HopeHealth Blog
Stories of courage, compassion, hope, healing and support from our experts, caregivers, patients, families and loved ones.
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The bigger picture: A palliative care nurse practitioner’s approach to serious illness
In a busy hospital, a thoughtful pause can help patients make sense of difficult decisions. A palliative care nurse practitioner explains why it’s an essential part of her work.
Beyond prayer: 5 ways a chaplain supports children & families facing serious illness
For anyone facing serious illness, spiritual connection can offer comfort that medicine alone can’t. A pediatric palliative care chaplain shares five unexpected ways she supports patients and families.
The power of presence: What it means to be a hospice companionship volunteer
After a hospice volunteer brought comfort to her mother, Marianne became one herself. She shares what companionship can look like at the end of life — and why being there matters.
What matters most: A nurse practitioner’s approach to palliative care
“What matters most to you?” It’s the question a palliative care nurse practitioner asks every patient — and the starting point for what good care can look like.
Meet Bean: The hospice therapy dog bringing comfort one visit at a time
At the Hulitar Hospice Center, a therapy dog named Bean has his own rounds to make. What does comfort look like when it comes on four legs?
What is vicarious grief? A grief counselor explains
Grief isn’t only for direct loss — we can carry someone else’s pain too. A grief counselor explains vicarious grief, why it happens, and how to care for yourself.
The lasting impact of Camp BraveHeart: 20 summers of healing
Celebrating 20 years of Camp BraveHeart, HopeHealth’s grief camp helping children and teens find healing, friendship and hope after the loss of a loved one.
Dementia care at every stage: A resource guide for families
When a person has dementia, their care needs keep changing. From day programs to palliative and hospice care, here’s a guide to resources for each stage.
“We may be the last hand they hold”: Meet a hospice nursing assistant
In hospice, nursing assistants spend more time at the bedside than almost anyone else. Here’s what CNA Nora Navas means to her patients, families and team.
Grief & identity: How loss reshapes who we are — and what to do next
When someone central to your life dies, it often brings a loss of self too. A HopeHealth grief counselor shares how to begin rebuilding your identity after loss.
“Right for the heart”: How creativity opens a path through grief
When we’re grieving, tapping into creativity can help us heal. In creative workshops, participants experience it together.
Through the twilight: A nurse’s path to hospice
After 21 years as a critical care nurse, Terri Tetreau felt passionate about giving patients a peaceful end-of-life journey. In hospice, she’s found her calling.
The sound of comfort: How volunteer musicians reach patients at the end of life
From bedside singers to a teenage pianist, HopeHealth volunteers use music to create connection, spark memory and bring comfort to patients and families at the end of life.
The silence between notes: A hospice companion’s story
For months, a HopeHealth volunteer earned the trust and affection of a patient with dementia. One afternoon, music unlocked memory, language — and joy.
Caregiving is hard. These mindset shifts can help.
From guilt to frustration to sheer overwhelm, caregiving can be a tough emotional journey. A fellow caregiver shares a few powerful mindset shifts that can help.
A hospice social worker on fear, honesty & the gift of time
Meet Kathleen, a hospice social worker who helps families name what feels hardest. “When you can talk about it,” she says, “you take some of that fear away.”
“The work I do now is for her”: How early loss shaped a grief counselor’s calling
Tess White’s childhood was shaped by loss. Now, as a HopeHealth grief counselor, she draws on her own experience to help others feel seen, heard and less alone.
Seeing hospice differently: One visitor’s experience at the Hulitar Center
When Tom brought his dog to visit a neighbor at the Hulitar Center, he expected sadness. Instead, he found kindness, calm — and a new understanding of hospice
My Life, My Story: Brown medical students learn the art of listening
Brown University medical students partner with HopeHealth volunteers to practice the art of listening — and shape more compassionate care for future patients.
“It matters how I live”: A hospice patient shares her perspective
“I plan to keep living until I die.” At 87, Doris says hospice has helped her focus on what matters most: comfort, connection — and living fully.
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.
