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Hospice Care
Expert Hospice Support, Backed by 50 Years of Experience
Deciding on when to choose hospice can be one of the most emotional moments for patients and families. Sometimes the decision comes suddenly. Other times, it follows months or years of illness, hospital visits, and difficult conversations.
Choosing hospice does not mean giving up. It means prioritizing quality of life.
For nearly 50 years, Care Dimensions has been a trusted leader in hospice care. You can depend on our team to support the medical, emotional, and spiritual needs of both the patient and their loved ones.
Who is Hospice For?
Hospice care is designed for people facing a serious, life-limiting illness when the focus shifts from curing disease to maximizing care, comfort, and time together.
Eligibility: Hospice is an option once a physician determines life expectancy is six months or less if the illness follows its expected course. While eligibility guidelines often consider life expectancy, hospice care is tailored to everyone’s needs – some people receive support for longer periods, and others for shorter periods.
Focus: Choosing hospice means prioritizing expert care, comfort, and symptom relief rather than pursuing curative treatments.
Flexibility: Choosing hospice is not necessarily a final decision. You can return to curative treatments at any time if your care needs change.
Hospice or palliative care?
Complementary Therapies
Caring for a loved one at home
What Does Hospice Include?
Hospice isn’t a place. It is care that comes to you.
Most of our patients receive care where they live: at a house, in assisted living, at a skilled nursing facility, or even inside a hospital. Our two hospice houses are also options for patients who need an extra level of support.
Our hospice team works with you to develop customized plans that honor personal needs and goals. Care often includes:
- Pain and symptom management
- Emotional and spiritual support
- Caregiver guidance and education
Our team makes frequent visits to a patient’s home and may make recommendations on equipment like a hospital bed or an oxygen tank. While our team is not with a patient 24/7 (except at a hospice house), we teach caregivers how to provide daily care for their loved ones and let them know what to expect as time goes on.
With Care Dimensions by your side, you will never feel alone.
Hospice Houses
Our two hospice houses - in Danvers and Lincoln - offer a warm, homelike setting where patients and families can receive round-the clock care and support.
Learn MoreOur Hospice Care Team
Every patient is supported by an interdisciplinary hospice care team that works together to meet your medical, emotional, and practical needs. Core team members include:
- Hospice physician – Oversees the plan of care and coordinates with the patient’s primary care physician.
- Hospice nurse – Manages pain and symptoms, monitors changes in condition, and serves as a primary point of contact for patients and caregivers.
- Hospice aide – Provides assistance with personal care and daily living activities.
- Social worker – Helps patients and families navigate emotional, social, and practical challenges.
- Spiritual counselor – Offers non-denominational spiritual support, guided by each patient’s beliefs and preferences.
Additional services may be introduced when they are helpful or appropriate, including:
- Complementary therapies such as music, art, or massage to support comfort and relaxation.
- Trained hospice volunteers who offer companionship and practical support.
- Bereavement counselors who help families prepare for loss and provide ongoing grief support.
What Does Hospice Cost?
Many families ask this question. The answer is relatively simple: hospice often comes with little to no cost. Hospice services, including medications and equipment, are fully covered by most insurance carriers, including Medicare and most Medicaid plans.
In rare cases where coverage is limited, we can help explore options and assist families in navigating costs.
Taking the Next Steps
When you’re starting out on a hospice journey, you’ll have a lot of questions. Our team is here to help answer them. If you think hospice might be right for you or a loved one, contact us today. Anyone can make an inquiry or a referral. That can be a patient, a doctor, a spouse, a child, or a friend.
A patient access representative will ask a few basic questions and address any concerns you may have. If you choose to continue, there will be a discussion with your primary care provider (if you have one), and then an in-person meeting to talk about what’s next.
Call 888-283-1722 to learn more or fill out an online form to request care.
Stories View more Care Dimensions Stories
Dr. Hassan Ali spent his career caring for others. In his time of need, his family says they were fortunate to have the team at Care Dimensions caring for him.
The Care Dimensions Hospice House is a peaceful place offering 24/7 clinical support for the patient. That allows families to spend quality time with their loved one.
Because of COVID-19 precautions, the visit to the Encore Boston Harbor on John Kelemanik’s bucket list wasn’t possible, so the Care Dimensions team created a special casino night for him and his family at home.
Bill and Jane Mercaldi are approaching 75 years of marriage. Love has kept them together and helped them through many challenges, including a world war, pandemic, and illness that led to Bill’s referral to hospice.
Fiercely independent, Fernando "Frank" Matos, 91, chose hospice at home after two years of treatment for pancreatic cancer, for the continuity of care he wanted. "I want people to know that if you come on hospice early, you can live better days."
When Patricia Kolarik, 74, discussed transitioning to hospice care with her family, she shared her three, must-have wishes. By providing a full spectrum of hospice care and support services, the Care Dimensions specialized respiratory care program has been able to support her wishes.
Hospice isn't just about the final few days. For patient Rosie Cleary, hospice helped her stay as comfortable as possible and ensured she could make the most of every day.
Voices of Care Blog Read more from Voices of Care
Loving Memories of My Grandfather
January 10, 2025 by Hermie Stephen KapunanA young man recalls special times with his grandfather and helping him through his end-of-life journey with hospice.
Continue readingHospice Brings Comfort and Eases Anxiety for Grandmother and Family
May 30, 2024 by Alison SamiaWhen brought on to hospice early, patients and their families can fully benefit from services that are available to them. A granddaughter recounts how they found Care Dimensions, and how much of a difference our team was able to make.
Continue reading'Hardest Thing I Ever Did': Veteran of 3 Wars Reflects on Caring for his Dying Wife
July 25, 2023 by Lisa ContiA retired Army sergeant major recalls how a Care Dimensions hospice team helped him ensure that his wife could be cared for at home, be comfortable, and die peacefully.
Continue readingHospice Helps Grant Mom Her Final Wishes
May 16, 2023 by Beth Fox Lepore"Care Dimensions assured us that they would make possible our mom’s final wishes... They said they would take care of everything." A daughter-in-law recounts how our team was able to guide them on their hospice journey, leaving them with no regrets.
Continue readingWhat I Wish Every Patient Knew About Hospice
November 1, 2022 by Mary Johnson, RNA hospice nurse explains several benefits of choosing hospice early during a serious illness.
Continue readingFor Hospice Aide and Certified Nursing Assistant, It’s About Being a Guide on the Journey
June 16, 2022 by Stephanie Rodriguez, Hospice AideCertified Nursing Assistant Stephanie Rodriguez writes about what drew her to hospice care and what advice she'd give to others looking to join end-of-life care.
Continue readingThe Truth About 5 Morphine Myths
May 23, 2022 by Alifia Waliji-Banglawala, Pharm.D.Morphine relieves pain and makes it easier for many hospice patients to breathe, but persistent myths can hinder its benefits. Here’s the truth about five common morphine myths.
Continue readingAnyone—patient, family, care provider—can make a referral. Fill in the form online or call us today.
Since 1978, Care Dimensions, formerly Hospice of the North Shore, has provided comprehensive and compassionate care for individuals and families dealing with life-threatening illnesses. As the non-profit leader in advanced illness care, we offer services in over 100 communities in Massachusetts.
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