Montgomery Hospice: Gentling the Journey for Our Diverse Communities

Nov 19, 2019 8:00 AM ET

We all want our loved ones to be comfortable as their health declines, right through to the end of life. We also want to deal with grief in a healthy way that makes it possible to balance memories with creating a positive future. For thousands of individuals and families each year, Montgomery Hospice strives to gentle the journey through serious illness and loss with skill and compassion. Our comprehensive medical, spiritual and emotional care allows patients with terminal illnesses to live safely and comfortably, and our bereavement care helps those who have lost a loved one cope with their feelings.

When asked where they would prefer to receive care at the end of life, most people in the United States answer, “In my home.” Our Hospice at Home service makes this possible. A team of doctors, nurse practitioners, nurses, nursing aides, social workers, non-denominational chaplains, complementary therapies professionals and highly-trained volunteers visits wherever patients call home. We provide medical equipment, supplies and medications tailored to each patient’s needs. If symptoms are unable to be relieved at home, our 14-bed Casey House is an invaluable alternative. Its dedicated staff welcomes patients for short stays while acute symptoms are addressed.

Being at home or Casey House means patients can be surrounded by the people and things that are important to them. With pain and symptoms controlled, patients can focus on what makes each day meaningful. This may include sharing memories and wisdom, repairing relationships, and enjoying the companionship of family, friends and pets.

The cost of our compassionate, comprehensive care is not fully covered by insurance. For example, Casey House and our pediatric program, Montgomery Kids, require more resources than home hospice for adults and cost more to provide than we are reimbursed. We are not compensated for complementary therapies, such as music, touch and aroma therapies, and grief support from professional counselors, yet we offer them without charge because they are immensely helpful to patients and their families. In addition, patients without insurance or financial resources receive the same services, tailored to their individual needs, as patients who are insured.

Each year, Montgomery Hospice provides more than half a million dollars in care to uninsured patients. Your gift through a workplace giving program means we will have a reliable source of financial support throughout the year to bring the full array of our services to those in our community who are terminally-ill and grieving.

A gift of $2 to $5 per pay period helps buy essential oils for aromatherapy that relieves symptoms and reduces anxiety, or materials for a workshop on expressing grief through art. Gifts of $10, $25, or more per pay period help nurses make night and weekend visits to patient homes to prevent unnecessary trips to the emergency room, or provide medications, equipment and supplies for uninsured patients receiving Hospice at Home or Casey House care.

We greatly appreciate the assistance of generous donors who help us bring comfort to patients and their families. With your help, we will be here for everyone in Montgomery County who needs end-of-life care and grief support.

Support Montgomery Hospice through your employee giving program:

As a donor, you can support Montgomery Hospice by donating to them through your employer’s workplace giving program (CFC#85936 if you're a military or federal employee participating in the Combined Federal Campaign). Payroll pledges made through employer-sponsored charitable giving programs represent a cost effective and near effortless way to support your favorite charities.

As Montgomery Hospice's workplace giving partner, America’s Charities can help your company design and implement a program centered on supporting their work - through workplace giving campaigns, employee fundraising, cause-focused signature programs, volunteerism, donation drives, matching gifts, Dollars-for-Doers, In-Kind Giving and other employee engagement and philanthropic initiatives. Click here to request a demo and learn how we can help you do this.