Tyler Ridge IIA
8003 Corporate Drive, Suite G
Baltimore, Maryland 21236
410-931-0990 or 1-877-640-1809
Fax: 410-931-2144

Maryland State Hotline 1-800-492-6005 to register concerns about home care TTD number is: 1-800-735-2258

Hospice care affirms life.

Harford Hospice provides support for persons in the final stages of a life-limiting illness to ensure they live as fully and comfortably as possible. Hospice care is a coordinated program of palliative (comfort) care and support services, including physical, psychosocial and spiritual care.

Care is provided by a medically directed interdisciplinary team that includes:

• Hospice Medical Director who specializes in palliative care.
• Registered Nurses to administer skilled clinical treatment, patient care instruction and/or infusion care.
• Social Workers to assist you and your family with emotional and grief issues, and provide counseling and information regarding resources available through community, state and federal agencies.
• Volunteers who are specially trained and screened to provide respite and emotional support; they are the heart of hospice!
• Home Health Aides to provide personal care services under the expert guidance of a registered nurse or therapist.
• Pharmacist to assist in managing the patient's symptoms with the most effective medication.

Hospice Philosophy

Harford Hospice is a program of palliative and supportive services providing physical, psychological, social and spiritual care for terminally ill patients and their families. Services are provided by a medically supervised interdisciplinary team of professionals and volunteers.

Hospice affirms life. Hospice exists to provide support and care for persons in the last phase of an incurable disease so they may live as fully and comfortably as possible. Hospice recognizes dying as a normal process. Hospice care neither hastens nor postpones death. It exists in the hope and belief that through appropriate care and the promotion of a caring community sensitive to their needs, patients and families may be free to attain a degree of mental and spiritual preparation for death that is satisfactory to them.

Harford Hospice offers specialized health care, which does not end when acute care is completed. Total patient care extends to the management of the patient's dying and death, and extends beyond to the surviving family. Hospice teaches a new attitude toward death and dying with the realization and conscious acceptance this process is a part of the life cycle. Hospice affirms that the terminally ill patient would be allowed to die at home with family or significant others, or in a more home-like and congenial environment than the usual hospital setting.

Harford Hospice - What Sets Us Apart

Harford Hospice is a non-profit home hospice program serving Harford, Cecil and Baltimore counties and Baltimore City.

We provide hospice services to patients and families through our interdisciplinary team of nurses, social workers, nursing aides, volunteers and a Chaplain. Our 24 hour on-call nurses are available to assist patients and families. You do not need to have a "Do Not Resuscitate" order to be admitted to Harford Hospice.

Home Health Aides may provide one to two hours of assistance daily with bathing and personal care of patients. The Hospice team determines the frequency of these visits.

Each patient case is reviewed individually when determining appropriateness of admission. Tube feedings, intravenous fluids and other supportive interventions do not necessarily preclude a patient from admission to Harford Hospice.

Our dedicated hospice registered nurses have specific expertise in pain and symptom management. We work with Hospice Pharmacia to provide our patients their medications. This pharmacy is specifically devoted to the needs of hospice patients. Medications are delivered via Fed Ex to the patients' homes within 24 hours of ordering. It is a great help to our families to have medications delivered right to their door.

History of Harford Hospice

In mid 1979, a small group of interested persons from the Aberdeen/Havre de Grace area began meeting to explore the possibility of developing a hospice in the community. A Board of Directors was organized and Harford Hospice began accepting patients.  Harford Hospice prides itself on a reputation of excellent quality and compassionate care.

In 1996, the Board of Directors approved the integration of Harford Hospice with Upper Chesapeake Health. This merger allowed Harford Hospice to continue its mission to the community as well as be competitive with healthcare trends on a larger market. In 1999, an affiliation also occurred with the St. Joseph Medical Center. This resulted in the creation of Upper Chesapeake/St. Joseph Home Care. Upper Chesapeake/St. Joseph Home Care provides hospice service as Harford Hospice. This affiliation has allowed us to offer excellent care to a larger service area that now includes Baltimore City, and Baltimore, Harford and Cecil counties.

Today, our committed staff of healthcare professionals provide care 24 hours a day, seven days a week to patients and caregivers in the comfort of their own home surrounded by their loved ones. We are also proud to have a team of dedicated volunteers who play an integral role in allowing us to meet the needs of our patients.

Eligibility for Services

Patients need to:

• Be in an advanced stage of a life-limiting illness;
• Be under the care of a physician who understands and will participate in the hospice concept of care;
• Have a competent person willing to assume responsibility for the care of the patient in his or her home;
• Be aware of the diagnosis and prognosis; and
• Live within the licensed service area

Bereavement

Bereavement services are available for survivors, including children. Bereavement support services are offered for a full year after the death of a patient. This service includes our monthly Bereavement Group, that is open to all persons in the community with bereavement needs.

Dignity, Respect & Kindness

Harford Hospice is comprised of committed team members to serve you with dignity, respect and kindness.

Volunteers

A committed group of volunteers assist patients and families in meeting the patient's needs at home. Volunteers typically provide support that a family or friend might provide.

Fundraisers

Harford Hospice Regatta

Harford Hospice admits and services patients without discrimination on the basis of race, religion, color, nationality, sexual orientation, sex, age, disability, marital status, or source of payment. This applies to the provision of services, use of facilities, assignment of personnel, opportunities to participate in programs and activities and employment practices.

Certified by the:
Division of Licensing Certification, Maryland State Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
Member:
National Association for Home Care, National Hospice Organization, Hospice Association of America, Hospice Network of Maryland
Accredited by:
Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO)