TAVARES—Cornerstone Hospice and Palliative Care has joined more than 60 hospices nationwide in becoming accredited with the National Institute For Jewish Hospice (NIJH).

The accreditation links Cornerstone Hospice with NIJH which provides staff training, insights on treating Jewish patients who are terminally ill, and access to resources and education about Jewish custom and practice that may arise while caring for a hospice patient who is Jewish.

The accreditation was earned after Cornerstone’s spiritual manager, Rich Behers, attended the NIJH 28th Accreditation Conference in New Jersey this month.

“The training and resources now available through NIJH enables Cornerstone’s interdisciplinary teams to provide specialized care to patients of the Jewish faith who are at the end of their life,” said Behers. “We can now offer appropriate emotional and spiritual support to our patients and their families as they go through this most difficult journey.”

The NIJH conference brought together people from hospices across the country in related fields, including rabbis, administrators, chaplains of all faiths, psychologists, nurses, bereavement counselor 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.

“We congratulate Cornerstone Hospice for earning this important accreditation,” said Rabbi Maurice Lamm, founder and president of NIJH. “Cornerstone is now part of a database of accredited Florida hospices that NIJH will refer patients, families and rabbis to when they seek the best care for the Jewish terminally ill.”

NIJH was established in 1985 to help alleviate suffering in serious and terminal illness. Its 52,000 members are comprised of business and professional leaders, and a consortium of endowing foundations. NIJH serves as a resource and educational center for hospices, hospitals, family service, medical organizations and all health-care agencies, educating them to the issues and challenges of serving the Jewish terminally ill.

For more information, to donate, or to volunteer, call 888-728-6234 or visit http://www.cornerstonehospice.org.