Hospice Volunteers of Hancock County

01/13/2026

How is Hospice Volunteers of Hancock County different from medical hospice?

We are a volunteer hospice organization who support patients with life-limiting illness and their families before they even qualify for medical hospice services and stay in throughout their journey to end of life.

Although we do not provide medical services, we do provide companionship to those with life-limiting illness and respite so caregivers can take time for themselves. All our services are free and delivered by trained volunteers. Families can receive 2-4 hours per week, and sometimes more, depending on the need.

We also have specialty services including Evensong Singers, Life Stories Audio Recordings, Pet Therapy, Reiki Therapy, Vigil Support, and Grief Support.

You do not need a physician referral to request services and can go directly to our website to complete a referral for yourself or your loved one.

Our referrals typically come from palliative care programs, medical hospices, and other healthcare professionals. We work with all these organizations to ensure that all patient and family needs are met. The good thing is you do not have to wait for that referral. You can contact us directly, and we can be in touch with your team.

For more information, contact us at 207-667-2531 or visit our website to learn more. Click the link below to be taken to our online referral form.

https://www.hospiceofhancock.org/referral-portal/

01/09/2026

Are you looking for a presenter for your group? We have a number of topics to choose from and have done presentations for all types of groups - including other non-profit organizations, women's groups, senior college, civic groups, libraries, churches, and businesses. Maybe you have a book club, a women's group, or other group you would like us to present to. We are available to all groups in Hancock County.

Our topics include but are not limited to:
Navigating Resources through Serious Illness; Five Wishes-The Gift of Conversation; The Gift of Story- Sharing Your Legacy; Caregiver Self-Care, HVHC and services available; What Matters Most - Conversations Around Living & Dying (grief, how to talk with your doctor and more); Hello Game (conversation game for small to large groups to discuss what matters most).

For more information and to request a speaker:
https://www.hospiceofhancock.org/education/

01/08/2026

Medical Equipment Needed!

There has been so much need recently for our free medical equipment loaner program, and we need your help to build our stock again!

We are in urgent need of wheelchairs and shower chairs, but we will gladly accept all medical equipment that is clean and in good working order, so it can be safely used by the next person who needs it.

Donations can be dropped off anytime, Monday-Friday, 9:00am-4:30pm. If those hours do not work for you, contact us at 207-667-2531 to make a plan for drop off. Donations can be dropped off at our office, 14 McKenzie Ave., Ellsworth.

Each year we serve over 300 residents with free medical equipment and that number continues to grow. We are grateful to all who support this program.

For more information on what we can and cannot accept, visit our website.

https://www.hospiceofhancock.org/equipment-exchange/

01/07/2026

Our next grief group session starts soon, and there is still time to sign up. If you or someone you know is grieving, please consider joining us.

Here are some responses from those who have participated in our groups.

"It was helpful being able to have real conversations about grief."

"Being with others who are also grieving helped me to feel normal."

"I appreciated being able to share in a safe space."

"The facilitators were kind, gentle, understanding, and knowledgeable."

"It was helpful to just be able to laugh and cry together."

"I appreciated the opportunity to share or not share and just listen.”

Grief Group:
Wednesdays, January 14 - March 8 (8-weeks) at the Blue Hill Congregational Church, 1:00-3:00pm for 8-weeks.

For more information visit our website. https://www.hospiceofhancock.org/bereavement-support/

12/11/2025

We had a little distraction at our off site meeting today.

12/03/2025

Join us for our Holiday Grief Workshop and Memory Craft on Wednesday, December 17, 10am-12pm. This session is free and all materials are provided at no cost to you. We hope you can join us.

12/01/2025

Our new sign is up! Thank you Bev! And thanks to Karl Rossi, our carpenter from West Branch Builders Inc. for his great carpentry work. They made a great team!

11/21/2025

Beverly Lamoureux, HVHC Office Manager and artist is at it again! She is creating our new outdoor sign. It is time for a fresh look! We will send photos when it is complete! Everyone needs an artist on board! We are so lucky to have Bev for her creativity, hard work and dedication to all she does here at HVHC! Thank you, Bev! We can’t wait to see the finished product.

11/20/2025

Our amazing volunteers joined us yesterday for Volunteer Day! The day started with our keynote speaker, Dr. Vanessa Little, Palliative/Hospice Care physician who spoke on Compassionate Presence in Goals of Care.

Breakout sessions included education and self care from supporting Alzheimer patients to Forest Bathing and more. We had a little bit of everything.

We had an incredible lunch thanks to our very own Bev Lamoureux, Office Manager. Amazing choice of soups for a cold day and some very delicious cookies.

We ended with a special Remembrance Service in memory of those we have served over the past year. Our Evensong Singers brought their beautiful voices to the service. Candles were lit and names were read.

Thank you to all of our amazing volunteers who support patients and families with great compassion and so much heart. And thank you to the patients and families who trust and invite us in at this time in their lives.

Thank you to the Unitarian Universalist Church for this great space for our big day!

11/18/2025

Getting ready for Volunteer Day tomorrow. A day of education, self-care and remembrance. Thank you to our amazing 85 volunteers!

11/14/2025

Join us for Five Wishes being offered through Ellsworth Adult Education on Tuesday, December 2, 10-11:30am. Learn how to have those important conversations with those you love and get your free Five Wishes booklet as part of the class. Visit the link below to register.

https://conta.cc/4pfzody

11/14/2025

An article worth reading.

I’ve never been around someone who was dying until today.