Pediatric Long Term Care

Learn more about the CSH Long Term Care Outbreak Plans:

Our Pediatric Long Term Care Commitment

The Pediatric Long Term Care (LTC) and Respite Care services at Children's Specialized Hospital provide exceptional care for children with complex medical conditions. Our two LTC centers in northern and central New Jersey are home to many medically fragile children whose families' current circumstances no longer allow them to be cared for in the home or other community setting.

Our commitment to Patient and Family Centered Care sets us apart from other Pediatric Long Term Care Centers by ensuring that your goals for your child are heard and incorporated into their medical and therapeutic care plan. Our team of medical, respiratory, and therapeutic health care professionals develop each child’s unique care plan by partnering with your family to best meet the medical and emotional needs of your child.

The Children We Care For

Children's Specialized Hospital LTC provides dignified and tender loving care for children and adolescents with long-term medical needs. Our warm and welcoming atmosphere combines specialized therapeutic medical and nursing care with a diverse array of activities designed to maintain each child's abilities and encourage their maximum potential.

We provide care 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, at our LTC centers in Mountainside and Toms River for children with:

  • Critical airways (e.g., tracheostomy)
  • Mechanical ventilator dependency (Mountainside LTC only)
  • Complex seizure disorders
  • Neuromuscular diseases
  • Chromosomal disorders
  • Complications of prematurity
  • Neurological impairments
  • Craniofacial anomalies
  • Complications from microcephaly
  • Terminal illnesses
  • Degenerative disease processes
  • Traumatic brain injury
  • Failure to thrive (e.g., short gut)
  • Orthopedic anomalies and conditions
  • Other long-term care needs

Respite Care Services

The number of children living with medical complexity within the community has significantly risen over the past several years. These children often require around-the-clock medical and nursing care by trained professionals and the care their families provide. When the nursing needs are unmet, the families become the sole responsible party for the round-the-clock care. This level of care can be exhausting and stressful, especially when there is no respite for the family.

Respite care is a specialized type of care that allows families a temporary reprieve or break from the care responsibilities being carried out within the home. This reprieve allows families to focus on their own physical and emotional needs while being assured their children receive the same level of care required to maintain their health.

At Children’s Specialized Hospital Long Term Care facilities, we provide respite care for children with all levels of medical complexity. We have a full team of care providers (medical, nursing, respiratory and therapy) who ensure the child's well-being throughout the respite admission. The child is integrated into the unit and receives all necessary services and treatment. We collaborate with the child’s family, primary caregivers and medical teams to ensure the temporary transition of care is smooth and thorough.

Respite care is a specialized type of care that allows families a temporary reprieve or break from the care responsibilities being carried out within the home. This reprieve allows families to focus on their own physical and emotional needs while being assured their children are receiving the same level of care required to maintain their health.

To benefit from this program, the child must have Medicaid and be in the Managed Long Term Support System (MLTSS). Self-Pay options are available to those who do not have Medicaid. The program provides 30 days of respite care per calendar year. Prior to entering Respite Care, a pre-admission screen and resident review (PASRR) must be completed by the child’s physician or RN. Children must have a skilled nursing need (i.e. g-tube dependency, technology dependent respiratory support) to be considered eligible for respite caservices.

For more information on our Respite Care Services, contact Jeannie Brooks at jbrooks@childrens-specialized.org or call 908-301-5461. Click here to learn more about Respite Care Services.

Our Experienced Team of Professionals

Children's Specialized Hospital LTC is committed to providing your child with the best medical care possible. Our team of experts includes board certified pediatric sub-specialists, nurses, and therapists.

Board Certified Medical Team

  • Certified pediatric nurse practitioner
  • Physiatrist (Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation specialist)
  • Pediatrician
  • Pediatric sub-specialists
  • Outpatient and inpatient physicians

Nursing Team

  • RNs and LPNs
  • Certified Nurses Aides
  • Restorative Nursing Assistants

Therapeutic Team

  • Behavioral Therapist
  • Child Life Specialist
  • Occupational Therapist
  • Physical Therapist
  • Recreational Therapist
  • Speech Therapist

Specialized Support Team

  • Registered pediatric dietitian
  • Rehabilitation technology staff
  • Certified infection preventionist
  • Psychologist/psychotherapist
  • Chaplain/spiritual needs
  • Family faculty
  • Social worker

Learn more about the LTC team.

Our Comprehensive Approach

To meet the unique needs of each child and family, LTC at Children's Specialized takes a comprehensive approach to care. Our team of professionals is dedicated to providing a safe and nurturing environment that optimizes the health and well-being of your child.

  • Our medical, nursing, and therapy team assess the needs of your child upon admission and prepare, with your input, a comprehensive plan.
  • Continual monitoring of your child's status assures that his/her care plan is adapted to any changes, thereby maximizing your child's potential and enabling the least restrictive environment possible.
  • Beyond the individualized care plan, your child will enjoy a wide array of therapeutic activities that provide engagement while enhancing their quality of life. Families are welcome and encouraged to participate in these activities as well.

Some of the therapeutic activities include:

  • Cuddler program
  • Multi-sensory room (Mountainside LTC only)
  • Music therapy
  • Patient pals
  • Pet therapy
  • Sensory groups
  • Switch toys and computer games

What Makes Children's Specialized Hospital Unique?

Just like your child, our pediatric LTC centers are unique in many ways.

State-of-the-Art Respiratory Care

​Our respiratory team is made up of some of the most experienced respiratory therapists in the State of New Jersey. In our centers, the respiratory therapists are able to continuously monitor children with challenging respiratory needs such as mechanical ventilator dependency and tracheostomy.child with doctor

Some advanced techniques performed are:

  • Tracheostomy insertion and removal
  • Weaning from mechanical ventilation
  • Our Mountainside center offers more intensive supervision nursing stations than similar facilities to ensure children with respiratory challenges are closely monitored
  • Our on-site lab provides quick turn around on blood gases, glucose, chemistry and ketone levels.

Our department staffs respiratory therapists in our center 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

When it comes to learning the care of your child with a tracheostomy and/or with mechanical ventilation, our staff provides direct training and care techniques to allow greater opportunities to visit outside the facility to your home, special events and overnight stays. We are here to support our families and children.

Award Winning Patient and Family Centered Care

Children's Specialized Hospital practices award-winning patient and family centered care. We understand the vital role that a partnership with our families plays in ensuring the health and well-being of your child. We not only have a team of medical professionals that work with you, but we also employ Family Faculty. The Family Faculty team are made up of parents and caregivers of children who have received or are currently receiving services at CSH. Family Faculty provides support for families and partners with staff in ensuring families have the most positive experience possible.

Additional Information

View our Pediatric Long Term Care brochure.

Children's Specialized Hospital
200 Somerset Street
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
(888) 244-5373
View
Children's Specialized Hospital Long Term Care Center – Mountainside
150 New Providence Road
Mountainside, NJ 07092
(908) 233-3720
View

Long Term Care - Pediatric Treatment & Care

offered at these locations in your neighborhood

View All Locations