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Community PēdsCare®, a pediatric palliative and hospice program of Community Hospice & Palliative Care, celebrated the holiday season with its Candy Cane Country Christmas event, held on Saturday at Diamond D Ranch in Jacksonville.

The Community Hospice & Palliative Care North Central team proudly received the prestigious 2024 Large Nonprofit of the Year award during the Greater Gainesville Chamber Business Awards.

Community Hospice & Palliative Care will host its 34th annual Tree of Life and Candlelight Remembrance ceremony on Thursday, December 5, 2024, at the Earl B. Hadlow Center for Caring in Jacksonville. This cherished event, which is free and open to the public, offers an opportunity to honor the memory of lost loved ones through a moving program of music, reflection, and remembrance.

Community Hospice & Palliative Care is proud to announce that it has been officially Certified™ by Great Place To Work®, an achievement underscoring the organization's commitment to creating an exceptional workplace culture. An impressive 86 percent of employees surveyed affirmed that Community Hospice & Palliative Care is a great place to work, a testament to the company's efforts to foster a positive, inclusive, and supportive environment for its team members.

Community Hospice & Palliative Care has announced the appointment of Dr. Ellen Talos as director of medical operations. Talos brings a wealth of experience in family medicine and hospice care to her new role.

the 2024 Veterans Day Parade presented by The Law Offices of Ron Sholes, P.A. Monday, Nov. 11, 2024 in Jacksonville, Fla. The parade began at the Jacksonville Center for the Performing Arts and concluded at Everbank Stadium. Thousands showed up for festivities.

Five families with children experiencing life-limiting or life-threatening conditions, got the opportunity of a lifetime this afternoon. The families are a part of Community PedsCare, a nationally recognized pediatric program for children in Northeast and North Central Florida living with complex, chronic, life-limiting or advanced illnesses.

Community Hospice & Palliative Care is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Ellen Talos as Director of Medical Operations. Dr. Talos brings a wealth of experience in family medicine and hospice care to her new role.

Community Hospice & Palliative Care is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Ellen Talos as Director of Medical Operations. Dr. Talos brings a wealth of experience in family medicine and hospice care to her new role.

Throughout November, Community Hospice & Palliative Care will join organizations across the country in recognizing National Hospice and Palliative Care Month. This annual observance raises awareness about the compassionate and comprehensive care available to individuals and families navigating serious illnesses.

Community Hospice & Palliative Care is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Ellen Talos as Director of Medical Operations. Dr. Talos brings a wealth of experience in family medicine and hospice care to her new role.

Community Hospice & Palliative Care of Alachua County will host a “Hope for the Holidays” workshop on Friday, Nov. 8. The event will run from noon to 1 p.m. at Community Hospice & Palliative Care of Alachua County, located at 3870 NW 83rd St. in Gainesville.

Throughout November, Community Hospice & Palliative Care will join organizations across the country in recognizing National Hospice and Palliative Care Month. This annual observance raises awareness about the compassionate and comprehensive care available to individuals and families navigating serious illnesses.

Community Hospice & Palliative Care is offering Hope for the Holidays, a workshop that will help attendees learn ways to cope with grief during the holiday season, determine what is right for them and their families, and refocus energy on positive activities that honor and remember their loved ones. Attendees will leave with a renewed sense of hope for the upcoming season.

Community Hospice & Palliative Care is offering Hope for the Holidays, a workshop that will help attendees learn ways to cope with grief during the holiday season, determine what is right for them and their families, and refocus energy on positive activities that honor and remember their loved ones. Attendees will leave with a renewed sense of hope for the upcoming season.

Get ready for the ultimate Halloween extravaganza as The Foundation of Community Hospice & Palliative Care celebrates 20 years of magic at the Jacksonville Fairgrounds Exhibition Hall on Saturday, October 26, 2024, from 2 to 7 p.m. Presented by The Players, please join us for the final and most spectacular edition of Halloween Doors & More, a beloved event that has enchanted Northeast Florida since its inception in 2005, marking a significant chapter in the organization's history.

Dottie Dorion was in her 40s, living in Jacksonville's Deerwood community, when she, a once-avid tennis player, tired of the sport and all its social obligations. She was looking for a new challenge, another way to test herself — a hankering that's dominated her life, even now, at 90 years old.

Do you believe in magic? Would you like to see some real life magic with your own eyes? Well, the fiber artists of Jacksonville have gathered 465 samples of magically sewn works of art in the form of quilts for a show at the Prime Osborn Center in Jacksonville. “Sew Your Heart Out,” the 37th annual showcase of quilts by Quiltfest Inc. of Jacksonville will be at the Prime Osborn Convention Center, Sept. 19, 20, and 21, from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. daily.

Community Hospice & Palliative Care is proud to announce that they have once again been honored with the 2024 Hospice CAHPS Honors Award by HEALTHCAREfirst. This award recognizes hospices that consistently provide outstanding care and support to patients and their families.

Alivia Care Inc., the parent organization of Community Hospice & Palliative Care, announces the launch of Alivia Care @ Home, a groundbreaking initiative designed to deliver exceptional home health, home care, and supportive care (community-based palliative care) services to patients at an earlier stage of their illness, all within their homes' familiar and comforting environment.

Community Hospice & Palliative Care is proud to announce the recipients of the 4th annual Servant's Heart Award: Deborah Freeman and the late Matt Brandon. The award ceremony, held on June 18, 2024, at the Lifestyle Enrichment Center, brought together community leaders, family, and friends to celebrate the extraordinary contributions of these two remarkable individuals.

Community Hospice & Palliative Care is proud to announce the recipients of the 4th annual Servant's Heart Award: Dennis Childers and the late Melanie Collins. The award ceremony, held on June 11, 2024, at the Larimer Arts Center, brought together community leaders, family, and friends to celebrate the extraordinary contributions of these two remarkable individuals.

Recognizing an exemplary lifetime of service and dedication, Community Hospice & Palliative Care presented Vivian Washington Filer with the 4th annual Servant's Heart Award on Tuesday, June 4, 2024. The heartfelt ceremony took place at The Cotton Club Museum and Cultural Center, graced by esteemed community leaders and supporters.

Community Hospice & Palliative Care celebrated the grand opening of its newest office in North Jacksonville on Saturday, May 18, 2024. Located at 2386 Dunn Avenue #109, Jacksonville, Florida 32218, this office brings essential services and resources to the local community, emphasizing the organization's commitment to providing compassionate care and support.

It’s National Nurses Month, a time to shine a spotlight on the remarkable dedication and unwavering compassion exhibited by the nurses of Community Hospice & Palliative Care. Throughout May, we honor these exemplary healthcare professionals for their tireless commitment to providing exceptional care and support to patients and families facing life-limiting illnesses.

Learn more about all the volunteer positions at Community Hospice & Palliative Care! Community Hospice & Palliative Care volunteers are diverse and special members of our community. Hailing from all ages and walks of life, volunteers work closely with our Volunteer Coordinators who help them match their skills and passions with the current needs of the organization.

Community Hospice & Palliative Care was named the National Aging Media Network’s Aspect Marketing Award winner.

As April marks National Volunteer Month, Community Hospice & Palliative Care reaffirms its dedication to promoting and celebrating the invaluable contributions of volunteers. Volunteers are the heart and soul of our organization, providing companionship and a compassionate presence to patients and their families during challenging times.

Community Hospice & Palliative Care celebrated its longstanding tradition, the Frances Pruitt Easter Egg Hunt, on March 29. The event is organized by the Pruitt family and held in her memory to continue the family tradition. The inaugural Easter Egg hunt was held in 2003 when Mrs. Pruitt was a patient at the Hadlow Center.

Child Life Specialists are a fundamental aspect of our Pediatric and Hospice Care programs, working closely with patients, their families, and friends to enhance the quality of life for those dealing with life-altering illnesses. We asked our Child Life Specialist, Leah to share one of her favorite activities she facilitates with her patients, and how it helps enhance the lives of her patients every day.

Child Life Specialists are a fundamental aspect of our Pediatric and Hospice Care programs, working closely with patients, their families, and friends to enhance the quality of life for those dealing with life-altering illnesses. We asked our Child Life Specialist, Danielle to share one of her favorite activities she facilitates with her patients, and how it helps enhance the lives of her patients every day.

The Washington Post recently published a touching perspective from a 49 year-old woman who was diagnosed with an rare, incurable form of cancer. The author shares her journey of learning, letting go, and living life to the fullest while being terminally ill.

Community Hospice & Palliative Care is proud to join the nation in celebrating Social Work Month this March, recognizing social workers' invaluable contributions in hospice care. As an organization committed to providing compassionate and comprehensive end-of-life care, we extend our heartfelt appreciation to our dedicated team of social workers who play a crucial role in enhancing the well-being of our patients and their families.

Community Hospice & Palliative Care continues to support families facing the challenges of pediatric illnesses through its nationally recognized Community PēdsCare® program. With a commitment to providing comprehensive and compassionate care, the program offers specialized services designed to enhance the quality of life for children and their families.

Child Life Specialists are a fundamental aspect of our Pediatric and Hospice Care programs, working closely with patients, their families, and friends to enhance the quality of life for those dealing with life-altering illnesses. We asked our Child Life Specialist, Emmalee to share one of her favorite activities she facilitates with her patients, and how it helps enhance the lives of her patients every day.

Community Hospice & Palliative Care is proud to announce the completion of upgrades in their clinical wing at the Earl B. Hadlow Center for Caring, a project aimed at improving the overall patient experience and enhancing their healthcare delivery.

Community Hospice & Palliative Care, a leading provider of end-of-life care and support services in the Northeast and North Central area, is pleased to announce the release of its Annual Report for 2021/2022. The report showcases the organization's remarkable achievements, commitment to compassionate care, and impact on the local community.

Throughout November, Community Hospice & Palliative Care will join organizations nationwide to help raise awareness for National Hospice and Palliative Care Month.

The 33rd annual Tree of Life and Candlelight Services of Remembrance, hosted by Community Hospice & Palliative Care, honors the memory of loved ones lost in a beautiful, inspiring program of music and reflection.

Community Hospice & Palliative Care was recently named a 2023 Hospice Honors Award recipient by HEALTHCAREfirst, a leading provider of revenue cycle management services, Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems and bereavement surveys, and advanced analytics for hospice organizations.

For Physical Therapy Month, we asked Ali Thompson and Laurie Guenther-Burris, Physical Therapists at Community Hospice & Palliative Care to explain how their roles help patients and their families find comfort and relief at the end of life.

On Saturday, Oct. 14, The Foundation of Community Hospice & Palliative Care will transform the Jacksonville Fairgrounds Exhibition Hall into a magical, candy land-themed day of family-friendly fun and entertainment for the 19th annual Halloween Doors & More.

To the casual observer, hospice care might feel like a last resort when other options have been exhausted. However, to the millions of Americans who have experienced the compassionate care their loved ones have received in hospice, end of life care suddenly becomes an indispensable choice.

We’re celebrating National Waffle Day in style! Today, #ComfortJax delivered a celebration package featuring waffle iron, batter, syrup, and accessories to honor our compassionate end-of-life care in the Greater Jacksonville Metropolitan Area since 1979!

Community Hospice & Palliative Care volunteers, nearly 500 strong, are vital members of the team. Whether offering companionship, being a listening ear to patients and family members, helping with administrative work, or assisting at fundraising events, there’s a volunteer opportunity for everyone.

Last Friday, the Foundation of Community Hospice & Palliative Care hosted a dedication ceremony in honor of Margo Hay, an 18-year volunteer, and ambassador for Community Hospice & Palliative Care, who was recognized in 2021 for her nomination of Woman of the Year at the 2021 Golden Years Gala in Clay County.

Community Hospice & Palliative Care celebrates their hardworking and compassionate Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) during the national week-long celebration from June 15 to June 21. CNAs provide quality care to patients every day, play a vital role in a patient care team, and earn and maintain the highest credentials in their specialty.

Community Hospice & Palliative Care presented Dr. Philip J. Mobley Sr. with the 3rd annual Community Servant’s Hummingbird Award (formerly known as the Community Legacy Award) on Tuesday, May 16, at the Senior Lifestyle Enrichment Center, with many community leaders in attendance including Mattie Jones, retired Director of Nursing of Florida Gateway College, who was the keynote speaker.

Community Hospice & Palliative Care presented Mr. Bryant Oxendine with the 3rd annual Community Servant’s Hummingbird Award (formerly known as the Community Legacy Award) on Monday, May 11, at the Larimer Arts Center, with many community leaders in attendance including Rev. Karl Flagg who was the keynote speaker.

Community Hospice & Palliative Care presented Gwenuel (G.W.) Mingo with the 3rd annual Community Servant’s Hummingbird Award (formerly known as the Community Legacy Award) Monday, May 9, at The Cotton Club Museum and Cultural Center with many community leaders in attendance including Mr. Eric Godet, President and CEO of the Greater Gainesville Chamber of Commerce, who was the keynote speaker.

On April 26, 2023, the Community Hospice & Palliative Care Foundation received a generous contribution of $60,000 from the Rotary Club of Riverside Jacksonville. The check presentation was held at the Florida Yacht Club to donate funds raised at the ninth annual Riverside Craft Beer Festival.

April is National Volunteer Month, and Community Hospice & Palliative Care is dedicated to promoting and celebrating volunteerism. Volunteers are diverse and special members of the community, offering companionship and a listening ear to patients and family members.

Community Hospice & Palliative Care celebrated its longstanding tradition, the Frances Pruitt Easter Egg Hunt, on April 7. The event is organized by the Pruitt family and held in her memory to continue the family tradition. The inaugural Easter Egg hunt was held in 2003 when Mrs. Pruitt was a patient at the Hadlow Center.

All over the world for people who identify themselves as believers in the Christian faith this is the holiest season of the year, the season of Lent.

March is Child Life Month! Every day, the Child Life Specialists with our Community PedsCare program help support patients and families dealing with life-limiting and life-altering illnesses. We asked our Child Life Specialist, Leah Stapleton, to describe what it’s like to work with children in palliative care.

Tip your hats and celebrate the 149th Kentucky Derby at St. Augustine’s Tringali Barn, on May 6, 2023, from 4 to 8 p.m., with food, fashion, and fun at the 11th annual Derby Run, a benefit for Community Hospice & Palliative Care.

March is Child Life Month! Every day, the Child Life Specialists with our Community PedsCare program help support patients and families dealing with life-limiting and life-altering illnesses. We asked our Child Life Specialist, Danielle Eaves, to describe what it’s like to work with children in palliative care.

March is Child Life Month! Every day, the Child Life Specialists with our Community PedsCare program help support patients and families dealing with life-limiting and life-altering illnesses. We asked our Child Life Specialist, Emmalee Tresnan, to describe what it’s like to work with children in palliative care.

March is National Nutrition Month and to celebrate, we’ve asked Kerry Dew, MS, RD, LDN to share how she cares for her patients and their families at the end of life.

Community Hospice & Palliative Care announces the promotion of Dr. Jennifer Contin to Senior Medical Director of Palliative Care. Dr. Continue will oversee home and in-patient palliative patient care.

Alivia Care, Inc. welcomes David Meyer as its new Chief Growth and Innovation Officer. David, a graduate of the University of North Florida with a double major in Marketing and Business, received his master’s in healthcare administration from the University of Florida and a master’s in business administration from the University of North Florida.

New members were recently elected to the Community Hospice Foundation Board of Directors. The Community Hospice Foundation, which is governed by a separate board, generates philanthropic and community support for patient care services, family needs, and community programs.

The Community Hospice & Palliative Care Foundation of Caring welcomes Annie Tuttle as its new Executive Director. Annie, a graduate of the University of North Florida, has been a resident of North Florida for over 35 years. Annie was named Executive Director by Susan Ponder-Stansel, President & CEO of Alivia Care and President of the Community Hospice Foundation.

Ana Amelia Sanchez, MD, HMDC, FAAHPM, Chief Medical Officer of Community Hospice & Palliative Care, has been awarded one of the nation’s highest medical honors. Dr. Sanchez and only 66 other physicians in the United States are now Fellows of the Academy of Hospice & Palliative Care Medicine (FAAHPM).

Join us in congratulating Carly Robinson, APRN for earning her Advanced Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse certification! The certification validates and confirms Melanie's experience and advanced knowledge as a hospice and palliative care nurse practitioner.

Community PēdsCare®, a pediatric palliative and hospice program of Community Hospice & Palliative Care for children with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions, hosted a holiday drive-thru event for patients and families at the Earl B. Hadlow Center for Caring at the main campus of Community Hospice & Palliative Care over the weekend.

The annual Tree of Life and Candlelight Services of Remembrance honored the memory of loved ones that have been lost in a beautiful, inspiring program of music, verse, and reflection. The event was held a Community Hospice & Palliative Care's Earl B. Hadlow Center for Caring.

The annual Tree of Life and Candlelight Services of Remembrance, hosted by Community Hospice & Palliative Care, honors the memory of loved ones lost in a beautiful, inspiring program of music and reflection.

For more than 42 years, Community Hospice & Palliative Care has helped provide supportive care to patients, allowing them to spend their final months wherever they call home and surrounded by their loved ones. Throughout November, Community Hospice & Palliative Care will join organizations across the nation to help raise awareness for National Hospice and Palliative Care Month.

Community Hospice & Palliative Care honored the late Steven Spickelmier, a revered veteran advocate and leader, with a $25,000 gift in his name as a designated endowment for the development and delivery of a specialized care program for military veterans.

As the holiday season begins, many of us get giddy about pumpkin spice, shopping for lawn décor, and much-needed time off to reflect on the year. However, for others, the holidays can bring great sadness and anxiety. The loss of a loved one can turn what should be a fun-filled season into a wrecking ball in the brain and heart with deep-rooted sadness.

On Saturday, Oct. 15, Community Hospice & Palliative Care Foundation’s 18th annual Halloween Doors & More will transform the Jacksonville Fairgrounds Exhibition Hall into a magical, superhero themed, day of family-friendly fun and entertainment.

Community Hospice & Palliative Care would like to invite the public to its upcoming caregiver’s conference titled Caregivers Partnering and Connecting with the Community. This free workshop, sponsored by Edward Waters College, UF Center for Health Equity and Engagement Research, New Town Success Zone, and Preventing Alzheimer's with Cognitive Training (PACT), will discuss common struggles and discover resources that are available to help caregivers.

Applications are now open for the 2022-2023 Community PedsCare Teen Advisory Board for students who want a rewarding volunteer experience while earning volunteer hours.

Community Hospice & Palliative Care’s “Forever in our Hearts” Memory Pillow program reached its first anniversary this June with over 100 pillow requests from family members.

Community Hospice & Palliative Care presented Ms. Rosa Williams and Mr. Jon DeCarmine with the 2nd annual Community Legacy Award yesterday, May 23, at noon at the Cade Museum with many community leaders in attendance.

Community Hospice & Palliative Care has been named a 2022 Hospice Honors recipient by HEALTHCAREfirst, a leading provider of billing and coding services, Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS) surveys, and advanced analytics. This prestigious annual review recognizes agencies that continuously provide the highest level of quality care as measured from the caregiver’s point of view.

National Nurses Month, traditionally celebrated from May 6 to May 12 each year, is now a month-long celebration to recognize the contributions and the positive impact nurses have in the care of their patients.

Community Hospice & Palliative Care celebrated its longstanding tradition, the Frances Pruitt Easter Egg Hunt, on April 15. The event is organized by the Pruitt family and held in her memory to continue the family tradition. The inaugural Easter Egg hunt was held in 2003 when Mrs. Pruitt was a patient at the Hadlow Center.

April is National Volunteer Month, and Community Hospice & Palliative Care is dedicated to promoting and celebrating volunteerism. Volunteers are diverse and special members of the community, offering companionship and a listening ear to patients and family members.

National Healthcare Decisions Day is on April 16th! And as we do every year, Honoring Choices Florida along with other national, state, and community organizations, is celebrating all week to educate and empower the public and providers to plan ahead for health care decisions through advance care planning.

Community Hospice & Palliative Care is presenting Rev. Karl Flagg and Rev. Johnnie Shaw with the Community Legacy Award on April 21, at noon. The Community Legacy Award honors members of the community who represent a servant’s heart through actions of community service, education, and community initiatives.

Tip your hats and celebrate the 148th Kentucky Derby at St. Augustine’s Tringali Barn, on May 7, 2022, from 4 to 8 p.m., with food, fashion, and fun at the 10th annual Derby Run, a benefit for Community Hospice & Palliative Care.

The Charles M. Neviaser Educational Institute of Community Hospice & Palliative Care and the All Florida Case Management Network welcomes you to join the annual educational conference in Jacksonville, Case Management Conference: Making the Case: Quality Care in Challenging Times.

During National Social Work Month, we are highlighting the incredible work our dedicated social workers provide in caring for patients and their families at end-of-life. We asked Maria Cirillo, MSW, to share her story and motivation in working as a social worker in hospice care.

During National Social Work Month, we are highlighting the incredible work our dedicated social workers provide in caring for patients and their families at end-of-life. We asked Constance Thorpe, MSW, to share her story and motivation in working as a social worker in hospice care.

During National Social Work Month, Community Hospice & Palliative Care is highlighting the incredible work our social workers provide. We asked Melissa Caves, LCSW, ACHP-SW, to share her journey in working as a social worker in Hospice Care.

Honoring Choices Florida, Florida’s advance care planning initiative supported and coordinated by Community Hospice & Palliative Care, along with other national, state and community organizations, are leading a massive effort to highlight the importance of advance healthcare decision-making—an effort that has culminated in the formal designation of April 16 as National Healthcare Decisions Day.

Camp Healing Powers®, a therapeutic camp by Community Hospice & Palliative Care to help children dealing with the grief and loss of a loved one, is scheduled for April 23, 2022, at Marywood Retreat and Conference Center in northern St. Johns County.

The George and Margaret Morris Center for Caring of Community Hospice at UF Health Jacksonville reopened with an open house event at the hospital’s downtown campus.

Get Your Spring Cleaning Off to a Great Start! Support our Community PedsCare Teen Advisory Board by participating in our annual Suds-n-Shred Fundraiser. Get a quality care wash, polish up your wheels, and securely shred your old documents. All donations generated from this event will help provide a day of fun in April for our Community PedsCare patients and families!

Community Hospice & Palliative Care Foundation is hosting the second annual Bow Wow Walk 2022, a virtual marathon. This month-long walk, marathon challenge is a benefit for the Community Hospice & Palliative Care pet programs.

It has been almost two years since Community Hospice & Palliative Care volunteers were able to visit patients in person, and this past month they were given the green light to begin doing so again in-home and inpatient settings.

The Community Hospice & Palliative Care North Central team was recently selected as finalists for the Chamber Business of the Year in the categories of "Large Nonprofit of the Year" and "Diversity, Equity & Inclusion" for the Greater Gainesville Chamber of Commerce's 2021 Business Awards.

Community PedsCare®, a pediatric palliative and hospice program of Community Hospice & Palliative Care for children with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions, hosted a holiday drive-thru event for patients and families at the Earl B. Hadlow Center for Caring at the main campus of Community Hospice & Palliative Care on Saturday, Dec. 18.

Grief is a normal, necessary, natural reaction to loss. It is a roller coaster of emotions that involves physical, social, behavior, intellect, and spiritual responses. There is no right or wrong way to grieve.

The Community Hospice & Palliative Care Annual Report titled “Our Mission of Compassion” is now available for viewing. This yearly publication is a comprehensive review of the organization’s history, programs, services, and support from the 2020 fiscal year.

On Thursday, Dec. 2, 2021, and Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2021, from 5:45 to 7 p.m., the annual Tree of Life and Candlelight Services of Remembrance will honor the memory of the loved ones that have been lost in a beautiful, inspiring program of music, verse, and reflection. Participants are invited to bring a photo of their loved one to display on the memory table. The Hadlow Campus will be illuminated with lights representing each patient served by Community Hospice since 1979.

Join us in congratulating Clinical Resource Nurse Tambra Shurley, who recently earned her Certified Hospice & Palliative Care certification! The CHPN certification equips Tambra with the knowledge to anticipate patient needs and provide a higher level of care at the end of life. Congratulations, Tambra!

Join us in congratulating Liz Brown, Clinical Resource Nurse at our Northside campus, for earning her Certified Hospice & Palliative Care certification! The certification helps Liz better anticipate patient needs and provide the best level of comfort and care. Congratulations, Liz!

As a carnival worker, Brenda has traveled the world visiting every destination on her bucket list except the Grand Canyon. As a resident of Baya Pointe Nursing and Rehabilitation, she is unable to travel. However, thanks to generosity of the Virtual Reality company, Rendever, Branda’s wish to visit the Grand Canyon became a “virtual” reality!

November is National Hospice and Palliative Care Month, and hospices across the country are reaching out to raise awareness about the high-quality care that enables patients and families to focus on living as fully as possible despite a life-limiting illness.

Community PedsCare® is a nationally recognized pediatric program for children in Northeast and North Central Florida living with complex, chronic, life-limiting, or advanced illnesses. Employing a family-centered approach to care, Community PedsCare specializes in palliative and hospice care for children prenatal to age 21. Through in-home, hospital, and additional support, our pediatric team enhances the lives of children and their families through compassion, expertise, and holistic care.

Join us in congratulating Chaplain Derrick E. Young for earning his Advanced Practice Board Certified Chaplain - Hospice and Palliative Care Specialist!

Join us in congratulating Susan Workman, Hospice Hospice Nurse for earning her Certified Hospice & Palliative Nurse certification!

Join us in congratulating Melanie Adams, Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner at our Earl B. Hadlow Center for Caring for earning her Advanced Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse certification!

Join us in congratulating Danielle Fraggetta, Hospice Aide at our Clay County team for earning her Certified Hospice & Palliative Nursing Assistant certification!

Join us in congratulating Sarah Peterson, Hospice Aide at the Hadlow Center for Caring for earning her Certified Hospice & Palliative Nursing Assistant certification!

During a patient’s end-of-life care journey, there might be times when their pain or symptoms become too difficult to manage and stabilize at home. That’s why Community Hospice & Palliative Care offers 10 inpatient Centers for Caring throughout Jacksonville and St. Augustine to serve patients in immediate need.

For many people, hospice care and palliative care are interchangeable terms. However, not everyone who qualifies for palliative care is eligible for hospice care – and those who could benefit from hospice might not benefit from palliative care. Let’s take a closer look at palliative care by exploring the program’s benefits, how it differs from hospice care, who qualifies for these services, and more.

Community Hospice & Palliative Care Foundation's Halloween Doors & More will present a Drive-In Movie Experience at the Jacksonville Fairgrounds on October 16th.

Community Hospice & Palliative Care’s Durable Medical Equipment (DME) site moved last week from their location on Beach Boulevard to a new, more centralized location on Salisbury Road. This move will allow for faster deliveries to patients living with advanced illness in their large 16-county service area.

You or your loved one might have recently received an unsettling prognosis of a terminal illness. The news might come as a shock or the latest hurdle in a long health struggle. While reviewing options, the doctor suggests hospice care. Read our article to learn about your next steps.

Community Hospice & Palliative Care announces the launch of their signature pediatric palliative and hospice care program, Community PēdsCare, in North Central Florida. Founded in 2000 in Northeast Florida, this nationally recognized program has helped thousands of children from prenatal to age 21 living with complex, chronic, life-limiting, and advancing illness at no cost to the family.

The Community Hospice Foundation is now accepting applicants to Join the 2021-2022 Community PedsCare Teen Advisory Board. Members of the advisory board act as ambassadors to raise awareness and funds for the Community PedsCare program.

The Grief and Bereavement program would like to honor all fathers, those who are no longer with us and those still present with a sincere message of appreciation and thankfulness. Happy Father's Day.

The two-day groundbreaking Florida Palliative Care Coalition Summit opened on Friday, June 4, 2021, to a socially distanced invitation-only crowd of Florida’s 100 premier healthcare professionals at the Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek. The pandemic pushed back the Summit’s original launch, but that only enhanced the Coalition’s resolve to create a pivotal event with nationally acclaimed speakers, one that would immediately and positively impact the lives of fellow Floridians.

The Volunteer Department at Community Hospice & Palliative Care hosted multiple Volunteer Appreciation events at six locations across North Florida to say “Thank You” to their volunteers. The event was held outside in socially safe areas to accommodate those who attended.

It’s National Pet Month and Community Hospice & Palliative Care celebrates its Pet Therapy Program by bringing awareness to the community.

As Mother’s Day approaches, Robyn Gilson, a St. Johns County resident, remembers her mother, Mimi Tangum, who passed away in January of 2021 from Parkinson’s disease.

Community Hospice & Palliative Care celebrates the over 386 nurses caring for almost 1,600 patients a day. Nurses Week 2021 allows us to thank our nurses in a very special way for the work they have done.

Since our inception in 1979, Community Hospice & Palliative Care has counted on the selfless commitment of caring volunteers to join us in helping provide our patients with compassionate, end-of-life care. For National Volunteer Appreciation Week, we’re showcasing a few of the hundreds of amazing volunteers who make Community Hospice & Palliative Care a leader in hospice care.

Since our inception in 1979, Community Hospice & Palliative Care has counted on the selfless commitment of caring volunteers who help us provide our patients with compassionate end-of-life care. For National Volunteer Appreciation Month, we’re showcasing a few of the hundreds of amazing volunteers who make Community Hospice & Palliative Care a leader in hospice care.

April is National Volunteer Month, and Community Hospice & Palliative Care is dedicated to promoting and celebrating volunteerism. Volunteers are diverse and special members of the community, offering companionship and a listening ear to patients and family members.

Honoring Choices Florida, Florida’s advance care planning initiative supported and coordinated by Community Hospice & Palliative Care, along with other national, state and community organizations, are leading a massive effort to highlight the importance of advance healthcare decision-making.

Community Hospice & Palliative Care recently received a donation from Elder Options, provided through The Florida Department of Elder Affairs, of 100 lifelike robotic cats and dogs to help comfort socially isolated seniors and adults living with Alzheimer’s Disease and related dementia.

Join us in recognizing Katherine Platt, Nurse Manager at Community Hospice & Palliative Care, for being nominated as our February HERO of the month!

Rasharia Cason is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with Community Hospice & Palliative Care. She currently works from the St. Vincent Southside Center for Caring, but began her work at the George and Margaret Mortis Center for Caring eight years ago.

Announcing the Ninth Annual Derby Run, a Benefit for Community Hospice & Palliative Care. Celebrate the 147th Kentucky Derby at St. Augustine’s Tringali Barn on May 1, 2021, from 5 to 8 p.m., with food, fashion and fun at the ninth annual Derby Run, a benefit for Community Hospice & Palliative Care.

Jamaal Powell, Registered Clinical Social Worker, has been with Community Hospice & Palliative Care for two and a half years. Jamaal works at our McGraw Center for Caring, assisting patients and their families navigate their end-of-life journeys.

Helping Children and Grandchildren of Dying Patients Grieve and Cope With Loss, Emmalee Tresnan is a Certified Child Life Specialist working on the adult side of hospice care, the only program in Northeast Florida, and one of a few nationwide, with a designated position dedicated to working with the children and grandchildren of adult hospice patients.

Alivia (alleve- ē- uh) Care, Inc. is the National winner of the Aging Media Network’s (AMN) Aspect Marketing Award for New Brand Launch. The 2021 Aspect Awards showcases the top marketing and advertising campaigns from a broad spectrum of care providers and vendors across the country. AMN received more than 40 submissions in the categories of Home Health & Home Care, Hospice & Palliative Care, Senior Housing & Senior Living, and Skilled Nursing.

March is "Save Your Vision Month" and Community Hospice & Palliative Care, along with Concierge Care, Concierge Home Care, The Windsor of Gainesville, and Hurricane BTW restaurant, will host a drive-by eyeglass collection event on March 23 from 2 to 4 p.m.

For National Social Work Month, Community Hospice & Palliative Care is proud to showcase the Psychosocial department, home to our dedicated Licensed Clinical Social Workers, specialized in Hospice Care.

Like other patients with medical complexities, Kayla struggled with feeling different from her peers. Her Child Life Specialist, Leah Stapleton took action, facilitating a ‘coping card’ activity to help remind Kayla of the helpful techniques she has learned such as deep breathing and peace mantras to help her get through her school day.

Community Hospice & Palliative Care of North Central Florida is presenting the Honorable Rodney J. Long and Charles S. Chestnut III with the Community Legacy Award on March 17, at noon. The Community Legacy Award honors members of the community who represent a servant’s heart through actions of community service, education, and community initiatives. This unique opportunity honors exceptional individuals who have positively lead and influenced our community, who have chosen to serve the public, and represents a life dedicated to selflessly helping others.

Vivian is now a proud high school graduate after overcoming a traumatic vehicle accident caused her to relearn how to speak, eat and walk. We’re celebrating Vivian’s strength in celebration of Child Life Month.

Join us in recognizing Larry O’Connell, Chaplain at Community Hospice & Palliative Care, for being nominated as our January HERO of the month! Larry demonstrated the January value of integrity, selflessly working with patients when they needed him most.

We asked Antonio Ross, Volunteer Engagement Coordinator with Community Hospice & Palliative Care Volunteer Services Department to share with us why Black History Month is important to him.

An unexpected traffic stop became a heartwarming reminder that our front-line workers are making a difference! A Clay County Sheriff’s Office officer stopped Danielle Fraggetta, Hospice Aide, to thank her for the work she does! Read more about the heart-warming story here.

Community Hospice & Palliative Care is hosting the inaugural Bow Wow Walk 2021, presented by Pet Paradise. This month-long walk, marathon challenge is a benefit for the Community Hospice & Palliative Care pet programs.

Community Hospice & Palliative Care honors and recognizes the achievements of African American pioneers who have accomplished historical feats in the face of opposition. Today, we draw inspiration from their lives to build a more unified community. We asked Jeffery Harris, Director of Materials Management, from our Durable Medical Equipment Department to share with us why Black History Month is important to him.

Hospice Satilla, a community treasure since 1986, has affiliated with Alivia Care of Georgia, a like-minded non-profit organization committed to supporting and sustaining community-based mission-driven hospices throughout Georgia.

Community Hospice & Palliative Care welcomes Dr. Stefanie B. Lord, M.D. as the new Medical Director. Dr. Lord is on the faculty of the University of Central Florida College of Medicine and has resided in Gainesville since 1979. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Florida with a degree in Microbiology and Cell Science and was awarded membership in the Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society. Dr. Lord received her medical degree from the University of Florida College of Medicine, and completed her Internal Medicine residency at the University of Florida, and is board-certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine.

Community Hospice & Palliative Care continues to expand its service to include a 10th inpatient unit at Baptist Medical Center South. The new Center for Caring is an 8,600 square foot, 10-bedroom facility. Located on the 7th floor of Tower C on the hospital campus, this state-of-the-art care center has private rooms with bathrooms, comfortable and spacious gathering areas, family laundry and kitchenette areas, and a quiet room for when patients or family members simply need a break.

Each year, Community PedsCare ®, a pediatric palliative and hospice program of Community Hospice & Palliative Care for children with life-limiting and life threatening conditions, hosts an in-person holiday event for their patients and families. This year, due to COVID-19 restrictions, they celebrated their first drive-thru holiday experience at the Earl B. Hadlow Center for Caring at the main campus of Community Hospice & Palliative Care on Saturday, Dec. 19.

It’s been one year since the ribbon was cut at The Alice and T. O’Neal Douglas Center for Caring at Baptist Medical Center Jacksonville. The facility, which received its first patient on December 2, 2019, serves those living with advanced illness (cancer, congestive heart failure, COPD, Alzheimer’s/Dementia, etc.) and in need of end-of-life care. The goal of each Community Hospice & Palliative Care center for caring is to provide a calming, residential-style environment in which to stabilize the hospice patient’s acute symptoms, providing relief so they can return to wherever they call home.

The annual Tree of Life and Candlelight Service of Remembrance will honor the memory of loved ones from 5:45 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 3. This will be a program of music, verse and reflection. Due to the impact of COVID-19, a virtual experience has been planned for the event. As part of the program, names and photos of loved ones will be featured before and after the virtual service.

The festive holiday season can be challenging for those grieving the death of a loved one especially during a pandemic. They find themselves torn between the need to grieve and pressure to get into the holiday spirit. Some traditions this year will be different and many activities will be limited, changed and may not occur at all based on limitation of travel and safety concerns.

Community Hospice & Palliative Care usually holds its Volunteer Appreciation Day, in person, every April but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The team did not want to miss thanking some of the most important people to their community so a Volunteer Drive-Thru event was organized to make up for the missed celebration.

Community Hospice & Palliative Care of North Central Florida has promoted Bertie Allender and Jill Gaylord. Bertie Allender, manager of Healthcare and Community Relations, started working within the hospice field in 1991. She worked in-home healthcare, nursing homes, and most recently as a regional director in hospice care before coming to Community Hospice & Palliative Care, where she has been for the past three years. Jill Gaylord, Senior Clinical Manager, graduated from Florida Gateway College in 2011. She worked as a registered nurse in many fields, including long term care, medical/surgical nursing, and ICU, before finding her home, six years ago, with hospice. Jill just celebrated her third anniversary with Community Hospice & Palliative Care.

Whispers of “I love you” and plastic-protected hugs were how one couple celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary Friday at a Palatka nursing home. William Hines wasn’t able to celebrate the moment with Ann Hines, a resident of Windsor Care & Rehab, on July 7, their actual anniversary date, but he said seeing his best friend and life partner for the first time in months brought tears to his eyes. “She’s my everything,” William Hines said. Under state law, long-term care facilities, such as nursing homes and hospitals couldn’t have visitors from March through September because of the coronavirus pandemic. Windsor Care and Community Hospice & Palliative Care teamed up to bring families back together Friday.

That’s how long William and Ann Hines have been married. On Friday, the Putnam County couple that was forced to spend their 50th wedding anniversary apart got to embrace for the first time since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Billie Adkins is the Regional Director for North Central Florida for Community Hospice and Palliative Care. She said it’s important for patients and families to see each other and make a connection.

A new player has emerged in the senior and serious illness care market in the Southeastern United States. Alivia Care Inc. has begun providing a range of services that include hospice and palliative care. The nonprofit is also in the process of expanding into the home health arena. Alivia, pronounced [alleve- ē- uh], has its roots in Community Hospice & Palliative Care, headquartered in Jacksonville, Fla. Community continues to provide care as an Alivia subsidiary. Community’s CEO, Susan Ponder Stansel, has now taken the helm of Alivia Care.

With a new arena of payment options emerging in 2021, hospice providers are honing in on strategies to deliver value-based care amid a sea of risks. A heavier focus on advance care planning could be crucial for hospices making the play to participate in the Medicare Advantage demonstration project and Primary Care First payment models.

One might think there’s no room for falling in love while suffering from dementia; evidently, they’d be wrong. Betty Daniels, a 75-year-old Gainesville resident and former pastor, has been in the late stages of the disease for the past two years. Since then, she’s fallen deeply in love with a gospel singer, and she was finally able to meet him through Zoom last month.

Community Hospice & Palliative Care volunteers from across Florida painted 260 paintings for veterans. “We met the goal for every veteran in our program to receive a patriotic art peace by the Fourth of July,” said Betsy Miller, volunteer coordinator at Community Hospice & Palliative Care. “The paintings are our way of saying thank you to the men and women who have served our country.”

Luckily, the moment was filmed so it’s one that will live on forever. But, even without the video, it doesn’t seem like the memory will be lost for anyone any time soon. Miss Betty Daniels has suffered from dementia for ten years. She spends most of her days watching and singing along to the gospel channel, which is not surprising to her children, Vanessa Hutchinson and Robert Frazier. Miss Betty grew up singing and playing in the church where she was also a pastor.

Community Hospice & Palliative Care volunteers from across Florida painted 260 paintings for veterans, and all were received by the Fourth of July. “We met the goal for every veteran in our program to receive a patriotic art peace by the Fourth of July,” said Betsy Miller, volunteer coordinator at Community Hospice & Palliative Care. “The paintings are our way of saying thank you to the men and women who have served our country.”

Volunteers and staff members from Community Hospice & Palliative Care in Baker, Clay, Duval, Nassau St. Johns, Alachua, Bradford, Columbia, Dixie, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Lafayette, Levy, Putnam, Suwannee, and Union counties, are taking part in painting sessions which requires the colors of paint to be red, white and blue.

Every Friday morning since late May, Community PedsCare along with the Dreams Come True team (dressed as lovable cartoon characters) have made surprise visits on the lawns of families with children battling life-threatening illnesses.

Volunteers and staff members from Community Hospice & Palliative Care in St. Johns County and throughout the state are participating in painting sessions to honor veterans. Each piece of artwork requires the use of red, white and blue paint.

On the first Friday of each month prior to COVID-19, local musicians and volunteers performed a mini-concert for Community Hospice & Palliative Care patients and their families at the Earl B. Hadlow Center for Caring. Because of the virus pandemic, Betsy Miller, volunteer engagement specialist, proposed that the May concert go out virtually on social media. Local musician Scott T. Horowitz accepted immediately when Miller approached him to play. Chris Underdal joined Horowitz for the mini-concert.

St. Augustine resident and quilter Audrey Jernigan recently donated 30 handmade face masks to the employees of Community Hospice & Palliative Care. “I’m a quilter. I love to sew, and I love my country. What a blessing that I can help and do what I love,” said Jernigan. “We are all in this together.”

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, Community Hospice & Palliative Care’s Pet Therapy pets are unable to make visits to patients and their families. These compassionate dogs and cats travel to see patients in Baker, Clay, Duval, Nassau St. Johns, Alachua, Bradford, Columbia, Dixie, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Lafayette, Levy, Putnam, Suwannee and Union counties.

Recent news here and abroad has highlighted the urgent need for advance care planning, a conversation about how we would want to live when faced with a serious or sudden illness. This planning often results in a document also known as an advance directive.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, Community Hospice & Palliative Care’s Pet Therapy pets are unable to make visits to patients and their families. These compassionate dogs and cats travel to see patients in Baker, Clay, Duval, Nassau St. Johns, Alachua, Bradford, Columbia, Dixie, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Lafayette, Levy, Putnam, Suwannee and Union counties.

Leah Stapleton, Emmalee Tresnan and Danielle Eaves are child life specialists at Community Hospice & Palliative Care. They work closely with children and their families in medical, home and classroom settings to provide emotional support and help develop coping strategies for all involved. All three said they love what they do.

Right about now, Cheryl Woodall would probably be sewing something frilly. The owner of Little Bloom Boutique specializes in floral printed onesies, ruffled bloomers and Peter Pan collared tops for babies and toddlers. Instead, this week, she’s making face masks and delivering them to medical personnel in need. “I saw a pattern on Instagram,” the Fernandina Beach seamstress said. “There was a link on CraftPassion.com. By the week’s end, she had halted all other orders and had a bag full of elastic. Woodall is sewing masks and filters and delivering them to expectant moms and medical workers. All at no charge.

Charles R. and Bonnie Redlinger were married 63 years, and died a day apart last week in the Palm Valley home of one of their daughters, Sandy Antonopoulos. He was 84, she was 81, and Antonopoulos is sure they were waiting for each other before dying. They did not die from the effects of the coronavirus, but the pandemic was a source of stress and urgency for their children, who, as their parents’ health failed, quickly transferred them from a memory-care facility, just as it went under lockdown. This way the couple could die together in a family home.

Even as the coronavirus crisis spreads, the everyday toll of sick people dying from any number of other causes continues its steady pace. In many cases there are grieving families making that slog alongside them. Enter hospice. Consider the numbers: Every day across 16 Northeast Florida counties, Community Hospice & Palliative Care has 1,300 patients in end-of-life care.

Leah Stapleton, Emmalee Tresnan, and Danielle Eaves are Child Life Specialists at Community Hospice & Palliative Care. They work closely with children and their families in medical, home, and classroom settings to provide emotional support and help develop coping strategies for all involved.

Florida-based Community Hospice & Palliative Care is opening a Program for All-Inclusive Care of the Elderly (PACE) center in Jacksonville in a joint venture with Aging True Community Senior Services. The joint venture is known as PACE Partners of Northeast Florida. The center is the first of its kind in northern Florida and the fifth such program in the state.

It’s been in the works for seven years and now licensing approval has been granted for the first Program for All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly in North Florida, according to health care officials. The PACE Place will open March 25 following a ribbon-cutting at 5450 Ramona Blvd. in Jacksonville. It is designed for people 55 and older with chronic health conditions who qualify for nursing home care but choose to remain independent and live in the comfort of their home.

Licensure for the first PACE, Program for All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly, has just been approved by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the Agency for Health Care Administration for the State of Florida to operate on the First Coast in Jacksonville. PACE services will be provided by The PACE Place, 5450 Ramona Boulevard, Jacksonville, Florida, 32205 which will open for business following an official ribbon-cutting ceremony March 25, 2020, at 7:45 a.m.

Our team was featured during love week on the Good Morning Jacksonville morning show on First Coast News!

Cupid’s arrow can pierce your heart in a very different way on February 14. What was once a holiday of fun and “warm fuzzies” can turn into a day of sorrow. Community Hospice & Palliative Care offers the opportunity to attend our Healing Hearts Workshop for those facing pain and heartbreak around Valentine’s Day. Attendees will have the chance to learn valuable resources for coping with grief in a supportive atmosphere.

Anja, Chloe’, and Molly are in the “interview” phase for becoming Community Hospice & Palliative Therapy Pets. After the three dogs become registered with the Alliance of Therapy Dogs, the compassionate canines will visit patients at Community Hospice inpatient centers as well as the homes of the patients.

“Valentine’s Day is a special day for couples to celebrate their relationships. If one from the couple has died, it can be an especially painful day.” Said Jim Monahan, VP of Education and Community Engagement. “Our workshops are designed to provide a time and a place for someone who was lost a spouse or partner to learn about grief, meet others in the same situation and have a good meal with those who truly understand what they are going through.”

Livi Bowers, a senior at Ponte Vedra High School, has two essential roles as a volunteer at Community Hospice & Palliate Care. She is President of the Community PedsCare Teen Advisory Board, and the talented artist also takes part in the Creative HeARTs program, painting portraits of pets in the Pet Therapy program.

Ponte Vedra High School senior Livi Bowers has been dedicating her time volunteering at Community Hospice and Palliate Care. Bowers is Present of the Community PedsCare Teen Advisory Board, and she also paints portraits of pets as part of the Creative HeARTs program. “Growing up, my family was very involved with Halloween Doors & More, and I could not wait until I was old enough to become a volunteer for Community Hospice,” Bowers said.

Cupid’s arrow can pierce your heart in a very different way on February 14. What was once a holiday of fun and “warm fuzzies” can turn into a day of sorrow. Community Hospice & Palliative Care offers the opportunity to attend our Healing Hearts Workshop for those facing pain and heartbreak around Valentine’s Day. Attendees will have the chance to learn valuable resources for coping with grief in a supportive atmosphere.

Livi Bowers is a senior at Ponte Vedra High School. Livi also volunteers at Community Hospice & Palliate Care as president of the Community PedsCare Teen Advisory Board. She is also an artist painting portraits of pets in the Pet Therapy program of Community Hospice’s Creative HeARTs program. According to Community Hospice, Livi works hard as an ambassador for the Community PedsCare program and “interacting with hospice patients through art therapy.”

Veteran residents of Augustine Landing were honored this week by the Volunteer and Community Relations team of Community Hospice & Palliative Care. “Too often we forget the seniors who’ve served our country, and being a veteran myself, I never pass up the opportunity to say ‘thank you’ to fellow veterans as well as their spouses and family,” said Carnell Hall, a veteran volunteer ambassador.

Laura Monise, an aide at Community Hospice & Palliative Care in Jacksonville, is leading a toy drive to collect dolls for dementia patients. Monise said she got the idea when she gave a baby doll to an Alzheimer’s patient. “It brought tears to my eyes when I saw how this toy doll decreased her stress and agitation,” she said. “I feel providing dolls for dementia patients puts caring and structure back into their lives.”

A Jacksonville father is keeping his promise after losing his daughter to a terminal illness. Brendan Hoffman says his daughter, Dawn, spent her last six weeks of life in Community Hospice after being diagnosed with melanoma. "She had eight tumors on her brain, it wasn't Stage Three, it already metastasized," Hoffman said. Dawn was a patient at Community Hospice & Palliative Care, where she and her father discovered an old dollhouse in the TV room.

On Wednesday, Dec. 4, Tristan Sprouse graduated from the palliative level of care at Community PedsCare, the pediatric program of Community Hospice & Palliative Care. The 21-year-old has aged out of the program and is currently making the transition into adult healthcare services. The independent young man is very appreciative of his family and the Community PedsCare team, who have been supportive throughout many hospitalizations and trials that come with having a chronic medical condition.

The festive holiday season can be challenging for those grieving the loss of a loved one. They may find themselves torn between the need to grieve and pressure to get into the holiday spirit. For these grievers and their families, Community Hospice & Palliative Care offers a free workshop, Hope for the Holidays. The annual program is designed to help people learn new ways to cope with grief, which can become amplified during the holiday season.

Brendan Hoffman made the delivery of eight new dollhouses for the Community PedsCare program to the Charles M. Neviaser Educational Institute Tuesday morning, December 10, 2019, as he fulfills the promise he made to Dawn, his dying daughter 10 years ago when she was in Hospice losing her battle with Melanoma in 2009. According to Hoffman, his daughter saw an old dollhouse that was at the hospice facility and told her father that he should make a replacement.

For a patient moving into hospice care, comfort and convenience are crucial. That’s why Community Hospice and Palliative Care will open its ninth inpatient unit, the Alice and T. O’Neal Douglas Center for Caring, on the fifth floor of Baptist Medical Center Jacksonville. It began accepting patients Monday.

The Beach Boulevard Community Hospice Thrift Shop is having a grand reopening Tuesday in Jacksonville. The remodeled store at 11173 Beach Blvd. will open at 9:30 a.m. with all items 50 percent off, according to Community Hospice & Palliative Care. All purchases support a mission to improve the quality of life for patients and families and to be the compassionate guide for end-of-life care in the community.

St. Augustine Community Hospice & Palliative Care’s Annual Tree of Life and Candlelight Service of Remembrance will take place from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday. This is the organization’s 29th event, and first in St. Augustine, to remember loved ones who passed away as the holidays near. The remembrance is open to the public for a night of “music, verse, and reflection,” whether they were a patient of St. Augustine Community Hospice & Palliative Care or not.

On Tuesday, Dec. 3, the Stephen R. Chapman Family Community Campus, located at 1355 US 1 Highway South in St. Augustine, will open its doors for the first time to the community in a special way that highlights the lives of treasured family members and friends. This beautiful tradition continues on Thursday, Dec. 5, at Community Hospice & Palliative Care’s Earl B. Hadlow Center for Caring, located at 4266 Sunbeam Road, Jacksonville.

Now in its 40th anniversary year, Community Hospice & Palliative Care continues to expand its service to include a ninth inpatient unit, the Alice and T. O’Neal Douglas Center for Caring at Baptist Medical Center Jacksonville.

At 94, Mary Hall has owned a lot of dogs in her life but little Pepper is special. "It was love at first sight," said Mary with a laugh. She had to give up her lab mix when he became too big for her, and then her cat passed away. "It was very lonesome," she said. But she was a volunteer at Community Hospice and Palliative Care and asked if there was a small, senior dog that needed a home. "They said, "Well how about a dog (we) have right now?" she explained.

Gunnery Sergeant John Guglielmino has died after suffering from a stroke. He was 69 years old. After a social media request from his daughter Katherine Boccanelli, he ended up with more than 200 visits from local veterans at his bedside. He was also recognized with a special medal from local Congressman John Rutherford’s office. Guglielmino served more than 17 years with the United States Marine Corps and completed multiple tours in Vietnam.

Like thousands of men of his generation, Gunnery Sergeant John Guglielminno did his duty and went off to Vietnam. But that was a long time ago and every day since, he's been living with wounds he got on the other side of the globe. After a small request from his daughter, local veterans are now helping their brother in arms face his next steps.

On Saturday, Oct. 19, Community Hospice & Palliative Care’s Halloween Doors & More will transform the Jacksonville Fairgrounds Exhibition Hall into a magical playroom full of toys, games, and famous cartoon characters. Celebrating the event’s 15th anniversary, this year’s theme is “You’ve Got A Friend In Us.”

Fort White resident, George “Larry” Lockwood is diagnosed with the late stage of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). Realizing his serious condition, George has an extremely positive outlook on his life and life in general. He moved to Fort White, Fla. from Maryland in 2017 to live with his daughter. In his 73 years of life, George has worn many hats. From serving in the U.S. Army and owning an auto mechanic business, to being a volunteer firefighter and an expert fisherman.

Four Jacksonville non-profits were recipients of a generous estate bequest from the Honorable John H. Moore, II and Joan Kraft Moore Living Trust. The organizations that received the impactful donations are Community Hospice & Palliative Care Foundation, Dreams Come True, Mayo Clinic, and Ronald McDonald House Charities of Jacksonville. The gift is an enormous boost for all of the non-profits, each of which received a check in the amount of $2.4 million dollars.

On Wednesday, August 21, 2019, Chief Petty Roger Donohew was honored and pinned by members of the Community Hospice Team.

This week, Susan Ponder-Stansel, President and CEO of Community Hospice & Palliative Care received the prestigious statewide 2019 Quality Senior Living Award (QSLA), named after Dr. Carter Osterbind, at the 38th annual Florida Council on Aging’s (FCOA) annual conference in Orlando. The QSLA award is given annually to an FCOA member whose actions reflect a high level of personal or organizational commitment on behalf of Florida seniors.

On Wednesday, August 7, 2019 - The Community Hospice Veterans Partnership (CHVP) of Community Hospice & Palliative Care and the University of North Florida’s Military and Veterans Resource Center (UNF MVRC) sponsored their second veteran series of the year, the Agent Orange Town Hall at the Adam W. Herbert University Center at UNF (12000 Alumni Drive, Jacksonville, FL, 32224).

Military members serving in the Vietnam War didn’t know it at the time, but there was something more deadly in the air than the bullets and bombs of combat. Roughly 50 years later, veterans are still dealing with the impact of Agent Orange, a blend of herbicides American military forces sprayed in the jungles of Vietnam and Korea to remove trees and foliage where enemies could hide.

This Upscale Resale Shop, part of the new Stephen R. Chapman Family Community Campus, will provide a unique inventory of new and “new to you” specialty items for bargain shoppers to choose from. From name brand clothes to one-of-a-kind collectibles, the Upscale Resale Shop will have something for everyone, with 100 percent of proceeds benefiting unfunded care to patients and families of Community Hospice & Palliative Care.

This unique Community Campus will further Community Hospice & Palliative Care’s commitment to the health and well-being of St. Augustine and St. Johns County residents by offering health services and ensuring individuals are prepared to face the challenges of aging and advanced illness. It will serve as the focal point for Community Hospice & Palliative Care services that occur outside of the acute-care setting of our Bailey Family Center for Caring at Flagler Hospital.

On May 22 through 23, 2019, Community Hospice & Palliative Care held Veteran Celebrations at Signature Healthcare, Park Meadows Nursing Home, The Windsor of Gainesville and Oak Hammock Nursing Home.

Now in its 40th year in Clay County, Community Hospice & Palliative Care (Community) continues to expand, holding a ribbon cutting ceremony Tuesday, May 28 from 5 – 6:30 p.m. in to open its newest office in Clay County, its eighth office throughout its 16-county service area. The Community Hospice & Palliative Care of Clay County new office ribbon cutting will take place Tuesday, May 28 at 4689 US Highway 17, Suite #9, Fleming Island, FL, 32003.

On May 16, 2019, Kerri Masley, a remarkable woman employed at Florida Blue for 17 years and known for her passion for making a difference in the lives of those in need was honored for leaving a lasting impression on the world Kerri Masley passed away in October 2018 in the care of Community Hospice & Palliative Care.

Cancer is an ugly word and a horrible disease. For 32-year-old Allanious Fuqua, Cancer is all of the above and more. "I don't pay it no attention I just go with the flow," she said. February 2019 she was diagnosed with breast cancer and the prognosis was dim. "They told me I was at my end, " said Fuqua.

Community Hospice & Palliative Care is the only hospice provider in the Northeast and North Central Florida region, and one of a select few of the over 4,382 hospice agencies in the U.S., to be awarded the 2019 prestigious distinction of Hospice Honors, a national program that recognizes hospices that provide the highest quality of care from the caregivers’ point of view. HEALTHCAREfirst recently announced the recipients of its 2019 Hospice Honors at the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization’s Leadership & Advocacy Conference in Washington, D.C. mid-April.

On Thursday, April 25 from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., The Charles M. Neviaser Educational Institute of Community Hospice & Palliative Care and 21st Century C.A.R.E. welcome healthcare professionals to attend an inspirational educational seminar with acclaimed grief and loss counselor, Dr. Kenneth J. Doka.

Now in its 40th year, Community Hospice & Palliative Care continues to expand, holding a ribbon cutting ceremony tomorrow, April 11, from 5 – 6:30 p.m. in Gainesville to open its third office in North Central Florida, and its seventh office throughout its 16-county service area. The Community Hospice & Palliative Care of Alachua County (greater Gainesville) office ribbon cutting will take place tomorrow at 4011 NW 43rd Street, Suite B, Gainesville, FL, 32606.

The 2019 Riverside Craft Beer Festival will showcase more than 100 local, regional, national and international breweries in the name of an amazing cause: proceeds from the festival will support Community Hospice & Palliative Care’s Community PedsCare program, which brings comfort and care to enhance quality of life for patients from prenatal (before birth) to age 21. The program supports the specialized needs and medical care of the child, their parents and siblings, other family members, caregivers, classmates and teachers.

When it comes to coping with life’s often unforeseen trials, it helps to have a sturdy network for comfort, support and guidance. With this goal in mind, The Bethel Church and Charles M. Neviaser Educational Institute of Community Hospice & Palliative Care are uniting to host the “Planning For The Storms of Life” conference on Saturday, March 2 from noon to 3 p.m.

Community Hospice & Palliative Care is demonstrating a continued commitment to helping aging populations in the communities it serves. On Thursday, Feb. 21, 2019 from 4 to 6 p.m., Community Hospice is teaming up with the Florida Council on Aging and Florida Association of Aging Services Providers to host the Regional Aging Advocacy Summit.

It has been the ongoing support of the communities it serves that has allowed Community Hospice & Palliative Care to thrive in its four decades. The personal legacies of local community leaders who champion dignity at the end of life are intertwined with the legacy of Community Hospice. Jacksonville lawyer Earl B. Hadlow was one of those community leaders. Community Hospice’s first free-standing inpatient center is named in his honor.

In a black graduation cap and gown, Allanious “AJ” Fuqua walked slowly and unsteadily Thursday afternoon toward her seat in the front row of a community center in this riverfront town. Under her cap she wore a bright red wig with blond highlights. After all, red is her favorite color, said her hospice nurse, Chaketa Jenkins.

In 40 years, with the enthusiastic support of a generous network that includes patients, families, staff, donors, community leaders, local businesses and trusted healthcare industry partners, Community Hospice & Palliative Care has blossomed into a pioneer and thriving innovator in hospice and palliative care.

“It’s not about the burden of the process. It is just precious time we need to dedicate to these vulnerable, fragile patients,” said Community Hospice & Palliative Care Chief Medical Officer Dr. Ana Sanchez in an interview with WJCT's Abukar Adan about House Bill 21.

For Community Hospice & Palliative Care’s Community PedsCare program, unwavering support from local businesses since its inception in 2000 has been a major difference-maker in its growth and innovative delivery of hospice and palliative care services to children from prenatal to age 21.

On Saturday, Dec. 8, The Charles M. Neviaser Education Institute of Community Hospice & Palliative Care and The Potter’s House Christian Fellowship presented “Understanding Grief And Supporting Adults and Children Who Are Grieving,” a community seminar designed to help guests identify types and causes of grief.

When innovation meets outstanding community support, a partnership like Community PedsCare teaming up with THE PLAYERS Championship is the winning result.

On Friday, November 30, Director of Development for Foundation Amy Davis joined Shaunee Jones of WQIK to talk about our upcoming 28th Annual Tree of Life And Candlelight Service of Remembrance.

Community Hospice & Palliative Care recently invited renowned subject matter experts to its 8th annual Wound Care Conference at the University of North Florida’s Adam W. Herbert University Center. This year’s conference theme was “We Have You Covered.”

This holiday season, Community Hospice is giving the gift of hope to anyone in the community struggling with grief, and remembrance to those who have lost a loved one in our care.

On Thursday, Dec. 6, Community Hospice & Palliative Care’s Earl B. Hadlow Center for Caring, located at 4266 Sunbeam Road, will open its doors to the community in a special way that highlights the lives of treasured family members and friends. The 28th Annual Tree of Life and Candlelight Service of Remembrance is here to support the communities it serves by helping families and friends honor the memories of those who have been lost in a beautiful, inspiring program of music, verse and reflection.

In celebration of this month’s National Philanthropy Day, two longstanding Community Hospice partners were honored at a very special National Philanthropy Day luncheon by the Association of Fundraising Professionals Florida, First Coast Chapter for their tireless dedication to the growth of the communities they proudly serve.

Just in time for November’s National Hospice & Palliative Care Month, Community Hospice & Palliative Care Chief Medical Director Dr. Ana Sanchez has been honored for her dedicated service with the City Rescue Mission’s Difference Maker Award.

Community Hospice & Palliative Care President and CEO Susan Ponder-Stansel addressed the group at one of the Summit’s plenary sessions to offer critical perspectives on “Lessons Learned from Alternative Payment Models.” Ponder-Stansel discussed the Care Choices model’s unique delivery of patient care for those at the end of life.

Community Hospice & Palliative Care’s Halloween Doors & More transformed the Jacksonville Fairgrounds Exhibition Hall into a galaxy far, far away.

On Friday, Oct. 19, Community Hospice & Palliative Care welcomes Vietnam veterans to a conference from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the University of North Florida’s (UNF) Adam W. Herbert University Center.

Community Hospice & Palliative Care President and CEO Susan Ponder-Stansel has been invited to serve on the Advisory Committee for Florida Age-Friendly Public Health.

On Wednesday, October 3, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ (CMS) Palliative Care Affinity Group (PCAG) welcomed healthcare subject matter experts to its CMS Serious Illness Summit in Baltimore. Community Hospice & Palliative Care Chief Operating Officer Phil Ward offered an impactful perspective on palliative care and the health care continuum as a speaker at this year’s Summit.

A year in the making, Community Hospice & Palliative Care opened its new office adjacent to the Council on Aging in Nassau County on Tuesday, October 2.

On Friday, August 17, Mary McElroy, Community Hospice & Palliative Care's Senior Vice President of Hospice Services, shared her expertise at the American College of Health North Florida Chapter's Executives Panel Discussion: "Improving the Bottom Line by Optimizing Patient Throughput."

In 2017, Community Hospice & Palliative Care expanded to offer 11 new counties in North Central Florida an innovative choice in end-of-life care for those with advanced illness – including a variety of care programs and services that extend beyond the traditional offerings.

Two of our Community PedsCare® patients were granted an incredible wish when they became "Jaguars for a Day."

Registration is now open for the fall camp.

Jaiden Elliott has lived his life with resilience, hope and the love of his supporting family.

Former PedsCare patient Michael Goodman, Jr. was only a few months old when he was diagnosed with leukemia. In the 10 months he bravely battled the disease, Michael underwent nearly 80 blood transfusions. “The 79 transfusions would help his body recover from the chemo treatments and help him to feel better,” his mother, Karlie Goodman, said.

Community Hospice & Palliative Care® President and CEO Susan Ponder-Stansel continues her commitment to impactful service and leadership.

Through full accreditation from the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education, Inc. (ACPE), Community Hospice & Palliative Care is now an official, independent Level I and Level II Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) program.

Local Jacksonville nonprofit, Community Hospice & Palliative Care (CHPC), was awarded a grant from the Elizabeth Dole Foundation’s Hidden Heroes Fund today, in support of its efforts to impact the lives of military and veteran caregivers through its upcoming “Caring for the Veteran’s Caregiver Conference.” CHPC is among thirteen organizations nationwide receiving funding for innovative and evidence-based programs that address the long-term needs of military caregivers, the spouses, parents, and loved ones caring for wounded, ill or injured service members and veterans at home.

Jacksonville, FL – As Memorial Day approaches, we are reminded of the service and sacrifices our veterans have made on behalf of our great nation. At Community Hospice & Palliative Care, we have served veterans, their caregivers and families, since 1979.

In December 2017, prior to becoming a patient, Baby’s owner had taken a fall in her home. It was Baby’s instinct to comfort that drove her to stay at her owner’s side for three days, without food. Miraculously, Baby had no accidents in the house during this time. When her owner enrolled in Community Hospice and Palliative Care’s services, she immediately signed Baby up for the PPOM program. Once she knew Baby would be taken care of, this was a relief for her and she passed a couple of days later.

Hear former Jacksonville Jaguar Donovin Darius' uplifting story of faith, family, football and helping others as the featured keynote at Caregiver Expo 2018, Saturday, April 14 at EverBank Field's US Assure Club East in downtown Jacksonville.

You may recall that Proposal 54 would have put an amendment on the ballot this November to eliminate all Certificate of Need (CON) for health care facilities in Florida, including hospice care. The title of Proposal 54 was "Access to Quality Healthcare," so its chance of approval by voters would have been high if it made it to the ballot. The CRC held a series of public hearings throughout Florida and heard from many strong supporters of hospice in opposition to Proposal 54.

The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Florida Chapter’s Northeast Unit honored Community Hospice & Palliative Care Psychosocial Specialist Kelly Racine, MSW (pictured, right) as its Social Worker of the Year at the unit’s annual breakfast and awards event Tuesday, March 6 at Epping Forest Yacht Club in Jacksonville.

Today, St. Johns Volunteers!, Inc. (SJVI) would like to announce the newly elected board of directors and officers selected to lead the private non-profit 501(c)3 organization in 2018. St. Johns Volunteers! was established in 2015 and its mission, as the primary community connection point for volunteerism, is to match the efforts of people and resources to enrich the quality of life in St. Johns County, Florida.

On the 10th anniversary of the launch of the Kelsi Leah Young Respite Care Fund, Community Hospice & Palliative Care will host a milestone evening celebration with Tom Coughlin, executive vice president of football operations for the Jacksonville Jaguars, to recognize the impact the fund has had on the more than 360 Community PedsCare® families who have used respite care. The 10th Annual Kelsi Young Gift of Care Celebration will be Thursday, March 8 from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at Congregation Ahavath Chesed, 8727 San Jose Blvd. in Jacksonville.

Florida's Constitution Revision Commission (CRC) is currently considering Proposal #54 to revise the state constitution to eliminate all Certificate of Need (CON) for health care facilities in Florida, including hospice care. The CON assures the right number of hospices are operating in a designated service area, so supply equals demand. It also allows our state regulators to choose the best hospices allowed to operate in our state.

Community Hospice & Palliative Care continued its additional 11-county expansion west with an official ribbon-cutting Tuesday afternoon at its newest office in Lake City.

Community Hospice & Palliative Care celebrates its expansion into 11 westward counties of northeast Florida with a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its new Putnam county office in Palatka, Florida.

Since its inception as a nonprofit, community-focused organization in 1979, Community Hospice & Palliative Care has been governed by a board of directors, made up of local civic, corporate and nonprofit leaders.

Community Hospice & Palliative Care has elected community leaders to officer and new member positions on its St. Augustine/St. Johns County Advisory Council.

In 2017, Community Hospice & Palliative Care was selected by the Florida Agency of Health Care Administration (AHCA) to provide service to 11 additional counties, while still providing life-changing services to the five northeast Florida counties it has served since its founding in 1979.

St. Augustine and St. Johns County residents soon will have one central destination to learn more about palliative and hospice care services, the Stephen R. Chapman Family Community Campus of Community Hospice & Palliative Care.

Jaguars President Mark Lamping joined Mayor Lenny Curry today to announce the 2017 recipients of the Jacksonville Resource and Reintegration Center community grants. For the fourth consecutive year, the Jaguars Foundation and the City of Jacksonville awarded $50,000 to six veteran-serving organizations throughout the community to assist in their ongoing efforts to support military and veterans in Northeast Florida. These grants are funded through the Jaguars $1 million commitment to the City of Jacksonville’s Military Affairs and Veterans department.

Jacksonville, with the third largest military presence in the country, today pledges its support to the community’s military and veteran caregivers – the spouses, parents, family members, and friends caring for our nation’s wounded warriors - by becoming a Hidden Heroes City. The Hidden Heroes Cities Program, part of the Elizabeth Dole Foundation’s Hidden Heroes Campaign, is a growing network of over 100 cities committed to better serving military and veteran caregivers through local services and support.

On Friday, September 22, military caregivers can find help at the 8th annual “Caring for the Military/Veteran Caregiver” conference, a free, public event that connects veterans and caregivers with education, resources and inspiration. The conference will begin with registration at 8:30 a.m. and will finish at 3 p.m. at WJCT Public Broadcasting, 100 Festival Park Ave. in downtown Jacksonville.

There are an estimated 200,000 military veterans in Northeast Florida alone, which is why Community Hospice & Palliative Care continues its commitment to raise the standard of veteran-centric care in the communities we serve. The organization attained Level III Partnership in We Honor Veterans, a program of veteran-specific caring techniques developed by the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) in collaboration with the Veterans Administration.

Jacksonville-based Community Hospice of Northeast Florida today changed its name to Community Hospice & Palliative Care to reflect its growing line of services and programs. With the new name, the organization also is introducing a refreshed logo, with colors that represent the four elements of self that impact the overall quality of life of its patients and families: physical, emotional, spiritual and social.

Community Hospice of Northeast Florida, one of Florida’s leading palliative and hospice care providers, has been selected by the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) to begin providing hospice services to the residents of Service Area 3A, an 11-county region of north and north-central Florida, including Gainesville and Lake City.

Community Hospice of Northeast Florida and St. Vincent’s HealthCare -- a ministry of Ascension, the nation’s largest Catholic and non-profit health system -- are advancing their partnership by creating an inpatient unit at St. Vincent’s Medical Center Southside. The new eight-bed wing opened on Feb. 7.

Community Hospice of Northeast Florida has received nine national awards for our We Choose advertising campaign over the past two weeks. The organization recently joined forces with ruckus. advertising + public relations to launch the campaign to better convey the organization’s unmatched quality, service and satisfaction in the region. “Our goal was to incorporate a fresh look and feel into our nonprofit’s marketing and advertising by highlighting services that distinguish us as a local leader in advanced illness and not just a hospice organization,” said Lisa Acheson Luther, director of communications and brand for Community Hospice. “One year later, the accolades from our collaboration with ruckus. and our patient families are a testament to the power of good storytelling.”

Community Hospice of Northeast Florida is one of only 141 hospice providers nationwide participating in the Medicare Care Choices Model – a new option that allows Medicare beneficiaries to receive curative and comfort care at the same time.

Danielle Eaves Hernandez and Dr. Kelly Cronin Komatz were recognized as 2015 Health Care Heroes by the Jacksonville Business Journal on Tuesday. Both play an integral role in Community PedsCare®, the pediatric hospice and palliative care program of Community Hospice of Northeast Florida.

Jacksonville should turbocharge its economic growth by helping 50-plus residents embrace “encore” careers. Northeast Florida businesses should create workplace policies that support family members caring for frail or disabled loved ones. The community should create a private membership service to help older people get around even if they can no longer drive themselves, and encourage building homes designed so that people can live independently throughout their lives. These are among the recommendations from a new Jacksonville Community Council, Inc., (JCCI) study, “Re-Think Aging,” released today during JCCI’s 2015 annual meeting at WJXT.