A community-wide volunteer-intensive hospice program.

Hospice of Frederick County has developed a volunteer-intensive community-model hospice program that is in many ways different from hospice programs that see themselves as a new specialty within the health care system. The intention of the program is to keep the patient and family in control of decisions and to work closely with existing health care providers selected by the family. Hospice of Frederick County believes hospice care is far more than professional health care. "The Board of Directors believes that hospice is a community concern. The compassion and caring which characterizes hospice belongs in the churches, neighborhoods, schools, workplace, service clubs...in all areas of community life. Hospice volunteers are people from the community who care so much that they are willing to receive special training and supervision to be friends to the dying, their families and their loved ones".