Beacon Hospice - South Portland

Beacon Hospice, an Amedisys company, is a Medicare, Medicaid and ACHC certified program providing superior end-of-life care services throughout New England. Guided by patients' choices, we strive to provide the highest standard in hospice care. This approach to hospice care creates an environment of hope and comfort and is extended through our volunteers, who make an invaluable contribution to the patient and family. Beacon Hospice was founded in 1995 and was based in Boston, MA. It expanded northward into Maine in the late 1990s. Beacon Hospice, Inc. grew from its 14-patient, 10-employee Boston office to a staff of nearly 700 employees in 21 offices located in Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Connecticut. In June 2011, it was purchased by Amedisys, Inc., a national home care, hospice and personal care company. Together we are delivering the highest quality of care to more than 376,000 patients and clients in need every year.

Beacon Hospice helps patients with life-limiting illnesses to live their lives to the fullest.  Our team provides comfort to them and their caregivers.  It does so through an interdisciplinary team managed by an RN case manager; this team consists of: a medical director, social worker, home health aide, chaplain, and volunteer. A plan of care is developed by the patient, caregiver and team. This plan is reviewed every two weeks and adjustments are made as needed. We deliver this care wherever the patient lives: private homes, assisted living facilities and contracted nursing homes.  Volunteers are essential to the team providing companionship to patients and lessening their isolation.  They also may provide respite to caregivers, sit vigil at the bedside, and engage in life review to make "charts-a-life" for nonverbal dementia patients.  Veteran volunteers listen to the stories of patients who are veterans and those with trained dogs provide pet therapy.  Bereavement  coordinators provide support services to the bereaved for 13 months after the death. All of us at Beacon Hospice believe everyone deserves to live in comfort and dignity throughout their lives. Hospice care helps ensure that those with life-limiting illness live every day to its fullest, by tending to their physical, emotional and spiritual needs.