Charitable Trust Staff visited Hospice of Charles County in Waldorf to view recent renovations and learn about their services. Hospice provides medical care usually focused on enhancing quality of life rather than curative treatments, by emphasizing pain management, emotional support, and spiritual care. This holistic approach allows patients to spend their remaining time in a familiar and supportive environment, surrounded by loved ones. Staff explained that care in this Charles County facility also includes a variety of palliative care options, including stabilization that allows some patients to return home. Hospice services, given their sensitive nature, are enhanced greatly by providing a comfortable, peaceful physical space and amenities for both patients and their families. Since 2020, Hospice of Charles County has implemented improvements to enhance their atmosphere and functionality, including fresh paint, all new hospital beds, expanded doors, upgraded furnishings, easily accessible in-room bathrooms, as well as outdoor landscaping improvements.
Upon entrance to the Waldorf location, you can find a friendly atmosphere where employees and volunteers provide support and services to patients and families. Each patient room is equipped with state-of-the-art hospital beds and new exterior doors, providing patients with easy access to outdoor areas for fresh air—an essential feature for both patient well-being and emergency preparedness. On the bottom floor, Hospice of Charles County has rooms for bereavement groups to meet and a “Skills Lab” where they train staff to provide care in a home setting. Funding for these enhancements to the facility is thanks in part to grants from the Charles County Charitable Trust, as well as other grant funding and community donations.
Along the back of the building lies an expansive patio area accessible directly from patient rooms as well as the common areas for families or visitors. The back patio faces a serene, wooded area, colorfully lit with fall leaves on the day the Trust visited. This area provides a peaceful space for all and is still a work in progress according to Hospice Staff. They have been working on improving the gardens and landscaping around the property and are currently fundraising to add new outdoor amenities for Hospice families and the community at large. Future plans include installation of a walking path through the wooded areas on the property to include walkways, benches by the creek, and access points from around the front of the building. This will allow anyone in the community access to enjoy the nature area and walking path without needing entrance to the Hospice building.
Staff additionally share a goal to implement a “Phone of the Wind” on the property. This is a concept first brought to life in Japan with unique installations now found all over the world. A Phone of the Wind is a disconnected telephone, usually found in nature, where people can choose to communicate with loved ones who have passed away. This concept is part of a broader movement to help individuals process grief and remember those they’ve lost by providing a peaceful space for reflection. Learn more at https://www.mywindphone.com/.
How to Help: Hospice of Charles County is seeking volunteers! They also want to build partnerships with any individuals, companies, or nonprofits that could assist with landscaping or gardening on their property. Visit https://www.hospicechesapeake.org/ or call (877)462-1101 for more information.