Empath Health and Mease Manor Retirement Community Form Care Partnership

Clearwater  (June 10, 2015) – Empath Health and Mease Manor Retirement Community in Dunedin have come together to form a specialized partnership that broadens care for Mease Manor’s residents facing chronic and advanced illnesses. The partnership is designed as an interweaving of supportive health services that can enhance the quality of life of Mease Manor’s residents and their families. Services include palliative care consults and, in some cases, accommodate residents earlier who need and want hospice care.

The two non-profit organizations share similar missions, dedicated to providing exceptional care with compassion.  While Empath Health member Suncoast Hospice already provides hospice care for residents at Mease Manor facilities, new palliative care consult services will provide an extra layer of medical expertise and support for the relief of pain, symptoms and stress of serious illness.

Palliative care helps patients attain physical comfort as well as emotional and spiritual well-being.  The palliative care teams’ goals are to make patients as comfortable as possible, enhance their quality of life and support patients’ families.   Emphasis is on resolving pain and other symptoms, coordinating care and treatment with other physicians as well as treating emotional and spiritual concerns and nutritional problems.

Jack Norton, executive director of Mease Manor Retirement Communities said, “We believe our new specialized partnership with Empath Health will surround our residents and their families in an atmosphere of care and support entirely focused on their needs and choices and keep them in control of their lives.”

Noting the unmistakable synergy of Empath Health and its community care partners, Rafael Sciullo, president and CEO of Empath Health, said, “We are blending the expertise and compassionate hearts of our care teams knowing that together they will be dedicated to meeting the needs of our mutual patients and their families.  If we can ease the journey and bring comfort to those we serve, then we will have accomplished our goals.”

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About Empath Health: Empath Health is a non-profit integrated network of care that provides expert, life-changing health care to those with chronic and advanced illnesses. Empath Health includes hospice, palliative home health and physician services, independent living assistance and day care for seniors, HIV services and advance care planning. Contact Empath Health at 727-467-7423 or empathhealth.org.

About Mease Manor:  Mease Manor is a not-for profit Continuing Care Retirement Community offering vibrant lifestyle levels:  Independent Living, Assisted Living and Long Term Care and Short-Term Rehabilitation.  Mease Manor has provided quality care and services to Dunedin and surrounding community for 50 years.  For more information, call 727-738-3000 or visit our website at measemanor.com.