HopeHealth

12/23/2025

A single flame can hold a lifetime of love. Light a virtual candle this season as a way to remember, reflect, and honor the presence of someone who will always be part of your story.

12/22/2025

This season has been a wonderful reminder of how grateful we are for the supportive teams who make the care we provide to our community possible. It’s been an honor celebrating each of you—from cocoa and cookies to team parties—and sharing moments of appreciation together.

Special thanks to Javone Duarte, MBA, Director – Support Services, for coordinating the cocoa and cookie celebrations and bringing so much creativity to each event. His efforts truly made the season shine bright in our office spaces and added extra warmth to our celebrations.

12/22/2025

What a special day celebrating two meaningful milestones! Our PediPal team recently gathered for a holiday commemoration and a retirement celebration for Joy Indomenico, our incredible PediPal Music Therapist.

Joy has been part of the PediPal family for 12 years, sharing her remarkable gift of music with children and families. She began her journey as a HopeHealth Hospice volunteer, and after an amazing 50-year career in music therapy—playing over 27 instruments—she’s coming full circle and will continue giving back as a HopeHealth volunteer in retirement.

Joy, thank you for your compassion, dedication, and the joy you’ve brought to so many. Your legacy will continue to resonate for years to come. 💙🎶

12/22/2025

In honor of yesterday’s winter solstice—the longest night of the year—we’re sharing this encore blog post on the symbolism of light across religions. 🌟

Across cultures and faith traditions, light represents hope, healing, truth, and renewal. The return of light after the solstice reminds us that even in our darkest seasons, illumination and possibility endure.

Read more about how light unites us across beliefs:

Denis Lynch, HopeHealth chaplain, reflects on hope as seen in the universal symbols and celebrations of light that mark the darkest time of the year.

12/19/2025

Congratulations to Amy Benham Danford, MSN, RN, Quality Improvement Specialist, who has earned the Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality (CPHQ) credential from the National Association for Healthcare Quality (NAHQ)—the only accredited certification in healthcare quality.

This nationally recognized credential recognizes expertise in quality leadership, patient safety, health data analytics, regulatory compliance, and performance improvement.

We are proud of Amy’s dedication to excellence in quality and safety and grateful for the impact she makes every day. Please join us in congratulating her on this outstanding achievement!

12/18/2025

After 14 years of compassionate service, we celebrate the retirement of Kathy Locarno, RN, a truly remarkable care navigator at HopeHealth.

Kathy has been an invaluable resource to patients, families, and our referring community. As her manager shared, she is known for being exceptionally personable—taking the time to truly know the people she works with and building meaningful, trusted relationships across the facilities she served.

Always willing to lend a hand, Kathy has been a strong advocate for hospice and palliative care, consistently going above and beyond to support others and ensure quality, compassionate care. Her knowledge, generosity, and commitment have made a lasting impact on HopeHealth and the community.

Thank you, Kathy, for 14 years of dedication and heart. Wishing you all the best in your well-deserved retirement! 🌷

12/16/2025

PediPal, HopeHealth’s pediatric palliative care program, had a wonderful time at the Festival of Lights at La Salette this past week! The evening was filled with holiday music, crafts, sensory games, photos with Santa, and special visits with the PediPal team’s pet therapy dog, Oliver.

Despite the chilly weather, twenty families bundled up to stroll through the thousands of spectacular lights outdoors, then headed inside to warm up with hot chocolate and plenty of fun. The photos from the night truly warm our hearts.

12/16/2025

Caring for someone you love can be overwhelming—but you don’t have to navigate it alone. Our Caregiver Confidence education series is designed to empower family caregivers with practical knowledge, trusted resources, and the confidence to make informed decisions during challenging times.

🕛 All sessions are held at 12:00 pm and will be held January 7, January 29 and February 11. Learn more and register:

HopeHealth offers professional and caregiver eduation courses on various end-of-life care topics. Learn more and sign up for a course.

12/14/2025

🕯️ Happy Hanukkah from HopeHealth 🕯️

Tonight begins the Festival of Lights — a time of reflection, resilience, and hope.

For those who wish to honor loved ones who are no longer with us, we invite you to visit our virtual candle lighting page, a space for remembrance, comfort, and shared light. https://ow.ly/9GT750XIxGe

12/14/2025

Our hearts are with the Brown University community during this time of profound loss and heartbreak. We hold the students, faculty, staff, families, and all those affected with care and compassion as they navigate shock, grief, and uncertainty.

In the wake of violence, there is no right way to feel and no set timeline for healing. Grief can be heavy, disorienting, and deeply personal. We honor each person’s experience and the many ways this community will mourn and support one another in the days ahead.

As caregivers, educators, neighbors, and volunteers connected to this community, we stand in solidarity with Brown and with all who are hurting. May you be surrounded by care, patience, and understanding, and may support be present when it is needed most.

12/12/2025

“We will walk with you and see you through” — that promise guides Crystal Downs, RN, every day.

Crystal’s path to HopeHealth began when her own father received end-of-life care, and she discovered what sets the field of hospice apart.

Now, as an RN case manager with one of our Massachusetts teams, she offers other patients and families the same support.

“My job is all about knowing who my patients are and what matters to them,” Crystal says. “This work has had a great impact on me personally.”

“My job is all about knowing who my patients are and what matters to them.” Meet Crystal Downs, an RN case manager in Massachusetts.

12/12/2025

📬 Stay in the know with HopeHealth! Want helpful tips, dates for support groups, community events, and meaningful hospice and palliative care stories straight to your inbox? Our monthly newsletter has all that and more — especially resources for patients, caregivers, and families navigating serious illness.

Sign up today: https://www.hopehealthco.org/hopehealth-e-newsletter-sign-up/

Get HopeHealth updates you can use — right when you need them! 💫