In 2004, Coastal Hospice at the Lake opened its doors to provide critically ill patients with care, comfort and support. This year, Coastal Hospice & Palliative Care is celebrating the 10th anniversary of this important turning point in healthcare for the four Lower Shore counties.

Since its opening, Coastal Hospice at the Lake has provided 28,500 days of care to more than 3,400 patients and their families who live in Wicomico, Worcester, Dorchester and Somerset counties.

Coastal Hospice at the Lake is an inpatient unit located in a beautifully renovated wing of historic Deer’s Head Hospital in Salisbury. It is designed to give patients short-term care, usually less than five days.

A stay there is appropriate when a patient needs temporary intensified medical care to treat symptoms that cannot be managed at home, such as pain, breathing difficulty or anxiety. The lakefront facility is also used for respite care, when a caregiver needs a break from the intensity of caring for a loved one at home.

In addition, the Coastal Hospice at the Lake team cares for patients who are transitioning from the hospital to home hospice.

Coastal Hospice designed the unit to feel more like a home than a hospital. The dedicated wing at Deer’s Head is small, with six private and eight semi-private rooms, so care is intimate and immediate. Bright colors and original artwork line the walls, and furnishings are comfortable, with medical equipment out of sight as much as possible.

Community rooms, including a family room, a garden room and a kitchen, and walking trails around the lake are places to gather and relax. Friends and family can visit any time of the day or night with unlimited visiting hours, and the family pet is welcome to come and visit, too.

An experienced and caring staff – present 24 hours a day, seven days a week – includes doctors, registered nurses, certified aides, social workers, chaplains, volunteers and music therapists. They provide expert and compassionate care and support. The staff uses a holistic approach to address the unique medical, physical, spiritual and emotional needs of both patients and families.

Coastal Hospice & Palliative Care is a nonprofit health care organization that cares for individuals facing life-limiting conditions but who want to remain as active and engaged as possible. The organization serves Wicomico, Worcester, Dorchester and Somerset counties.