HopeHealth Blog
Stories of courage, compassion, hope, healing and support from our experts, caregivers, patients, families and loved ones.
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50 years of HopeHealth: How compassionate care took root in our communities
In 1976, a small group of volunteers created what’s now HopeHealth. In this 50th anniversary feature, our chief medical officer reflects on the history and milestones since.
5 ways hospice pharmacists support comfort at the end of life
Hospice care is built around comfort — and for many people, medication plays a crucial role. That’s where a hospice pharmacist comes in.
Caregiver resource roundup: 21 tools to help caregiving feel more manageable
Here’s a skimmable list of 21 resources for caregivers — all designed to help with caring for your loved one and yourself.
“Hospice is a community”: How care beyond the bedside keeps one family warm
For years, John relied on a wood stove to get through freezing New England winters, even while living with advanced cancer. Then his hospice team and a local business got involved.
Presence, choice, connection: Inside the daily work of a HopeHealth RN case manager
“My job is all about knowing who my patients are and what matters to them.” Meet Crystal Downs, an RN case manager in Massachusetts.
What’s the difference between hospice & palliative care?
When does palliative care end and hospice begin? Where do their services differ? And how does insurance factor in? An expert explains all this, and more.
A 10-minute reset: Quick stress-busters for caregivers
Caring for someone you love can be overwhelming. Here are quick ways to release tension, steady yourself and reset — in 10 minutes or less.
“Dignity means listening”: Meet a palliative care nurse practitioner
“Dignity means listening and giving people choices.” Meet Carly DiBiasio, NP, ACHPN, who helps patients and families find comfort, clarity and control through HopeHealth’s palliative care program.
For families of veterans: 5 ways a caregiver support group can help
Caring for a loved one who served can be complex. HopeHealth’s new Veterans Caregiver Support Group offers understanding, connection and resources for families walking this unique journey.
A final salute: How hospice helped one veteran’s family say goodbye
When Commander Kershaw’s lifetime of service was drawing to a close, his family and hospice team arranged one final military ceremony to send him off.
3 questions that help your palliative care team understand you better
Every serious illness journey is unique, but the good communication in palliative care is universal. Here are a few questions your team will likely ask you, and why.
What does spiritual care mean in a hospice setting?
Hospice chaplains are available to support anyone in your family — no matter how you feel about religion. And they can help in more ways than you might expect.
When grief feels lonely: How one young woman created community after loss
When Anna lost her dad, she felt isolated in her grief. Creating HopeHealth’s young adult loss group helped her — and others — find healing.
A different kind of care: A retired doctor becomes a grief support volunteer
Before retiring from medical practice, Dr. Chuck Sherman regularly referred patients to HopeHealth. Now, he’s a volunteer with our grief support team.
A father’s legacy, a family’s healing: Addi & Parker at Camp BraveHeart
For years, Joe Halus helped host Camp BraveHeart at his beloved YMCA. After his sudden death, the camp became a place for his young daughters to heal.
Beyond the Story: What Hospice Taught Me About Life and Dignity
A journalist reflects on his transformative journey as a hospice volunteer, sharing moving stories of courage, compassion, and the power of human connection.
What is sundowning? A dementia expert explains
For people with dementia, the afternoon and evening can bring anxiety, confusion or agitation. Here’s what causes sundowning, and how to ease its effects.
Caregiving & family dynamics: 4 strategies from a social worker
Caring for a loved one changes family dynamics — sometimes strengthening bonds, sometimes sparking conflict. Here’s how to ease tension and build connection
7 tips for supporting a grieving friend
When someone you care about is grieving, it’s hard to know what to say or do. A grief counselor offers simple, meaningful ways to show up.
Creating a peaceful, loving space for a seriously ill child
When a child is in the final stage of illness, the simplest things — a favorite blanket, a gentle cuddle — can help create a comforting space.
“The More You Give”: A Reiki Volunteer on the Gifts of Hospice Care
Hospice volunteer Marilyn reflects on 15 years of offering Reiki, comfort and compassion — and the joy she’s found in return.
For dementia caregivers: 4 tips for responding to repetitive behaviors
If your loved one repeats the same question or behavior again and again, it may be a way of coping — or communicating. These strategies can help.
Moving through grief: How dance & movement helps kids heal
When a child is grieving, sometimes movement says what words can’t. At Camp BraveHeart, a new dance and movement workshop is designed to help.
“It’s a lifeline”: The surprising power of caregiver support groups
A longtime hospice volunteer never imagined she’d need a support group — until she became a caregiver herself. “It’s a lifeline,” she says.
“She took the time”: A hospice aide’s gift, one patient at a time
At the end of life, a hospice aide brings patients comfort, dignity and often much more. Family members share what CNA Nancy Fraser means to their loved ones.
