Patient Stories

Emotional support is an important part of the care hospice provides…but what exactly does that mean? “Sometimes, emotional care means encouraging a patient to have a conversation they’ve been putting off,” says nurse Tina Lerch. “Other times, it’s ...

Jen Sachar lived through challenges that are not uncommon when it comes to caring for elderly parents. “In 2019,” she says, “we had to move my mother from New Jersey to Maryland, because she had no other family around her and had just suffered a ...

Richard Schwartz can’t remember a time when he didn’t love music. From his childhood, during his Army service, and throughout his long and happy marriage to his beloved Darlene, traditional Christian hymns, musical scores and old-time rock-and-roll ...

Following the heartbreaking loss of their 2-year-old son, Beckett, the Hartner family found comfort not only in their community but also in Frederick Health Hospice's grief support programs, Camp Jamie and Project Christine. Camp Jamie especially ...

Despite the physical and cognitive challenges she faced from her Parkinson’s Disease, Patricia Clock lived her life with passion and energy. A caregiver to others throughout her life, it was always difficult for her to acknowledge when she needed ...

One of the best ways to reverse stigma is to educate the younger generation. In a new partnership between Hospice and the Department of Nursing at Hood College, future healthcare providers are getting hands-on experience while learning about hospice ...

As an extension of Frederick Health Hospice, the Equal Access Bereavement Program provides grief support, at no cost, to Hispanic residents and Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) in Frederick County with the help of Spanish-speaking ...

Hospice volunteers come from a variety of backgrounds, but they all provide compassion and companionship, something that is second nature to life-long nurses. Terry Granger has been a registered nurse for 30 years, working at Frederick Health ...

Lois Spurrier, was known for many things in her life: her 50 years as a teacher in Frederick County; as a musician who sang in the church choir and for the children she taught; a farmer’s wife who never gave up her love of the land; a local radio ...

When Patricia "Patti" Druliner hears classical music, it takes her back to her piano-playing days. Even in the late stages of dementia, when verbal communication becomes difficult, the power of music endures. Music has always been a significant part ...

In 2000, Carl and Norma Miller donated 15 acres of rolling farmland in Mount Airy that would serve as the site of a new hospice house for residents of Frederick County. In addition to donating the land for the new facility, the Millers were actively ...

Like many people, prior to my parents’ experience with hospice, I knew very little about it. I wondered if hospice meant “giving up.” I realize now that it is the exact opposite: it is taking back—taking back control of how—and where—we want to end ...