Hospice of St. Mary's, Inc. is a not-for-profit service that provides physical, psychological and spiritual care and comfort to those who are terminally-ill and to their families. Hospice also offers grief support to those families and to any community members who may have experienced the pain of loss related to death, divorce, suicide, re-location, or other significant life change. Hospice is there when it hurts.

Hospice patients are cared ideally for at home, in a Hospice house or in a nursing center by specially trained interdisciplinary team comprised of doctors, nurses, social workers, bereavement counselors, home health aides, chaplain, and a cadre of dedicated volunteers. The goal of Hospice services is best expressed in the words of modern-day Hospice founder Dame Cicely Saunders: "You matter because you are you. You matter to the last moment of your life. We will do all we can not only to help you die in peace, but also to live until you die." Hospice is there to affirm the person's dignity and integrity to the very last moment.

Hospice of St. Mary's cares for the whole person, and through pain and symptom management, helps the terminally ill person to live more comfortably during this final stage of life.  A wide variety of services may be paid for under Medicare, Maryland Medical Assistance and Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Md as well as many private insurance companies. Hospice care is provided regardless of the patient's ability to pay.



In 1981, St. Mary's community leader and activist Betsy Barley founded Hospice of St. Mary's. Betsy was trained by Hospice of Northern VA and then recruited friends and neighbors to help in establishing the concept of Hospice care in St. Mary's county. In 1982 – a Board of Directors, Articles of Incorporation and By-laws were created, and community education began with 20 people graduating from the first volunteer training class. In April 1982, Hospice of St. Mary's cared for its first patient.

In 1990 Hospice of St. Mary's was granted a license for "General Hospice Program". Medical and Clinical services were provided by local home heath agencies, however volunteers continued to provide patient care and bereavement support.

The Hospice program received Medicare certification in 1992 resulting in increased paid staff to comply with the mandate that nursing, social work, and counseling be direct (non-contract) Hospice services. To ensure continued support, Hospice of St. Mary's remains a department of St Mary's Hospital.  This affiliation has enabled St Mary's Hospital and Hospice of St Mary's to offer our community seamless, non-profit care for end-of-life patients.