except for room and board. This expense if paid for privately, although more insurance companies are starting to cover the cost.
The Hospice House is open to everyone who is facing a terminal illness regardless of their ability to pay. No one is ever denied based on financial need.
Since the Hospice House is a non-profit organization, they rely on fundraisers for some of their financial support. This fall will mark their 23rd Annual Gala Auction and will feature over 100 items up for bid. Items can include gift certificates, sports memorabilia, handmade items or even vacation getaways. If you would like to donate, please call Jennie Perkins at (339)-219-0011 or email her at jperkins@vnaofme.org Future plans for Sawtelle Family Hospice House are to maintain the beautiful residence at 320 Haverhill Street in Reading. The house can't expand because they are landlocked, but they have constant upkeep and renovation requirements. They service over 200 patients a year so there is a continual need to replace beds, furniture and fixtures at the facility to maintain their high standards.
If you would like more information about the Sawtelle Family Hospice House, or to arrange a tour, please contact David Agahigian, Administrator, at (781)-439-6123 or dagahigian@vnaofme.org. There is a helpful, informative video on their webpage at the VNA website. You can view it here: www.vnaofme.org/hospice-house. Dave said. "If hospice is being presented, you should accept the benefits sooner rather than later. Families miss out on the benefits by waiting too long."
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VNA of Middlesex East
is Close to Your Home
and Your Heart
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Most of us, by now, have heard of home health care, visiting nurses and hospice, and think we understand the services they provide. We think that nursing staff comes into our homes when we no longer require hospitalization but are still unable to totally care for ourselves, to do things like monitor our vital signs, take care of wounds after surgery, and help us with our medications. That about covers it, right?
The actual truth is that home health care and hospice agencies offer a much wider array of helpful services and programs than you might be aware of. The Visiting Nurses Association (VNA) of Middlesex East is the local umbrella provider of these services for our area and offers a variety of services designed to improve the health and lives of their patients with compassion and personal service.
Hospice Care
Hospice care is for people with a terminal illness that is no longer responding to a curative treatment. The focus is on providing comfort, care and support while helping patients and their families navigate the transition to the end of life. Hospice care can be provided either in your home or at an appropriate institutional location. One very special hospice home provided by the VNA of Middlesex East is the Sawtelle Family Hospice House.
The Pre-Hospice Bridge Program is designed to help families through the often difficult decisions required as they try to determine the best course of action during a time when nothing seems very clear cut. The hospice team is compromised of a group of clinicians who are specially trained to work with the patient and caregivers during this time and include medical personnel, therapists, dieticians, social workers and often inter-faith chaplains, all of whom are dedicated to improving the quality of remaining life with grace and dignity.
Support through the grieving process is also an important component of hospice care.
Many people are surprised to learn that after the death of a loved one, the hospice stays in contact with your family for 13 months. Families receive monthly mailings based on the amount of time since their loved one passed.
These mailings can generate calls that are referred to the Bereavement Program Coordinator. The coordinator can then recommend services or put the caller in touch with programs to keep them on the grief recovery path. Sometimes the caller may even be looking to reconnect with the social worker or nurse for closure because they also miss that relationship.
The VNA offers a bereavement support group for adults suffering a loss. You are able to share your sorrow without judgement, learn about the process of grief, and find hope to move forward. They also offer individual counseling to children and teenagers who have lost or are in the process of losing a parent or other important person in their lives. An expressive therapist can work with your child, using tools such as artwork, writing, music, collages and storytelling to help children work through their grief.
Medicare and Medicaid and other insurance companies reimburse for home care and Hospice services. If none of these options are available to the patient, the VNA of Middlesex East will not refuse care to anyone because they don't have the ability to pay. Besides medical professionals, family members, friends, or even the patient themselves can contact the VNA to request services. A nurse is available 24 hours a day/7 days a week at (800)-607-4299 to take your call and arrange for care.
Specialty Program
Christine Hawrylake, Community Relations Director, is especially proud of the Memory Care Program, an Alzheimer's caregiver program. It provides one-on-one support for loved ones who have the responsibility of caring for someone diagnosed with dementia. "I love writing educational materials for patients and families to help them take better care of their needs" This program is free of charge, and is offered as an extra level of service to patients that are already under the care of the VNA.Volunteering
The VNA of Middlesex East utilizes volunteers at the Sawtelle Family Hospice House, but many people don't realize that volunteers are also an invaluable part of their Hospice care in the home. Volunteers go through the same training program as those for the Hospice House and usually start out there. They then can travel to patients' homes if they like to give respite help for the caregiver.One of the present volunteers has been with the same patient for several months. He visits for one afternoon per week and stays with the patient while the patient's wife is able to leave the house for several hours. They play cards, watch tv, read and do crossword puzzles. Suzie Yoffe, Volunteer Coordinator, points out that it can be difficult at first for the family member to leave their loved one. "It takes a little time to build trust, but soon the patient's family trusts us to take little pieces of the load away so that they can be a family member again." Suzie can be reached at (781)-224-3399 or at syoffe@vnaofme.org to give you more information about volunteering. Future Events
Ready to forget about all of this cold weather and think spring? Then start dreaming of the VNA of Middlesex East's 16th Annual Golf Tournament. Every year since 2000, VNA has hosted a golf tournament to help raise fund for the many services they offer. Last year's tournament boasted a full field of golfers and raised over $30,000 for the home health care and hospice programs. This year's event will be held on June 8th at Andover Country Club and celebrates 16 years of 18 holes, barbecue, and an evening awards dinner. Online registration will be available soon at vnaofme.org.Please contact Jennie Perkins (781)-224-3399 ext. 2303 or at jperkins@vnaofme.org for more information.
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Winter Coat Drive Warms Hearts
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Gately Funeral Home couldn't be more pleased with the success of our 5th Annual Winter Coat Drive. The generosity of the community continues to amaze us year after year. "I am so happy that we started this project back in 2011. That first coat drive went so well that we knew we needed to make this an annual effort," says John Gately.  Several hundred gently-used and brand new coats were donated. "There were many coats that still had tags attached because people went out and bought coats to donate," adds John. The coats are taken to a health center near White Mountain in New Hampshire. There they are put out so people who are in need of a coat can just take one. It warms the Gately's hearts to see the community come together and give of their resources for such a worthy cause, and they plan to continue this tradition for years to come.
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Gately Funeral Home would like to congratulate John H. Gately on becoming a fully licensed funeral director. John completed his state board exams and attended his swearing-in ceremony in January of 2015. This completes a process started when he was 18 years old as an apprentice funeral director for his father, John W. Gately.
John began as an apprentice at Gately Funeral Home in 2007, the same year that he graduated from Melrose High School. After high school, John attended the University of New Hampshire and graduated in 2011 with a BS in History and minors in Political Science and Business. He then began his studies in the Funeral Science Program at The New England Institute of Applied Arts and Sciences at Mt. Ida College in Newton. Gately Funeral Home was opened for business by John Henry Gately in 1889 and was later known as John H. Gately and Son Funeral Home. Over the next several years, the family business passed from John H. to John Winfield Gately, and then to his son John Henry. After the death of John H. Gately in 1921, the name was changed to Gately Funeral Home. The present owner, John W., is extremely proud to have his son, John H., joining him as a licensed funeral director. "This is the first time since 1921 that we will be Gately and Son again", stated the elder Gately. "I am honored to have the business be in the family for five generations, upholding the traditions that have come before us."
The Gately men also have a great respect for the Gately women who became licensed funeral directors in order to continue the family business.
To become a licensed funeral director, John served as an apprentice for two years, attended a Funeral Science Program for two years, and then underwent a year of exams. The school had its own exams, then there were national exams to complete as well as state exams. The State Board of Massachusetts exam has two sections - science and jurisprudence. "I was blessed to have my father be a funeral director", admits John, "Sometimes the hardest part of our education is finding a a director that will accept us as an apprentice"
When asked what he is passionate about, John expresses a passion for family and friends. "When I'm not at work, you can find me with the people I care about." He works at keeping up his relationships, and he could easily be described as solid and dependable. John enjoys skiing and states that Wildcat Mountain in North Conway, New Hampshire could be his second home.
"I am extremely proud to be the fifth generation to participate in the Gately Funeral Home business", says John. "I look forward to serving this community and surrounding area with the same level of commitment people have come to expect from Gately Funeral Home."
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Frequently Asked Questions
"Why do I need to preplan a funeral for myself or my loved one?"
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Many of us are uncomfortable with the topic of funerals and death. We wish to spend as little time as possible thinking about these things. However, with a little planning and forward thinking, we can save ourselves much frustration and confusion about a funeral service or final wishes.
 It really is easy to sit down and have a conversation with a funeral director about preplanning. And that's all it has to be - a conversation. The funeral director will be able to guide you on an unfamiliar path. Not only will they be able to answer any questions you have, they have the experience and expertise to ask you the right questions. It can be so liberating for you to make these arrangements for yourself or for someone close to you. The best time to make your plans and talk about these issues is when you have ample time and are not dealing with grief. You can think clearly and not be under pressure to make quick decisions, and then wonder afterwards if they were the correct ones. If you take the time now to make your own arrangements, then your family won't be left wondering if they made the correct decisions, either.
Preplanning does not necessarily mean prepaying. You can make all the arrangements in advance and pay later, although many find it helpful to prepay. If you choose to pay now, there are options for paying that you probably aren't aware of. The funeral director can explain all of these options and you can choose the one that best works for you. Planning ahead can help you avoid the mistake of overpaying at a highly emotional time and it can help beat the rise of inflation.
Many of our loved ones will find it a relief to know that arrangements have been made in advance and they will not be responsible for making those decisions. In this way, they can grieve and support other family members without the added stress of making tough decisions they weren't prepared to make.
If you have questions about preplanning and would like more information, please contact Gately Funeral Home at
(781)-665-1949. We would be happy to make an appointment to discuss all preplanning options. You can also visit our website at www.gatelyfh.com and fill out an online form for more information.
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Since 1889 the firm of Gately Funeral Home has been dedicated to providing the people of Melrose and
surrounding communities funeral services unsurpassed in quality and caring. We thank you for your
continuing support. It is our honor to assist your families in times of need.
Let the healing begin with us.
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Copyright © 2015. All Rights Reserved.
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