HEALTH SERVICES
Chesed Hospitality Rooms service sub room Health Services. When families of patients go to the hospital, there is often an overwhelming need for services which the hospital is not equipped to provide. Chesed 24/7 understands this and voluntarily steps in to fill these needs via our Chesed Hospitality Rooms. These Chesed Hospitality Rooms consist of a room or suite of rooms equipped with a refrigerator, kosher snacks, hot water and coffee, prepackaged meals, comfortable chairs or recliners, Jewish reading materials, tapes and other sources of inspiration, Shabbos food warmers and many other amenities observant individuals require. More importantly, it offers a quiet place where family members can sit, relax, and recover their emotions in a more private setting. Boost in a Bottle
service sub boost Health ServicesIf only the heart and soul could easily be squeezed into a bottle . . . . That is exactly what Chesed 24/7 is trying to do with the “Boost in a Bottle” program which distributes freshly squeezed pomegranate juice to seriously ill patients throughout the world. Pomegranates have long been recognized as a medicinal fruit, and its juice as a virtual powerhouse of nutrients. Pomegranate juice is known to have an anti-inflammatory effect and is also believed to protect the body from free-radical damage. The juice provides frail and severely weakened patients with a strong nutritional boost, which their battered immune systems sorely need. Many renowned oncologists have praised Chesed’s program and have even termed it a “blood-transfusion in a bottle.” With this in mind, Chesed 24/7 distributes thousands of bottles of pure, freshly-squeezed pomegranate juice to patients that are undergoing chemotherapy treatment or other severe treatments and need to regain their energy and blood levels. Meals
service sub meals Health ServicesChesed 24/7 delivers hot nutritious meals to hospitalized patients and their families. Family members caring for patients in the hospital may also request that meals be delivered to the other family members remaining at home in Rockland County. Chesed 24/7 is the only organization that delivers hot meals to hospitalized patients and their families on the Yomim Tovim. Non Jewish drivers are hired to pick up the specially wrapped and prepared hot meals and transport them to the patients in the hospitals so that they can have a simchas Yom Tov. By providing good nutrition and continuity of daily care, Chesed 24/7 hopes to keep the family situation stable during times of challenge. The family or the patient can recuperate without worrying about their family being well fed and taken care of. Chesed 24/7 will take care of them until everyone is home and/or able to prepare food themselves. Chesed 24/7 also runs a food preparation gemach for Digestive Wellness, a division of Chesed 24/7 dedicated to helping those with Crohn’s and other digestive illnesses. Under the dedicated eyes of Mrs. Weiss, special volunteers carefully prepare meals which are designed to alleviate the symptoms of these illnesses. Chesed’s volunteers also prepare special meals for other medical conditions that require dietary restrictions. For example, many seniors in our community have Type II diabetes and require a low or no sugar diet. Some, unfortunately, simply cannot prepare meals which take these limitations into consideration. Chesed 24/7 prepares meals for those who need sugar free, lactose free, low cholesterol, gluten free, and low salt meals. These meals are delivered to the patient and/or family member at home in Rockland County or to the patient and/or the family in the hospital. Shabbos in a Box
service sub shabbos Health ServicesSpending Shabbos in a hospital can at times be challenging. In an effort to bring a bit of extra joy and spirit to your Shabbos in the hospital, Chesed 24/7 presents many patients with a “Shabbos in a Box.” In this box, there is everything a patient would need to welcome in Shabbos: A tablecloth customized to fit the hospital tray, two electric candles which can be switched on to welcome Shabbos, a kiddush cup, a challah cover, Shabbos chocolates, and havdalah spices to welcome the week. In addition to the regularly stocked food, extra challahs, grape juice, and Shabbos meals are freely available in the Chesed Hospitality Rooms. Transportation
service sub transportation Health ServicesWhen illness strikes, a family’s whole world can be consumed by medical procedures, lengthy hospital stays and stressful shuttling between home and medical facilities. For those who don’t drive, just going to visit a sick relative will get quite expensive. If medical treatments are necessary in city hospitals, the transportation costs can be prohibitively expensive and may hinder recovery. For those that do drive, the stress of the trips and of the parking can also take its toll. Chesed 24/7’s Shuttle makes two trips daily from Rockland County into New York City, and is available to take riders free of charge to all major area hospitals. Upon request, family members can return with the shuttle after completing a hospital visit. Chesed 24/7 also teamed up with friends at Columbia and Cornell Hospitals to sponsor a daily shuttle that provides free transportation for patients as well as their family members from Rockland County. Chesed also provides free transportation for those who have special requests for transportation to local physicians and medical or rehabilitation facilities. Chesed’s special needs van, which is wheelchair accessible, is linked to a network of volunteer drivers and accommodates the traveling needs of those who have special requests for transportation to local physicians and medical or rehabilitation facilities. Requests for this service should be made as early as possible to ensure availability. We hear from members of the community that all of these transportation shuttles “make a difficult situation so much easier.”
Medicine Chests
service sub medicine Health ServicesIf your child was ever sick on Shabbos or late at night when the pharmacies are closed, then you will appreciate the magnitude of Chesed 24/7’s Medicine Chests. Chesed 24/7 has several medicine chests strategically placed in the homes of volunteers throughout Rockland County. These chests are stocked with Infant and Adult Tylenol, Benadryl, bandages, Pedialyte, Motrin, Sudafed, nebulizers and many other over-the-counter medications which can be dispensed when local pharmacies are closed. When members of the community need medication on Shabbos, Yom Tov or late at night, they can walk to their neighborhood Chesed Medicine Chest and receive the help they need to tide them over. The Medicine Chests are even updated for Pesach to supply kosher l’Pesach medications available as well. Dial-a-Smile
service sub dial smile Health ServicesMany talented, caring individuals have joined Chesed 24/7’s Dial-a-Smile volunteer program, which provides hospitalized and homebound patients with something to smile about. Volunteers perform skits, choirs, magic shows, and many other interesting feats to temporarily dispel the gloom in cheerless hospital rooms.
24-Hour Support Hotline
service sub 24 hour Health ServicesDifficulties do not always arise between the hours of 9 to 5. Chesed 24/7’s representatives are always available, regardless of day or night, for health-related issues that cannot wait for regular business hours. Hospital Visitations
service sub hospital visit Health ServicesChesed 24/7 arranges for volunteers to go sit with a hospitalized and/or homebound patient, to offer words of encouragement and cheer them up. This allows the family members to have a brief respite from their situation or the opportunity to attend to other family members at home while knowing that their loved one will be vigilantly cared for. When necessary, volunteers will even spend the night in the hospital, providing comfort for those in need. Lending Library
service sub library Health ServicesWhen people are confined to a hospital or are on bed rest for a lengthy period of time, they often need something to take their mind of their discomfort and help them pass the time quickly. The more people can be distracted from their illnesses and/or conditions, the quicker they can heal. In addition, often the families of the patients spend a large portion of their day in the hospital either waiting for surgeries or procedures to be finished, or sitting by the patient’s bedside while they rest. Providing kosher forms of entertainment to help distract and entertain both the patient and their families are one of the many services Chesed 24/7 currently provides. Chesed 24/7 has set up a special library, containing books for every age, pre-screened DVDs and DVD players that are available for those confined to long periods of immobility either in the hospital or at home free of charge, for as long as they may need it and will retrieve the items when they are no longer needed. Mother’s Milk Bank
service sub milk Health ServicesChesed 24/7 runs a Mother’s Milk Bank where breast-pumps are available to mothers, and expressed milk can be arranged for infants in need whose mothers cannot nurse due to special circumstances. This Milk Bank is meant to ensure that no child is denied the special nourishment of mother’s milk. Gift of Life
Chesed’s Gift of Life / Blood Donor Program takes this precept to heart and has a database of hundreds of pre-typed, pre-screened blood donors who can be contacted whenever needed.
