Patient Stories

Staying Comfortable at Home with Hospice

Rosie Cleary lived a life on the move. Serving in the U.S. Army, she was a truck driver, transporting supplies around Fort Jackson in South Carolina. After leaving the service, she found a career at Salem Hospital, where for 28 years she helped guide patients and families when they first arrived. Her outpost near the front entrance was affectionately dubbed "Rosie's Palace," and she helped countless people find the care they were searching for, often walking them from the parking lot right to their room.

After retirement, Rosie still enjoyed getting around town and meeting up with friends. Despite battling COPD and other health issues, she was committed to staying as active as she could. But last June, she had a difficult and honest discussion with her doctor. He said her life expectancy was estimated to be months, not years, and recommended she contact Care Dimensions for hospice. After an initial shock, Rosie did her homework and realized that hospice could be an opportunity for care and comfort.

"You're not stuck in bed," Rosie emphasized during a conversation several months later. "Hospice is not like that. You're not being told to get into bed and stay there."

A Supportive Partnership

Central to Rosie's life was her brother Paul. The two shared a home in Peabody and he was her primary caregiver. Their relationship was one of mutual support and deep understanding.

"We complement each other," Paul explained, sitting across from Rosie at the kitchen table. "She does certain things, and I do certain things, and it works."

The hospice team provided critical support to both of them. They helped manage Rosie’s medications, ensuring she didn’t take anything unnecessary and that she was as comfortable as possible. Paul got resources and support, making his caregiving role more manageable. Spiritual counselor Pam Guerrieo, who visited Rosie regularly, saw the profound impact of this approach.

"The combination of all the caregivers creates a great support system,” Pam noted. “Our team came by the house multiple times each week to see how she was doing. As her spiritual counselor, I brought communion most weeks and we prayed together.”

For Rosie, this support meant continuing to live on her own terms. Whether it was a holiday gathering at a friend’s house, a monthly lunch with old colleagues she’s known for 40 years, or trips to Winter Island, Rosie remained socially engaged.

"Rosie got to go out with her friends, and I think that was really important that she has the ability and the freedom to do that," said Pam.

Challenging Hospice Misconceptions

Paul is passionate about dispelling myths surrounding hospice care.

"There's a stigma that hospice is like a death sentence," he said. "But it's really about support - spiritually, emotionally, and practically. It helps everything.

"If there's anything you need, all you have to do is let them know," Paul explained. "They make arrangements, they check in, they make everything easier."

Having Rosie at home while on hospice was so important for both her and Paul.

“Everyone has made it comfortable for me. Very comfortable,” said Rosie. “And when they’re here, the team is talking with me, not at me. I can tell them what’s not feeling right, and then we come up with a plan together.”

Her advice to others considering hospice care was straightforward: "Sit down and talk with the people at Care Dimensions. Ask your questions. They will answer honestly, even if it's not what you want to hear."

Making Each Day Count

Pam sums up the approach taken with all patients at Care Dimensions: "It's about supporting Rosie in living her life, not just managing her condition."

For Rosie, this meant continuing to be herself: telling stories, maintaining her sense of humor, and facing each day with gratitude.

"Every day is a gift," she said simply. “When God's ready for me, he'll let me know.”

Rosie died peacefully after a brief stay at the Kaplan Family Hospice House in December 2024.