Saranac Lake, NY, Aug 30, 2010 — Since the 1960s, the hospice movement has been working to give Americans more options and more choices when they reach the end of their lives.

The idea is that even after we know we're dying, we can make decisions that shape the quality of our remaining time.

High Peaks Hospice and Palliative Care serves patients across a huge swath of the North Country, from Warren County all the way to St. Lawrence County.

Brian Mann has been working with the organization to profile one family that has entered the program, the Gallaghers in Saranac Lake.

In the weeks ahead, Brian's series will follow the Gallagher family, telling the story of their lives and their work with hospice.  Go to full article

Oct 04, 2007 — Professional and family caregivers are being invited to take a break from their daily routine and focus on ways to take care of themselves. Hospice and Palliative Care of St. Lawrence Valley will host "The Caregivers Getaway" for nurses, home health aides, social workers, therapists, family members and anyone who spends their days caring for others. The "Caregiver's Getaway" is next Friday, October 12 at the Hospice Center on Highway 11 in Potsdam. Todd Moe spoke with the co-organizers of the event.  Go to full article

Jul 06, 2006 — The StoryCorps booth opens at the Canton village green this morning. StoryCorps helps people set down a record of their lives - the little details as well as the broader, deeper strokes.
Lots of reasons to do that, of course. With permission, the interviews are archived in the Library of Congress. Some are excerpted on public radio. But it's the personal archive that's most meaningful - the voices and memories that may fade, particularly after death. Zelda Foster was an early pioneer in hospice and end-of-life care. For 40 years she fought for people's right to die with dignity. She believed in facing death with honesty and preparedness. For Zelda Foster that also meant recording her story at a StoryCorps booth. Foster died Tuesday. Gregory Warner has this remembrance.  Go to full article

Oct 24, 2005 — People with terminal illness are eligible for hospice care. Hospice patients usually live at home, sometimes in nursing homes. Hospice organizations give nursing care, pain management and counseling. But New York State will only reimburse hospice expenses for people with six months or less to live.
A local hospice organization is starting to offer what's known as palliative care to patients with longer life expectancy. Hospice and Palliative Care of St. Lawrence Valley received a $25,000 grant from The Alcoa Foundation to help launch a two-year pilot program. They'll be offering palliative care to outpatients at Claxton Hepburn Medical Center in Ogdensburg.
Gregory Warner spoke with hospice executive director Brian Gardam.  Go to full article

Jun 06, 2005 — Hospice and Palliative Care of St Lawrence Valley is building new offices for their staff.  Go to full article

May 17, 2005 — Construction will start this June on new offices for Hospice and Palliative Care of St Lawrence Valley. Yesterday the USDA Rural Development Office awarded $750,000 in loans and grants to the project. That's on top of donations from community members. As Greg Warner reports, the move will give the hospice organization more of a community role.  Go to full article

Nov 07, 2003 — Martha Foley talks with Sue Cappione, Coordinator of Patient Care for Hospice of the St. Lawrence Valley, about how hospice helps patients and their families.  Go to full article