Hospices

Hospices Participating in the Hospice Turkey Shoot Regatta

About Hospice

     Hospice is a philosophy of care designed to meet the special needs of terminally ill patients and their families. The modern hospice movement grew out of the work of Dame Cicely Saunders, a British physician, who cared for patients in the 1940s. Dr. Saunders founded St. Christopher's in 1967, which charted new directions in both the philosophy and techniques for treatment of the terminally ill.

     When planning St. Christopher's, Dr. Saunders stated: "The name hospice, 'a resting place for travelers or pilgrims,' was chosen because this will be something between a hospital and a home, with the skills of one and the hospitality, warmth, and the time of the other." The emphasis was on pain and symptom management, as well as social, emotional, and spiritual support.

     The first hospice in the U.S. was established in New Haven, Connecticut in 1970. The hospice program of palliative home care was more fully developed in the U.S. during the 1970s, and modeled on St. Christopher Hospice. In 1983, the U.S. federal government endorsed hospice care through Medicare legislation. Since then the number of hospices participating in the Medicare program has grown significantly and there are more than 2000 hospices in the United States.

Become a Hospice Volunteer

     Hospice provides volunteers who are trained to assist the patient and family with knowledgeable and sympathetic help. Hospice volunteers are your friends and neighbors.  They believe that the quality of life is of utmost importance. The care they provide is as unique as the patients and families they serve. 

     Many opportunities are available for men and women of all ages and backgrounds. Some of the ways in which volunteers can help include:

      Listening and giving emotional support.

      Providing transportation,

     Running errands.

      Giving respite time to caregivers.

      Assisting with projects and activities.

      Helping care for family pets.

      Reading aloud and/or helping write letters.

      Providing support to the family.

      Assisting in the Hospice office.

      Assisting with community events for  fundraising.

HOSPICE SUPPORT SERVICES OF THE NORTHERN NECK, INC.

P.O. Box 262 • Warsaw, VA 22572 •  (804) 333-0084 •  (888) 333-9110

Hospice Support Services of the Northern Neck is a nonprofit community-based organization that accepted its first patients in 1987. It is an all-volunteer Hospice that provides care to people with life threatening or terminal illness in Lancaster, Northumberland, Richmond and Westmoreland counties. All services are free of charge and are provided by volunteers who are trained to help the patient and family members with knowledgeable and supportive care. 

 RIVERSIDE HOSPICE AGENCIES

Walter Reed Hospice: 7542 Hospital Drive • Gloucester, VA 23061 •      (804) 693-8819

Tappahannock Hospice: 618 Hospital Road •Tappahannock, VA 22560 • (804) 443-6130

Riverside Hospice, Riverside Walter Reed Hospice and Riverside Tappahannock Hospice are licensed, Medicare-certified and CHAP-accredited programs that serve residents of Newport News, Hampton, Smithfield, Poquoson, York County, Carrollton, parts of James City County, Williamsburg, Gloucester, Mathews, Middlesex, West Point, and Lancaster Counties as well as Essex, Westmoreland, Northumberland, King and Queen and Richmond Counties.

HOSPICE SUPPORT CARE OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, INC.

P.O. Box 54  Urbanna, Virginia 23175

Hospice Support Care of Middlesex County, Inc. (HSCMC) is a Christian Hospice that believes its mission is directly related to Jesus’ example of compassion toward a person in need, regardless of their circumstance, race, creed, or social status. HSCMC services are free of charge and are provided by trained volunteers who can assist in a variety of ways including emotional support for the patient and family, brief respite for caregivers, and spiritual support for the patient and family.