Submitted by Lopez Island Home & Hospice Support.

When Lopez Island Hospice & Home Support was established in 1997, the organization’s mission was to provide skilled volunteer support at no cost to members of our community experiencing illness, injury and/or loss.

Our purpose has not changed, but by as early as 1999 the LIHHS board realized that leading with the word “hospice” in the name caused some confusion as to the services we offer. In recent years, the board recognized that this confusion was possibly preventing members of our community who are not in a “hospice,” end-of-life situation from seeking support.

This concern brought us to finally make a small but important change to our name to better emphasize what we DO! We have officially become Lopez Island Home & Hospice Support.

We want any member of our community who seeks to age in place or recover from an injury or illness to reach out to us. Our volunteers are ready to provide short or long-term support, and we can assist in a variety of areas, including help around the home, companionship, or respite for caregivers.

LIHHS does not provide medical hospice services, and we are incredibly grateful for Hospice of the Northwest staff’s dedication and skill that makes it possible for our community to have hospice care at home. Our volunteers do provide home support and companionship to clients who are patients of Hospice of the Northwest.

Our name change is most of all for you, our wonderful community, to not feel constrained from reaching out and asking for help when it is needed. We can all use a little help every now and then. And it is a privilege that LIHHS can offer that help…that home support.