VITAS Healthcare - Blue Bell

My dad went into hospice with colon cancer and was given three days to live. The caring staff at VITAS at Nazareth Hospital assured our family they would keep our dad comfortable and manage his pain and I must say they exceeded our expectations! The entire staff from the security staff, cafeteria staff, facilities staff, nurses, doctors, and caretakers were beyond professional and treated our dad with dignity and respect!! They cared for him as if he was their own relative! My heart is filled with joy that a complete staff could be so professional and carry out your loved one’s wishes in a way that heals you! I believe it’s because of this facilities visitors policies and amazing work ethic that three days turned into three weeks that we were blessed to have left with our father. They bathed him throughly, were very attentive to every need, and managed his pain with urgency. I will never forget this experience and just want anyone who has a loved one going into hospice that Nazareth Hospital on Roosevelt Boulevard is a great caring facility from top to bottom! Thank you to the staff for all you’ve done to make such a difficult time in our families lives as peaceful as possible. These are memories we will treasure forever!

It is difficult to put into words just how grateful our family is for the care my father, received during his final weeks at VITAS Hospice. My father battled cancer for what we believe was the last two years of his life. During that time, he experienced several hospitalizations, but none of those experiences compared to the compassion, dignity, and exceptional care he received at VITAS. From the moment he arrived until the day he passed, every interaction reflected genuine love and professionalism. I especially want to recognize Nurse Dolores. She cared for my father as though he were her own family. She treated him like a brother, a father, and a dear friend. My father was an incredibly proud man. He rarely admitted when he was hungry, uncomfortable, or in pain. Many people would have accepted his words at face value, but Dolores took the time to truly know him. She paid attention to his facial expressions, body language, and the subtle cues that revealed what he couldn’t bring himself to say. She advocated for him, comforted him, and preserved his dignity every step of the way. Because of her, my father felt seen, respected, and genuinely cared for. I also want to thank Nurse Dernaly, whose patience and kindness never wavered. During the last week of my father’s life, his pain became more severe, and understandably, he became much more irritable. Yet she continued to care for him with remarkable gentleness, grace, and compassion. She met him where he was every single day without judgment. The appreciation extends far beyond the nursing staff. Your front desk team welcomed our family with warmth and kindness every time we entered the building. They learned our names, greeted us with genuine smiles, and became part of our journey. When my father passed away, it was evident that they were grieving with us. That speaks volumes about the culture at VITAS and the relationships your staff builds with the families you serve. Although my father technically should have been discharged much earlier, your facility continued to care for him while delays occurred with his rehabilitation placement. Rather than making us feel like a burden, your team continued to provide personalized, compassionate care that focused on his unique needs. That extra time became an incredible gift to our family. Watching someone you love die is one of life’s greatest heartbreaks. Yet because of the people at VITAS, we were able to witness our father spend his final days surrounded by people who loved him, respected him, and cared for him with excellence. As difficult as those days were, they also brought us tremendous peace because we knew he was exactly where he needed to be. On behalf of our entire family, thank you for loving our Father so well. Thank you for preserving his dignity, easing his suffering, and caring not only for him but for all of us. We will never forget the compassion we experienced within your walls. Thank you will never feel like enough, but it comes from the deepest place in our hearts.

I was apprehensive about using the Holme avenue inpatient facility because of some negative reviews I had seen. My fears were groundless. My 98 year mother in law was there 5 days and received the best possible care. The doctor, the priest who prayed with us and gave her the last rites. The nurses, the aides and volunteer staff . All excellent. Special shout out to Dolores, a warm and terrific nurse. It reduced the stress of this most difficult experience to see a woman I loved and knew for 51 years get the care she deserved. I was and am very grateful they are there.