Pathways Community Hospice has joined more than 60 hospices nationwide in becoming accredited with the National Institute for Jewish Hospice (NIJH). This is the sixth year that Pathways Community Hospice has earned the NIJH Accreditation, making it one of four in Missouri.

The NIJH provides staff training and insight for treating Jewish patients who are terminally ill. It also gives access to resources and education about Jewish custom and practice that may arise while caring for a Jewish hospice patient.

Pathways Chaplain Deborah Harris recently attended the NIJH 28th Accreditation Conference in New Jersey. 

“The essence of Jewish hospice is to provide a caring community for our clients and their families as they go through this most difficult time,” said Harris in a news release. 

“The resources and continuing education offered by NIJH have helped to sensitize our interdisciplinary teams to the unique needs of Jewish patients and families. I am proud to say that the people at Pathways have opened their hearts to the teachings about Jewish end of life care,” Harris concluded.

The NIJH conference brought together people from hospices across the country in related fields, including rabbis, administrators, chaplains of all faiths, psychologists, nurses, bereavement counselors and social workers for an intensive day of sessions, presenting the best minds in the field to lecture and discuss all aspects of hospice and the Jewish terminally ill.

Pathways Community Hospice is owned and operated by Delmar Gardens Enterprises, Inc., which has eight skilled nursing facilities and five assisted and independent living communities in the St. Louis area.