Hospice Southeastern Connecticut Celebrates 25 Years of Serving New London County
January 22, 2010 – Hospice Southeastern Connecticut has been serving the community for 25 years. Founded in 1985 by a coalition of home care agencies and Lawrence and Memorial Hospital, the organization began in New London with one Hospice Coordinator. In 1989, the board of directors voted to become an independent agency in order to achieve Medicare Hospice Certification, and the Board was then comprised of all community representatives.
A second office was opened in Norwich in 1995 when a relationship was established with the W. W. Backus Hospital. The two offices merged into one Uncasville location in 1996 and a Sole Member relationship was established with the two hospitals in 1999. As awareness of hospice care grew, the organization expanded to meet the needs of the community.
In 2008, thanks to a generous donation by the parishioners of Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Norwich, Hospice Southeastern Connecticut opened its newly built Community Bereavement Center and administrative offices at 227 Dunham Street in Norwich. Centrally located, the new Center offers bereavement support groups and Expressive Arts groups for the entire New London County community as well as a central meeting place for the interdisciplinary team of medical director, nurses, hospice aides, social workers, bereavement and spiritual counselors and volunteers.
In celebration of this milestone 25th Anniversary, a number of events have been planned by members of the community. The Mohegan Tribe has donated the Earth Skybox for a Bon Jovi concert on March 26. Tickets are still available by calling (860) 848-5699. The Annual Tree of Life at the Crystal Mall from March 27 – April 3, the Annual Walk in Mohegan Park, Norwich on May 8, and the Annual Regatta series in July will all be themed around the 25th Anniversary. To culminate the year of celebration, a Gala Cocktail Party at the Mohegan Sun Ballroom on October 23, 2010 is being planned. For more information about all of these events and more, visit www.hospicesect.org, email events@hospicesect.org or call (860) 848-5699.
Hospice Southeastern Connecticut provides care in the home and often in skilled nursing facilities for those facing the end of their life, regardless of age, disease or inability to pay. The organization also provides bereavement services for families in New London County free of charge, regardless of whether the death occurred under hospice care or not.
Hospice Southeastern Connecticut is the oldest community-based, non-profit hospice organization in New London County. It is the only regional hospice affiliated with both Lawrence & Memorial Hospital and The William W. Backus Hospital. It is Medicare and Medicaid certified, state licensed and CHAP accredited. Hospice Southeastern Connecticut has been the hospice of choice for over 7,500 patients since 1985.