What is Hospice

Hospice care is a unique philosophy and team approach to care provided to people in the final phase of their lives.

It emphasizes enhancing the quality of life and preserves a sense of dignity while providing palliative comfort care.

Hospice is not a place.  It is a family-centered effort that provides support and care for the whole family during the process of dying and bereavement.

Trained volunteers are key team members who work along with healthcare professionals to provide support.

Hospice strengthens the individual's role in making decisions about end of life care.

Mission revised September 25, 2007

Pine Tree Hospice honors life and offers comfort with dignity to people of any age living with a progressive life-limiting illness.  Pine Tree Hospice educates and supports its volunteers and staff to maintain a high standard of care, and responds to care-giver, family and community needs for continued bereavement support.

Services

Pine Tree Hospice was incorporated in 1985.  Governance is by the Board of Directors, composed of community representatives.  Evergreen is the Pine Tree Hospice Center for Grieving Children and Their Families. 

Pine Tree Hospice employs an Executive Director, a Coordinator for Client Services and Volunteers, and an Administrative Assistant.  More than 60 dedicated active volunteers provide direct and indirect services to hospice clients and families.  Our service area is located in north central, rural Maine.

Funding is provided by various grants and donations, the annual Variety Show, United Way, memorial contributions, memberships, an annual appeal and various other fundraising events. Contracts with two home health medical hospice providers complete our funding support.

Volunteers must complete an initial 20 hour training program and between four and eight continuing education hours per year. Clients receive Pine Tree Hospice services free of charge.  Hospice volunteers provide services such as companionship, respite care for caregivers, transportation to appointments, meal preparation, shopping, medication delivery and light housekeeping, and bereavement support. Pine Tree Hospice hosts bereavement support programs.  Evergreen Peer Support Volunteers work with children and their families who are grieving the death of a family member or friend.

When a life-threatening illness or grief strikes, it is important to know that Pine Tree Hospice can make a difference.

The following services are offered free of charge:

 Respite Care

  Psychosocial Support

 Spiritual Support

  Family Household Support

 Transportation

  Education

 Patient and Family Advocacy

  Companionship

 Bereavement Support

  Lending Library

 Meal Preparations

  Light Housekeeping

Committees

The administrative work of Pine Tree Hospice is carried out by the staff, the volunteer Board of Directors, and the various committees, composed of volunteers and community members:

Public Relations, Marketing and Fund Development

Responsible for producing fund-raising events to support Pine Tree Hospice, and for providing information related to any Pine Tree Hospice activity to the public

Education

Responsible for establishing the curriculum for hospice training in compliance with Maine "Regulations Governing the Licensing and Functioning of Hospice Programs", and for providing events to meet the on-going educational needs of hospice volunteers

Board Development and Nominating

Responsible for preparing a slate of officers, and nominations for the Board of Directors, including vacancies of unexpired terms, and for preparing a list of candidates for the Standing Committees

Operations and Client Services

Responsible for identifying and meeting needs of hospice clients in compliance with the mission of Pine Tree Hospice and with appropriate local, state and national regulatory bodies

Responsible for offering support to the bereaved and to individuals and groups with special hospice needs in the community

Finance and Information Technology

Responsible for maintaining the financial health and information systems of Pine Tree Hospice

Executive Committee

Responsible for the oversight of Pine Tree Hospice