Criteria for Admission to Christa House

Christa House is a private home for the terminally ill who can be safely cared for in and by this private residence. We exercise a preferential option for the poor (which can be recognized as financial and/or psychosocial poverty) and for those who are dying of AIDS.

• The dying person is a Medicaid recipient
  
• The dying person has no medical insurance
  
• The dying person is homeless
  
• The dying person has a very low income
  

• There is no one willing or able to assume responsibility for 24 hour care
• The dying person has been disowned by family
• There has been physical or emotional neglect or abuse
• There is a dangerous housing situation

Marks of Terminal Illness

A potential resident of Christa House must meet hospice criteria. This means that the hospice's employed medical professionals estimate the dying person's life expectancy to be 6 months or less. Christa House is not a solution to the housing problems of HIV+ persons, or others, unless their life expectancy falls within our guidelines.

To Make a Referral to Christa House Call 631-376-0114 x238


CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH WE CAN AND CANNOT SAFELY CARE FOR THE DYING POOR IN CHRISTA HOUSE

All of the conditions that can be met in any private home can be met in Christa House. Anything that could not or should not be done in a private home with non-professional caregivers cannot be done in Christa House.

We Can:

• bring a resident to the hospital or to a doctor's office for visits, for dialysis, for radiation treatments, for dental work, etc. in Nassau and Suffolk Counties.
• provide nutritious food and snacks, laundry service, companion-ship, housekeeping, etc.


• give injections, give ordinary wound care, monitor blood sugar and change bandages.


• offer medications and monitor their side effects.


• call hospices agencies in an emergency.


• urge case manager to advocate for a resident.


• give personal care and skin care.


• give bolus G-tube feedings.


• offer spiritual and psychological support to residents and their significant others.


• assist significant others in planning final arrangements

• monitor continuous IV's or parenteral nutrition.
• accept psychotic residents.
• accept active drug and alcohol abusers.
• accept persons in active detox; e.g., from methadone, alcohol, cocaine, etc.
• monitor continuous G-tube feedings.
• accept anyone with an NG tube.
• accept anyone with active pulmonary TB.
• accept or support residents who disrupt the peace, safety and dignity of other members of the community.