Bridges Comes to Pitman

What’s Your End-of-Life Plan?

Death in the American mind is something in the very distant future. Despite the fact that about half of adults say they have a friend or relative who has had a terminal illness or who has been in a coma within the last five years, only 30 percent have conversations with loved ones about their end-of-life wishes.

As a leading assisted living and nursing community in Gloucester County, United Methodist Communities at Pitman now offers another supportive option to people who cannot or prefer neither to receive hospice at home nor in the hospital. The newly-established Bridges at Pitman assists people to live out their last days with dignity and comfort.

Bridges has seven new hospice-dedicated studio apartments located in a private assisted living neighborhood. The environment has been designed for individuals facing terminal illness that no longer responds to curative treatment. Welcoming gathering spaces for families and friends and meaningful amenities such as customized dining, Wi-Fi, salon, gym, bistro, and elegant furnishings, enhance comfort.

A skilled, compassionate, multi-disciplinary team of healthcare professionals focus on bringing much-needed care and support to Bridges’ residents, as well as to their loved ones. The expertise of the hospice team includes advanced, traditional and alternative therapies; 24-hour nursing oversight; medication management; certified caregivers; emotional and spiritual support; personal services; and palliative care for symptom management and pain control.

Pitman Executive Director, James Scalese, reflects, “We are very pleased to announce the inclusion of a hospice-dedicated program within our assisted living community. The apartments are designed to provide end-of-life care in a warm and supportive non-institutional environment.”