Evelyn Bergman ran marathons until she was 66. She was very fit, said her husband, Bill. Evelyn was even bike training into her 70s. A headache, though, on a February evening two years ago, ultimately led to a trip to the operating room. After her surgery, Bill cared for Evelyn at home as best he could, but she never fully recovered and he eventually reached out to an old friend for advice.
“I called Alan about palliative care,” Bill recalled, referring to Alan Rosenberg, Executive Vice President of Redeemer Health Home Care and Hospice. The two gentlemen were old friends from way back. They had lunch and talked about options. Alan introduced Bill and Evelyn to Brenda Buzydlowski, DO, a palliative care specialist at Redeemer Health.
Dr. B, as Bill calls her, explained the difference between palliative care and hospice care, and by last September Evelyn had been admitted to at-home hospice. Six months later, she passed away in the care of people who made the experience easier to bear for both of them.
Bill and Evelyn were married in 1970, led active lives and successful careers. He was a chief inspector at the Philadelphia Police Department and chief of staff at Temple University. Evelyn was a 20-year ER nurse. As a result, they both knew what compassionate service and a culture of caring are all about, and they found it at Redeemer Health.
“Redeemer Health’s home hospice program made a difficult situation easier to handle,” Bill said. “Everyone has a compassionate spirit. The nurses, the chaplains, the social workers…they care about people. And Dr. B is fabulous.”
According to Sarah DiPadova, Director of Clinical Operations at Redeemer Health Home Care and Hospice, “Palliative care offers an additional level of education, support and care to patients and their families. Monitoring patients and managing symptoms can help prevent needless office visits and hospital admissions. But when the appropriate time comes, a palliative care team can offer the education and support necessary to make a timelier and smoother transition. The eventual hospice admission gives patients and their families more support when they need it.”
Bill acknowledged that one of the benefits of the advanced care Evelyn received at home was avoiding burdensome trips to doctors’ offices. They also found solace in Redeemer Health hospice care being available in both Pennsylvania and New Jersey, since Evelyn enjoyed spending time at the Bergmans’ beach house at the Jersey shore.
The advice Bill and Evelyn received from Alan, and the care managed by Dr. Buzydlowski, served the couple well. “Evelyn was comfortable, in the care of people who truly made a difference. Even after she passed, I found compassion and respect during phone calls with the Redeemer team.”
To learn more about palliative care and hospice care in the home, visit Redeemer Health’s website, and call 888-678-8678 to find out how you can access care for a loved one.
