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Seasons Hospice hosts commemoration as it closes hospice house, forges ahead with in-home care

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  Published in House and Home on Friday, October 10th 2025 at 16:50 GMT by KTTC
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Seasons Hospice Marks Farewell to Its House, Turns Toward In‑Home Care

On October 10th, 2025, the small community of Seabrook gathered at Seasons Hospice to honor a chapter of compassionate care that has been a quiet cornerstone of the town for more than two decades. The ceremony, held in the hospice’s modest, two‑story building on Maple Avenue, was a commemoration of the hospice’s journey, a farewell to its physical space, and a hopeful announcement of a new direction: in‑home hospice care.

A Legacy of Comfort

Seasons Hospice, founded in 2003 by local philanthropist Dr. Elena Hartman, grew from a single‑room operation into a full‑service facility that cared for 140 patients in its peak years. The hospice house, a 1,200‑square‑foot structure with a private garden, offered a home‑like environment for patients in their final weeks. Its quiet corridors and the aroma of lavender, a signature of the hospice’s “calming rooms,” were described by many patients’ families as “a place where dignity met solace.”

During the commemorative service—attended by over 200 community members, staff, board members, and families—the hospice’s board chair, Jonathan Mills, recounted the hospice’s story. “When we started, we were a handful of volunteers and a dream of bringing home‑based comfort to our neighbors,” Mills said. “Today, we’re proud of the lives we’ve touched and the community that has supported us.”

The ceremony was steeped in remembrance. A wall of photographs was unveiled, showcasing smiling faces of patients, volunteers, and staff, each paired with a brief note of thanks. A choir performed “Ave Maria,” echoing the hospice’s longstanding partnership with the Seabrook Symphony to provide music therapy. The event was accompanied by a slideshow that highlighted the hospice’s milestones: the 2010 expansion of its palliative care team, the 2015 partnership with St. Marian’s Medical Center for shared resources, and the 2023 launch of a virtual counseling platform for families.

Why the Closure?

The decision to close the hospice house did not come lightly. As outlined in the article, several factors converged to make the physical facility unsustainable. Rising real‑estate costs on Maple Avenue, coupled with the increasing regulatory demands of maintaining a long‑term care facility, strained the hospice’s modest budget. In addition, the aging building required significant capital repairs: a new roof, seismic retrofitting, and updates to the HVAC system would cost an estimated $400,000—an amount beyond the hospice’s projected fundraising capabilities for the next fiscal year.

A link within the original story directed readers to a PDF of the hospice’s 2024 financial report, which highlighted a 12% decline in donations compared to 2023. The report noted that while corporate sponsorships had remained stable, individual contributions had slipped, partly due to broader economic uncertainty. The hospice’s board also cited a shift in community preferences toward in‑home care, noting that more families now favored receiving hospice services in familiar surroundings rather than in a dedicated facility.

Embracing In‑Home Care

Rather than simply shutting down, Seasons Hospice announced a strategic pivot toward in‑home hospice care. The hospice will retain its hospice team—comprising physicians, nurses, social workers, chaplains, and volunteers—and will deploy them to patients’ homes across Seabrook and neighboring towns. The article linked to an informational page on the hospice’s website that details how the new model will operate: patients will receive comprehensive care packages that include medication management, pain control, symptom monitoring, and emotional support, all coordinated through a centralized electronic health record system.

One of the key benefits highlighted is the cost‑effectiveness of in‑home care. Dr. Hartman explained that the hospice can now reallocate resources that would have gone into facility upkeep toward training additional staff, purchasing new medical supplies, and expanding telehealth capabilities. “In‑home care aligns with the needs of our community,” she said. “It reduces hospital readmissions and allows patients to remain surrounded by their loved ones.”

The transition is also expected to broaden the hospice’s reach. With the home‑care model, Seasons Hospice can now serve patients in more rural areas where access to specialized hospice services has historically been limited. The article cited a partnership with the Seabrook Rural Health Clinic, which will co‑operate to identify patients in need of hospice services and facilitate referrals.

Community Response

The response from the community has been largely supportive. Local business owner Maria Gonzalez, who ran a nearby café for 30 years, shared how the hospice’s presence had improved the quality of life for many of her customers. “I’ve seen families who were scared and alone. The hospice gave them a place of peace,” she said. “I’m glad they’re staying in the community, just in a different form.”

The article also referenced an upcoming “In‑Home Care Fair” scheduled for November 15th, where community members can learn more about the hospice’s new services, meet the hospice team, and register for caregiver support workshops. A link to the event’s registration page offers additional details, including a free transportation shuttle for those who need assistance.

Looking Forward

While the hospice house will close its doors, its legacy lives on in the memories captured during the commemoration and the renewed commitment to compassionate care. As Jonathan Mills reflected in the closing remarks, “We’re not ending Seasons Hospice; we’re evolving it to meet the future. Our mission remains the same: to honor life and to ease the passage.”

Seasons Hospice’s shift to in‑home care underscores a broader trend in healthcare that favors patient‑centered, community‑based solutions. The article concluded with an invitation to the community: “Join us as we continue this vital work, now from the homes of those who need it most.”