News from the Noteworthy from Helios Care

How Helios Care Is Investing in Our Community

For more than 40 years, Helios Care has been committed to making life easier for individuals and families facing serious illness by providing choices, dignity and compassionate care. While many people know Helios Care for hospice services, our work extends far beyond the bedside. Today, we are investing in both clinical excellence and community outreach to ensure that more people have access to the support, education, and care they deserve.

One of the greatest challenges facing healthcare today is that many individuals and families learn about hospice care only during the final days of life. When that happens, patients often miss opportunities for symptom management, emotional support, caregiver education and advance care planning that could have improved quality of life much earlier.

To address this challenge, Helios Care has expanded its efforts to build stronger relationships with healthcare providers, nursing homes, hospitals, and community organizations throughout Otsego, Delaware, and Schoharie counties. Through physician outreach, educational programs, and community partnerships, we are working to move conversations about serious illness and end-of-life care upstream, before a crisis occurs.

These efforts are already making a difference. Helios Care patients enter hospice earlier than the New York State average, allowing them and their families to benefit from a longer period of support and care. While New York continues to rank among the lowest states in hospice utilization, Helios Care’s outcomes exceed state averages, demonstrating the impact of education, collaboration, and trusted community relationships.

Community engagement has become a central part of this work. New initiatives such as “Coffee and Conversation” provide welcoming opportunities for community members, caregivers, and families to learn about hospice and supportive care services in a comfortable, informal environment. These gatherings help answer questions, dispel misconceptions and connect people with resources long before they are facing a healthcare crisis. Check our Facebook page for events happening near you: https://www.facebook.com/helioscarehospice.

We have also introduced programs designed specifically to strengthen relationships with healthcare providers and referral partners. Our Continuum of Care Remembrance Program reaches out to physicians and healthcare professionals following the loss of a shared patient. Through personalized communication and expressions of appreciation, the program honors the partnership that exists between providers while also sharing information about the services and support Helios Care provided. In today’s healthcare environment, where providers often have limited time for face-to-face meetings, these meaningful touchpoints help strengthen communication and collaboration across the continuum of care.

Supporting this growth requires investment. Helios Care has expanded its leadership team by establishing a chief clinical officer position to strengthen clinical oversight, quality initiatives, staff development and patient outcomes. We have also increased investments in educational materials, community outreach resources, and in-house design and printing capabilities. These tools help us reach more individuals, families, and healthcare professionals with accurate information about hospice, palliative care, caregiver support, and advance care planning.

As a rural organization serving more than 3,200 square miles, Helios Care must also invest significantly in transportation and operational resources. Rising fuel costs and increased travel demands are a reality of providing care throughout our expansive service area. Yet we remain committed to meeting patients wherever they call home.

At the heart of every initiative is a simple goal: ensuring that no one faces serious illness alone. Whether through compassionate bedside care, caregiver support, educational programs, community events, or partnerships with healthcare providers, Helios Care is working every day to improve access to care and strengthen the health of our communities.
The impact of this work can be seen not only in statistics, but in the experiences of the patients and families we serve. Their stories remind us that exceptional care is about more than medical services, it is about kindness, dignity, comfort, and human connection.

As we look to the future, Helios Care remains committed to expanding access, strengthening partnerships, and ensuring that every individual and family can receive compassionate care when it matters most.

Joan MacDonald is the president and chief executive officer of Helios Care.