Hospice Facility Bill Passed by Connecticut House
Our dream of building a hospice residence in Western Connecticut has taken a big step forward! Due to the teamwork and support of our State Representatives David Scribner, Bob Godfrey, Chris Lyddy, Joe Taborsak, Michael McLachlan, Dan Carter and Janice Giegler, the Connecticut House of Representatives passed the hospice facility bill HB 5499 by 149-0 on April 19. Rep. Scribner was instrumental in moving this forward, co-sponsoring the legislation, handling the concerns of critics and convening Department of Public Health meetings to address any last minute issues. Here is a video of Rep. Scribner’s remarks in the House: Rep. David … * read more
Our Hope for a Hospice Residence in Western CT
With the land purchased and plans drawn, Regional Hospice and Home Care of Western CT, Inc. will soon break ground on a state-of-the-art hospice residence in Danbury, which promises to dramatically alter end-of-life care in the region. For our plan to become a reality, we have an immediate need for contemporary, evidence-based, quality hospice facility regulations here in Connecticut. The proposed regulations allow hospices to use either the original 1977 rules or new 2012 regulations based on modern capabilities, quality outcomes and contemporary preferences for hospice care, such as private rooms. The new regulations are specifically aimed at matching the … * read more
The Miracle of Living with Palliative Care from Birth
Ricardo Dossantos has never known a life without hospitals, surgeries, tests, and medical equipment. This engaging nine-year-old boy with a winning smile and fighting spirit first came to Regional Hospice as a patient when he was eight months old. Born with the congenital digestive disorder Hirschsprung’s disease, Ricardo endured numerous surgeries to keep him alive. “The doctors said he would not live because he had undergone so many surgeries,” explains his mother Eudiscelia. Regional Hospice nurses and social workers quickly got to know Ricardo, his mother and his grandmother as he waited for a transplant to save his life. The … * read more