Hospice care started in the Mat-Su Valley in the 1980s. Volunteers, churches, and community members led this grassroots effort. Later, Valley Hospice Resources and other organizations focused on emotional support, grief counseling, respite care, and helping families care for loved ones at home.
Hospice has come a long way since its beginnings. Volunteer-based services could no longer meet the needs as the Valley grew. Medicare-certified hospice providers now serve our growing population with trained interdisciplinary teams.
Maria is a Patient Care Navigator with Ancora Home Health and Hospice. She explained how hospice services work in an interview with Mike Chmielewski on Big Cabbage Radio last week. She also cleared up common misconceptions.
Ancora provides stability and support for patients and families during serious illness. Maria emphasizes that hospice care is generally 100 percent covered by Medicare for eligible patients. There is usually no out-of-pocket cost for those who qualify. The name Ancora comes from the Latin word for “anchor.” It is a for-profit agency.
Maria stresses that hospice is not just for the final days of life. One of the biggest misconceptions is that entering hospice means death is imminent. Patients and families benefit most when hospice begins months earlier, allowing time to receive symptom management, emotional support, education, and guidance. Patients with a terminal diagnosis and an expectation of six months or less to live are eligible for hospice care.
Mike Chmielewski shared his family’s recent experience with hospice while caring for a relative in Florida. The patient returned home after the hospital physician recommended hospice. A hospital bed, oxygen, and other medical equipment were delivered before the patient came home. Nurses, aides, social workers, and other team members visited regularly, helping both the patient and family through the final days. Maria confirmed that families in Alaska can generally expect a similar approach.
Each hospice patient and the caregivers are supported by an interdisciplinary team. A registered nurse serves as the patient’s case manager. Certified nursing assistants provide personal care. A social worker provides support for the family, and a chaplain is available for spiritual support. A medical director oversees care. Hospice teams focus on comfort, symptom management, and quality of life rather than curative treatment.
Maria also explained that hospice does not provide around-the-clock caregivers in the home. Families provide the day-to-day care. Hospice staff are available 24 hours a day by phone. Nurses make regular home visits and visit when symptoms require attention. Hospice professionals provide training, guidance, and reassurance that reduce caregiver stress and burnout.
Patients do not always need a physician’s referral to begin the hospice evaluation process. In some circumstances, patients can request an assessment themselves. The Ancora medical director reviews medical records and determines eligibility for hospice services.
Beyond hospice, Ancora also provides home health services for patients recovering from surgery, illness, or injury who need skilled nursing or therapy at home. Maria highlighted the agency’s free “Bridge” program. It stays connected with vulnerable patients after home health services end. The program does periodic wellness visits and check-ins. They can identify changing needs before a crisis occurs.
Maria concluded by encouraging listeners to learn more about hospice before a crisis develops. Alaska remains one of states that underutilizes hospice services. This is despite the significant support available for patients and families facing serious illness. Education, early planning, and understanding how hospice can help means that people receive compassionate care when they need it most.
Mike and his family became fans of hospice. You can learn more about hospice services at ancoraalaska.com. .The interview with Maria is on bigcabbageradio.org in Community Health Connections under podcasts.
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This Page Two article was reported by Mike Chmielewski and produced by yours truly, Lee Henrikson. If you have an idea for a Page 2 topic, please email us at page2@radiofreepalmer.org.
That’s it for today and the news on Page Two on Wednesday July 8, 2026.