Holy Name Press Releases

Sweeney, Weinberg Visit Villa Marie Claire Hospice and Palliative Care Facility in Saddle River, New Jersey

May 27, 2015

TRENTON – Senate President Steve Sweeney and Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg today toured an independent hospice and palliative services residential facility in Saddle River as part of an effort to learn more about the various end-of-life care services offered in New Jersey.

Holy Name Medical Center's Villa Marie Claire, Hospice and Palliative Services, is a free-standing independent hospice set on 26 acres in Saddle River. Its mission is to provide resources, tools, and holistic care for terminally ill individuals and their families. The Villa is led by specialized physicians, advanced practice nurses, counselors and social workers, ensuring access to integrated support therapy for both patients and caregivers. Villa Marie Claire is the region's only residential hospice that offers overnight accommodations and community living for family members.

"Many residents are faced with the hard decision of finding care for a terminally ill relative or for a loved one at the end of life," said Senate President Sweeney (D-Cumberland/Gloucester/Salem). "During these difficult times, it is critical that families and patients are provided the compassionate care and support they need. Seeing firsthand the care that is offered in this facility, which includes communal living and accommodations for residents' families, was encouraging. This kind of supportive care helps to make the transition to living at a hospice more comfortable and allows residents to live out their days with dignity and comfort."

"For many families of patients with life-threatening or terminal conditions, considering hospice care is often a scary and overwhelming thought," said Senator Weinberg (D-Bergen). "Times like these are tremendously challenging for families and call for a supportive environment and caretakers that are focused on the patient's quality of life. I was pleased to see the work that is being done at Villa Marie Claire, which provides not only holistic care for residents but also support for family members. This kind of environment is important for those seeking comfort and peace of mind as they approach the end of life."

"I am delighted that Senators Sweeney and Weinberg took the time from their busy schedules to see the value of the Villa's model for themselves. There continue to be many challenges for hospice care providers, notably that current hospice reimbursement mechanisms fall short of need and the concept of earlier admission to hospice is not routinely recognized. Villa Marie Claire hospice seeks to address both issues," said Michael Maron, President & CEO of Holy Name Medical Center. "We want to thank the senators for visiting our facility today. We are committed to working with them and the Legislature to expand and ensure sustainable access to hospice for patients and their families."



(From L to R: Senate President Sweeney, Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg, Michael Maron, Holy Name Medical Center President; Catherine Yaxley, Vice President of Planning and Government Affairs at Holy Name; Lauren Van Saders, Advanced Practice Nurse at Villa Marie Claire; Dr. Charles Vialotti, Medical Director of Villa Marie Claire.)