Medieval Ages

During medieval times, there was a European tradition of monks who took in travelers who became fatigued or sick along their journey, caring for them until they recovered or succumbed to their illness. The term "hospice" can be traced back to these times when it referred to the place of shelter and rest provided by these kind monks as they ministered to strangers in need.

1960's

British physician Dame Cicely Saunders introduced a new way of caring for the dying after years of disillusionment with end-of-life care. Having worked first as a registered nurse, then training as a social worker when she injured her back, she felt compelled to seek physician training to make a medical difference in how dying patients' pain and troubling symptoms were addressed.   Bringing the viewpoint that the physical, emotional and spiritual all are equally important aspects of the dying process, she opened the doors of St. Christopher's Hospice in 1967 just outside of London. She was the first to apply the term "hospice" to this specialized care for the dying.          

1965

Florence Wald, Dean of the Yale School of Nursing, invited Cicely Saunders to come to Yale as a visiting faculty member for the spring term.

1968

Florence Wald took a sabbatical from Yale to work at St. Christopher's to learn first hand about this way of caring for dying patients. She returned determined to bring this care to reality in the United States.

1969

Dr. Elisabeth Kubler-Ross , a physician trained in psychiatry , wrote a book based upon her interviews with more than 500 dying patients. She made the case for home-based care as a choice when people can no longer benefit from aggressive curative treatment efforts.

1972

Kubler-Ross testified before the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging, advocating a more compassionate approach to our mortality, which should include the supports necessary to allow people to care for their dying loved ones at home.

1979

The national Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA) approved demonstration projects to assess the cost-effectiveness of caring for dying patients in this specialized way.

1982

Congress enacted a provision that created the Medicare Hospice Benefit, with a sunset provision four years later.

1986

The Medicare Hospice Benefit is made permanent by Congress. Over subsequent years, other insurers of health care would eventually also decide to cover hospice care as a benefit in their policies.

1988

The need for a local hospice program to serve the residents of Cortland County, NY was identified by the area's Long Term Care Coalition. Hospice began locally as a group of caring volunteers reaching out to people in need. These volunteers identified needs in those they served that volunteers alone could not address adequately. The momentum for a fully certified hospice with a full range of service developed over time.

1991

The Cortland County Legislature approved funding to back the creation of a fully certified hospice, which became operational and accepted its first patient in September of 1991. The office operated out of rental space located on N. Homer Avenue in Cortland. The hospice logo, a butterfly, was designed and donated by local resident and artist, Mike Shepherd.

2000

Volunteers remain an integral part of hospice service to our local community. The need was identified that the hospice office rental space was no longer adequate. Hospice Foundation volunteers and others in the community spearheaded an effort to build adequate office space, including in the plans a room large enough to offer bereavement support groups to the entire community. This dream became reality when the building was completed and occupied in June of 2000.

2006

Celebrating the anniversary of our 15th year of service to Cortland County residents, we salute all who gave so unselfishly to see dreams of caring for dying people and their loved ones become reality. Without such support and the means to make it happen, the dream would never have been realized. Your dream became others' reality and we thank you!