While each of us would like to be as prepared as possible for the end of life, it is easy to move this type of work down on our ongoing and often growing list of priorities. Advance care planning may help to reduce or minimize stress by knowing that you are prepared for whatever the future holds for you. This presentation will give you the tools and knowledge to begin thinking about and planning for the future you envision. Join us as we welcome back the professionals of Hospice of Southern Maine, who will guide us through meaningful steps that we all can take to be more prepared to face end of life decisions, whenever they may arise.

This program will take place in person at the library and will be streamed simultaneously on Zoom, for those wishing to attend virtually. If you plan on attending, please register for this program below so that we can send you a reminder on the day of the event, as well as an optional Zoom link to join us. All are welcome!

Please register by filling out the form below
and we’ll send you a reminder and a link to join us!

At Hospice of Southern Maine, our mission is to provide compassion, care and comfort through end of life for patients with life-limiting illnesses, and support for their families. Our comprehensive options for supportive care include services at The Gosnell Memorial Hospice House, the comfort of your home, or long-term care and assisted living facilities.

Surveys have consistently shown that people’s greatest fear concerning death and dying is experiencing pain and suffering. At Hospice of Southern Maine, we are committed to offering care that is provided by a team of highly trained compassionate experts who have their patients’ comfort as their highest priority.

The Hospice of Southern Maine initially grew from two hospice initiatives to build an inpatient facility: Hope Garden of York County and Horizon House of Cumberland County. These two organizations merged in 2003 to create Hospice of Southern Maine, a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization. In further support of this initiative to coordinate and expand hospice services, three home health agencies—Community Health Services in Portland, Southern Maine Health & Homecare Services in Kennebunk, and Visiting Nurse Services in Saco—joined our efforts. These three agencies allowed their home hospice programs to be integrated into one program under the auspices of Hospice of Southern Maine. Maine Medical Center, Southern Maine Medical Center and Maine Center for Cancer Medicine have also been vital collaborators in the development of Hospice of Southern Maine, the first free-standing comprehensive Medicare certified hospice program in Maine entirely devoted to the single mission of providing needed end-of-life care.

About Elizabeth Szatkowski

Elizabeth Szatkowski, MSW, LCSW, Denominational Endorsement, is Hospice of Southern Maine’s Social Services Manager. She supervises the Social Worker and Chaplain Teams who work with patients in their homes and at Gosnell Memorial Hospice House. Elizabeth has over 30 years of experience working with individuals and families facing life limiting illnesses, homelessness, addiction, trauma and poverty. She has educated social work students as an adjunct professor at USM and as a field instructor. She performs an integral part of Hospice of Southern Maine’s new hire training which is a session on The Existential Journey. 

About Marjorie Dugan Schoonover

Marjorie Dugan Schoonover RN, BSN, CHPN, is Hospice of Southern Maine’s Clinical Nurse Manager. Marjorie has twenty years of experience in Hospice and Palliative care and worked in critical care and epidemiology prior to that. Her work settings have included inpatient, nursing home and home care. Marjorie is passionate about end-of-life care and recognizes that each person has a unique set of life experiences and needs at end-of-life. She believes that it is important for health care providers to be thoughtful and attentive to individual wishes for end-of-life care. Marjorie says that it is her honor and privilege to work as a member of the Hospice of Southern Maine Team.