Page 27 - August 2022 Issue.indd

Compass is Actively Serving serious diagnosis or the loss of a loved one. In some cases,
these students are grappling with a tragic loss associated with
Caroline County a car accident, suicide, overdose, etc. In the 2021-2022 school
year, our team served 72 students within the Caroline County

By Heather Guerieri RN, MSN school system. Throughout the county in 2021, we supported
Heather is the CEO of Compass Regional 330 people as they processed their loss of a loved one that
Hospice and has been for the past 15 years was in hospice. We also host a variety of grief counseling
workshops throughout the year. For the tri-county area we
The decision to not move forward with the hospice center at also host Camp New Dawn and Camp Reflections. Th ese

this time in Denton was an extremely difficult choice to make. are grief retreats for children, teens, and families struggling

It was not taken lightly, and we spent a lot of time researching with the loss of a loved one. Another aspect of our services
and discussing it with industry experts, our leadership team, is providing grief counseling to community organizations
and Board of Directors. It came down to the immense impact or local businesses that are experiencing a loss within their
that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the healthcare staff . Most of these programs and services are at no-cost to

industry, staffing, and building material costs. the person in need. We do not receive reimbursement from
insurances or the state for these services.
Since 2015, Compass has been proudly serving Caroline
County residents with our hospice care, supportive care, To be sure, we know that this announcement was very
and grief support services. In that time, we’ve been able to disappointing for many of you, but our commitment to
provide assistance to over 1,000 patients and their families serving Caroline County has not waivered. Our goal is to
that have found themselves faced with a life limiting diagnosis offer comprehensive, professional, and compassionate care to

or loss. In 2021, we worked with 174 hospice patients and 27 those throughout Caroline, Kent, and Queen Anne’s counties
supportive care patients. Of those patients, 81.5% had chosen who need our help for many years to come. To do so, we made
to receive their care at home where they feel most comfortable the difficult choice to not build a hospice center at this time.

and can be surrounded by loved ones. This is a trend we are We continue to work daily throughout the county providing
seeing in hospices nationally as well. When people are being hospice care, supportive care, and grief support services to
admitted to hospice, given the choice between remaining at residents and their families and the community at large.
home or coming to a center, they choose to stay home. For
those needing a hospice center, we’ve been privileged to serve We ask for your continued support, as we remain very
dedicated to Caroline County and providing its residents
patients at our Barnette Center, Compass’ tri-county, 10-bed
with the best quality of care wherever they call home. Th ank
facility located in Centreville. Our commitment to providing
the highest quality of care has not waivered with our decision you for allowing us to provide you with more information
regarding the Hospice Center in Denton. surrounding our decision. If you have additional questions,
please feel free to reach out to me, Heather Guerieri, at
Outside of hospice care and supportive care in Caroline hguerieri@compassregionalhospice.org.
County, our team provides grief services to residents and the
Compass
school system. We provide personalized support for hospice
families through visits, calls, and mailings for 13 months Since 1985, Compass has been allowing patients to spend their

after their loved one’s death. Our grief support services team final months the way they choose, guiding loved ones aft er a
also works closely with the school system to facilitate grief life-limiting diagnosis, and showing individuals healthy ways
to manage their grief. Today, the organization is a regional
group and individual counseling sessions for students. Th ese
students are navigating the emotions and grief related to a provider of hospice care, supportive care, and grief services in
Caroline, Kent, and Queen Anne’s counties. Whether serving
their patients in private residences, skilled nursing facilities, or
Calvary Baptist Church Compass’ residential center in Centreville, staff and volunteers

are guided by their mission to ensure that individuals facing
1120 Market St., Denton • 410-924-6404 end of life can live out their days in a full and meaningful way.
www.calvarybaptistchurchofdenton.org
Compass is a fully licensed, independent, community-based
Don Reynolds, Pastor
nonprofit organization certified by Medicare and the state

10 AM Sunday Bible School – All ages of Maryland and accredited by the Joint Commission. It
11 AM Exciting Praise / Worship is affiliated with the National Hospice and Palliative Care

Also, great Junior Church (5-11 yrs.) Organization and the Hospice & Palliative Care Network
7 PM Sunday Evening Worship & of Maryland. For more information about Compass, call
Children’s Class 443-262-4100 or visit compassregionalhospice.org.
7 PM Wednesday Bible Studies
Let us Always Be Found Faithful

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