Supportive Care of Orleans also unveiled a new logo.

ALBION – Hospice of Orleans has announced a name change, designed to better reflect the services offered by the organization.

Hospice will now be known as Supportive Care of Orleans, according to a press release issued today by Kellie Spychalski, CEO.

The organization had planned an event for the public to make the announcement, but due to the pandemic and concerns about increased cases of Covid-19 in Orleans County, the new name was launched with a virtual presentation today through Facebook Live.

The organization, which provides expert medical care, symptom management and emotional and spiritual support tailored to the needs of the patient and their families, made the change in order to increase awareness of its various services.

The new name better reflects the broad range of supportive services, which go beyond what traditional hospice care encompasses, and includes supportive care for a variety of illnesses, not only those that are terminal, Spychalski said.

‘We support people throughout their illness. We provide care at every turn. No matter the illness. No matter the need. Supportive Care of Orleans is here to help those who are struggling with serious, chronic or life limiting illnesses, and we’re here for their loved ones, too.’ – Kellie Spychalski, CEO for Supportive Care of Orleans

Hospice of Orleans has a long history of providing supportive care to the community, and the name change to Supportive Care of Orleans is the next step in building on a legacy of compassionate care, she added.

Kellie Spychalski

“We’ve grown as an organization and we want to build on the tremendous bond we have built with our community,” Spychalski said. “We’ve responded to the growing needs of the community, and it made sense for us to align our identity with our evolved mission and expanded reach.”

The name change is also timely, Spychalski said, as November is National Hospice and Palliative Care Month, a month-long opportunity for engagement, outreach and education. It is the organization’s hope that the event will raise awareness of the important role hospice and palliative care have in increasing quality of life.

The new name and logo highlight the patient-centered care that is the hallmark of palliative and hospice programs, as well as how the organization is strongly rooted in the Orleans community. It will also help begin conversations about the comprehensive services and program the organization provides and the benefits to patients and families, such as the Martin-Linsin Residence, caregiver and bereavement support, complementary therapies and advanced care planning.

“We support people throughout their illness,” Spychalski said. “We provide care at every turn. No matter the illness. No matter the need. Supportive Care of Orleans is here to help those who are struggling with serious, chronic or life limiting illnesses, and we’re here for their loved ones, too.”

While the name has changed, patients and families can still count on the same level of service and quality of care, according to Supportive Care of Orleans’ leadership.

“Our mission is not changing,” Spychalski added. “We’re making life easier for patients and families facing serious illness and end of life, by providing choice, dignity and compassionate care with our umbrella of comprehensive services.”

More can be learned about Supportive Care of Orleans by visiting their website at www.supportivecareorleans.org.

Photos by Tom Rivers: U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer speaks outside the Medina Memorial Hospital this morning, saying he supports releasing $9 billion in federal aid for more Covid testing sites. Schumer said Orleans County, which doesn’t have a site offering free Covid testing, is hampered in quickly identifying cases. Paul Pettit, public health director of Genesee and Orleans counties, is in back. Schumer wore mask except when he was speaking at the podium.

MEDINA – U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer was in Medina this morning for a news conference outside Medina Memorial Hospital, highlighting the need for more Covid testing, including free options.

Right now, Orleans County residents have to travel outside the county for a free testing site in either Rochester, Buffalo or Niagara Community College in Sanborn.

That hampers the county’s ability to quickly identify a Covid outbreak, and is an inconvenience to residents who have to travel for the testing.

Schumer said there is $9 billion in federal funding already designated for Covid testing and contact tracing that hasn’t been released.

Schumer said he is pressing the Department of Health and Human Services to stop sitting on the money. A second wave of Covid is hitting the country hard, including in Orleans County and rural New York where more Covid testing is needed, Schumer said.

“Increasing Covid testing capacity is vital to keep our community safe and avoid other restrictive measures that can disrupt our businesses, in-school instruction and families,” said County Legislature Chairwoman Lynne Johnson. “I applaud Sen. Schumer’s efforts to free up existing federal testing funding now so that communities like Orleans County can have more access to testing.”

U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer speaks to reporters at a news conference this morning outside Medina Memorial Hospital. He said Covid has been “awful” for families, businesses and school children. Increased Covid testing is critical to help the country slow the spread of the coronavirus, he said.

Paul Pettit, the public health director in Orleans and Genesee counties, said a lack of adequate Covid testing has been an issue in the rural counties since the pandemic hit in March.

There is testing available at Orleans Community Health’s Albion site and at Oak Orchard Health in Albion. But Pettit said there aren’t free testing sites in Orleans. Residents need to travel at least 45 minutes to Rochester, Buffalo or NCCC.

A free testing site would be helpful for asymptomatic people who are required by the state to be tested because they work at nursing homes, as barbers or hair stylists. People need to get Covid tests if they face a surgery or if they want to visit a loved one in a nursing home.

If Orleans is designated as a yellow micro-cluster, local school districts would have to test 20 percent of students and staff a week.

“If the state is going to have testing requirements they should make sure there is testing in place,” Pettit said.

At a minimum, Pettit would support a mobile testing site that could rotate different days in be in a different rural county each day of the week.

With the demands for more testing, Pettit said the local healthcare providers also should be given funding to hire staff to administer the tests.

Marc Shurtz, CEO of Orleans Community Health, said the community needs more testing right now, and could see a big increase in demand if the county is designated a yellow micro-cluster, where 20 percent of students and school staff would need to be tested weekly. Shurtz thanked Schumer for supporting the CARES Act, which provided $3.8 million for the hospital in Medina.

Orleans County is currently testing about 300 residents each day. Schumer noted the positivity rate has jumped from less than 1 percent in early October to about 6 percent now.

More testing would likely identify more people who are Covid positive and then have then be isolated where they aren’t spreading Covid.

Marc Shurtz, CEO of Orleans Community Health, said the two local testing sites in Albion are busy. He anticipates a greater demand, especially if the county is designated as a yellow micro-cluster.

He backed Pettit’s statement that more staff will be needed to administer the tests.

“We not only need more testing, but free testing,” Shurtz said. “That is the ultimate goal here today (with Schumer’s news conference.)”

Schumer said the $9 billion funding through HHS could be used for rapid testing machines and test kits. Right now there are two rapid testing machines in the county. Schumer would like to see seven or eight for Orleans, and thousands of the rapid testing kits.

Shurtz said more rapid tests would make a difference “in heading off Covid in the community.” Quickly identifying cases would also likely result in fewer Covid-related hospitalizations, Shurtz said.

U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer expresses his condolences to Diane Krenning on the death of her husband Bruce Krenning. He was 76 when he passed away on Aug. 24. Krenning was the chairman of the board of directors for Orleans Community Health. Krenning also was a fruit grower in Knowlesville who worked with Schumer to develop crop insurance for specialty fruit growers. Mrs. Krenning thanked Schumer at the news conference for that crop insurance program, saying it has saved hundreds of farms.

Sheehan resigns as village trustee to take part-time position

Kevin Sheehan

ALBION – A village trustee has resigned from the Village Board to take a job as the village’s code enforcement officer.

Kevin Sheehan was elected to a four-year term as trustee on Sept. 15. He previously served eight years on the board through 2014.

He and trustee Gary Katsanis were filling in at code enforcement in October following the resignation of Tracy Vanskiver. Katsanis was handling complaints about property maintenance with Sheehan doing inspections and building permits.

Sheehan was a union plumber for 27 years before working six years with the federal VA in Batavia. He was the maintenance mechanic work lead.

After retiring from the VA, he worked the past 1 ½ years as a safety compliance consultant for Safety York Solutions.

Sheehan applied for the code position with the village and was offered the job. He resigned as trustee on Nov. 1 and last week was appointed by the Village Board to the part-time code enforcement position.

Sheehan said he wants to be a resource to village residents, with property maintenance and construction projects. He said he plans to take classes to be a fully certified code enforcement officer.

His position on the Village Board will likely remain vacant until the village elections in March. The elections are usually the third Tuesday in March but this year was pushed back due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Orleans and Genesee so far avoid micro-cluster designation

Gov. Andrew Cuomo today announced the yellow micro-cluster zone designated in Erie County last week will become a more restrictive orange zone beginning on Friday, while the rest of the county is on the precautionary yellow zone.

The governor also announced that North Tonawanda in Niagara County is now designated in a yellow micro-cluster zone.

Orleans and Genesee counties, which have seen Covid cases surge in recent weeks so far have not been declared micro-cluster zones which have more restrictions from the state to try to slow the Covid spread.

The Orange Zone in Erie County includes the City of Buffalo, City of Lackawanna, City on Tonawanda, and towns of Amherst, Aurora, Cheektowaga, Clarence, Eden, Elma, Evans, Grand Island, Hamburg, Lancaster, Orchard Park, Tonawanda and West Seneca.

The rest of Erie County is in a Yellow Zone, which includes Alden, Boston, Brant, Colden, Collins, Concord, Holland, Marilla, Newstead, North Collins, Sardinia and Wales.

The new restrictions in the zones are effective on Friday for businesses and on Monday for schools.

Cuomo said Western New York is currently “the worst situation in the State of New York.” The Finger Lakes Region, which includes Orleans and Genesee, also is seeing a big rise in Covid cases and hospitalizations.

Cuomo said the micro-cluster approach has worked, restricted activities in targeted areas with high Covid spread, rather than blanketing an entire region with the more severe restrictions.

Cuomo cited Broome County and Orange County as yellow zones that have gone back to normal. Brooklyn was an orange zone that is going to a less-restrictive yellow zone.

Yellow Zone restrictions

• Non-residential gatherings limited to 25 people, inside and outdoors.
• Residential gatherings capped at 10 people, inside and outside.
• Houses of worship, limited to 50 percent of maximum capacity.
• Businesses all open.
• Dining limited to 4 people per table, inside and outside, with bars and restaurants closing at 10 p.m. for on-premises consumption.
• Schools remain open with 20 percent of in-person students and staff tested each week.

Orange Zone restrictions

• Non-essential gatherings are limited to 10 people.
• Certain non-essential businesses need to reduce in-person by 100 percent. Those businesses with a higher risk for transmitting Covid-19 include gyms, fitness centers or classes, barbers, hair salons, spas, tattoos or piercing parlors, nail technicians and nail salons, cosmetologists, estheticians, and all other personal care services.
• Houses of worship are limited to a maximum capacity of 33 percent maximum occupancy or 25 people, whichever is fewer
• Any restaurant or tavern won’t be allowed to serve patrons food or beverage on premises but may be open for takeout or delivery, and provide outdoor service (as long as no seated group exceeds four people).
• Schools are remote-only and closed for in-person classes

Red Zone restrictions

• Non-residential gatherings prohibited.
• Residential gatherings prohibited.
• Houses of worship will be the lesser of a 10-person maximum or 25 percent of maximum occupancy.
• Non-essential businesses are closed.
• Dining is limited to takeout or delivery only.
• Schools are closed except for remote only.

BUFFALO – A Medina man was sentenced to 12 ½ years in prison today by a federal judge.

Anthony Allee, 29, was convicted of possessing with intent to distribute, and distributing, cocaine, and unlawful possession of a short-barreled shotgun in furtherance of drug trafficking. Allee was sentenced by U.S. District Judge John J. Sinatra, Jr.

The office of U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. said that Allee and his wife, Tashira, used their Ridge Road residence in Medina to store, sell, and use marijuana, hydrocodone, and cocaine between April 2019 and July 22, 2019.

Anthony Allee also possessed various firearms in furtherance of his drug trafficking in order to protect himself, his drugs, and his drug proceeds, said Assistant U.S. Attorneys Justin G. Bish and Jeremiah E. Lenihan.

On July 22, 2019, a state search warrant was executed at the residence. Investigators seized multiple firearms, ammunition, numerous articles of stolen property, approximately 73 grams of marijuana, 247 hydrocodone pills, cocaine residue located on a working digital scale with a razor blade, two additional digital scales, a vacuum sealer with bags, and knotted baggies.

Tashira Allee was previously convicted and sentenced to three years probation and 100 hours of community service.

The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office; Homeland Security Investigations; the Niagara County Drug Task Force; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the New York State Police; and the Orleans County District Attorney’s Office.

County approves 4-year contract with deputies, 2% annual raises

ALBION — Deputies at the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office will get 2 percent annual raises in a new four-year contract approved today by the County Legislature.

The contract runs from Jan. 1, 2021 through Dec. 31, 2024. The 2 percent raises are the same level for at least the past five years.

The contract includes a change to hospitalizations, dental and medical benefits, with any new hires responsible for 20 percent of the cost of the premiums.

In past 8 days, Orleans has 86 cases, while Genesee has 143

Genesee and Orleans counties continue to see increases in Covid-19 cases with 9 more confirmed cases today in Orleans and 17 more in Genesee.

Orleans has now had 538 people test positive for Covid since March, including 86 in the past 8 days or 16 percent of the total.

In Genesee, 615 people have tested positive since March, including 143 in the past 8 days or 23 percent of the total.

In Orleans, the nine new cases today are residents in Barre, Carlton, Clarendon, Murray and Ridgeway. The individuals are in the age groups of 0-19, 40s, 50s and 60s.

Three of the individuals were on mandatory quarantine prior to testing positive, the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments said.

Orleans also is reporting six more recoveries and those residents have been removed from the isolation list.

The county has four people hospitalized due to Covid, which is down from the six on Monday.

Genesee County’s 17 new positive cases are residents from Alexander, Batavia, Darien, Elba, LeRoy and Pembroke.

The individuals are in the age groups of 0-19, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s and 70s.

None of the individuals were on mandatory quarantine prior to testing positive, the Health Departments reported in a news briefing.

Genesee also is reporting 21 recoveries and those people have been removed from the isolation list.

Genesee continues to have 9 people hospitalized due to Covid.

Click here to see an online map of confirmed cases in Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming counties. There are currently 268 active cases in the three counties, with 141 in Genesee, with 74 in Orleans and 53 in Wyoming.

Isolation, financial stress in pandemic contribute to rising overdoses

Press Release, U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand urged Senate leadership to include robust funding for substance use disorder and mental health care services in the next coronavirus relief package.

Gillibrand called for robust emergency funds for providers of mental health and addiction treatment services to maintain operations, and ensure stability for the duration of the economic and public health crisis.

“For many families the emotional strains and stress of the holidays are compounded when a loved one suffers from mental health and substance use disorders,” Gillibrand said. “And, as the pandemic has exacerbated our country’s addiction crisis, individuals and their families are in even greater need of resources to keep themselves and their loved ones safe.”

Social isolation, increased financial stress, loss of work, lack of structured time, and daily stress and uncertainty caused by the coronavirus pandemic have exacerbated mental health issues and substance use disorders and caused overdoses across the country to nearly double.

Now, the emotional strains and stress of the holidays threaten to compound this crisis. In Albany and Rensselaer counties, overdose deaths have increased by more than 40% compared to last year. In Erie County, the number of overdose deaths increased by 77% compared to 2019 and in Onondaga County there were twice as many opioid deaths in the first half of 2020 as there were in the first half of 2019.

“Many mental health care and substance use disorder support services are faced with the heavy burden of helping Americans in need with limited resources,” Gillibrand said. “Shoring up these programs with robust funding, and the passage of my bipartisan Family Support Services for Addiction Act, would ensure that nonprofits and organizations supporting those recovering from substance use and their families can keep their doors open.”

Additionally, the Covid-19 crisis has interrupted traditional care services and many mental health and addiction support providers, which were overburdened before the pandemic, are facing financial strain and at risk of shutting their doors.

In New York, community behavioral health organizations may have to close within the next few months without financial assistance and providers have had to make tough decisions with limited resources, including payroll cuts and rationing life-saving supplies. Supplemental emergency funding in the next legislative package is critical for these providers to maintain operations, ensure stability, and continue serving their communities for the duration of the crisis. Advocates, including the National Council for Behavioral Health, estimate nearly $40 billion in emergency funds is needed for providers of mental health and addiction treatment services.

MEDINA – The high school won’t be returning to in-person learning until Nov. 30, after the Thanksgiving break, the school district announced today.

The high school has been remote-only the first three days this week and that will continue the rest of this week and next week.

“Given the amount of staff members currently out at the high school due to mandatory quarantine and/or waiting for COVID test results, Medina High School will remain 100% virtual through Wednesday, November 25,” district superintendent Mark Kruzynski said in a letter to parents and the community.

The district plans to reopen for in-person learning on Nov. 30. High School students in the BOCES program will also be virtual through Nov. 25.

The Oak Orchard Elementary and Wise Intermediate/Middle School will continue to hold in-person instruction as scheduled.

Race organizers will still give away many scholarships to Roy-Hart seniors

File photos by Tom Rivers: Runners, some wearing football jerseys, complete a 5K in Middleport on Feb. 4, 2018. The annual Mr. Ed’s Super Bowl Warm-Up draws several hundred runners for the race.

MIDDLEPORT – One of the area’s most popular small-town 5K races will be going virtual due to restrictions and guidance in the Covid-19 pandemic.

The 32^ndannual Mr. Ed’s Super Bowl Warm-Up won’t be in a big gathering, but people are still welcome to sign up and do the distance on their own, said Donnie Heschke, the race organizer.

The race has attracted up to 550 runners in Middleport. There is usually a large party after in the Middleport Fire Hall with chili, lots of socializing and awards.

That won’t be happening this year. But Heschke said the race will continue. People can run the 5K anytime between Jan. 29 and Feb. 7, 2021. They can run the course in Middleport or do the distance elsewhere, even on a treadmill. They then enter their times through the Score This website.

If they are among the first 300 to pay the $25 registration fee, they will get a long-sleeved shirt with the Mr. Ed’s horse wearing a mask, as well as a list of sponsors on the back.

“It’s a bummer,” Heschke said about going virtual. “But we wanted to keep it going and not skip a year.”

The race has proven to be a big fundraiser for scholarships for Roy-Hart graduates. Last year race organizers gave out six scholarships for $1,500 each for RH grads headed to college for careers in nursing, law enforcement, firefighting or the medical field.

Heschke said the race has some reserve funds and will be able to maintain the scholarship giving for the 2021 grads.

He said sponsors continue to make a big difference for the race, which has given away $62,000 in the past 10 years. Anyone interested in sponsoring the race can contact Heschke at dheschke@sigmamotorinc.com.

“We want to give the money away,” he said.

He looks forward to the race in 2022, when he expects a very large turnout for an in-person event.

Mr. Ed’s has one of the biggest post-race celebrations of any 5K in WNY. In this photo from Feb. 4, 2018, Valerie Wood serves chili in the Middleport Fire Hall.

The Orleans County Sheriff’s Office, in partnership with law enforcement throughout the state, will be increasing checks for seat belt use in the “Click It or Ticket Campaign.” That started on Monday and continues through Nov. 29.

The statewide enforcement campaign is designed to save lives and reduce the severity of injuries by increasing safety restraint use. The Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee has set a strategic goal to increase the observed seat belt use rate and to decrease unrestrained occupant fatalities in passenger vehicles.

The strategies identified for accomplishing these goals include high visibility enforcement, public information and education.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo said he supports the 21st annual “Buckle Up New York, Click It or Ticket” enforcement campaign. During last year’s enforcement campaign, police issued 26,432 tickets for seat belt and child restraint violations.

“Wearing your seat belt isn’t only the law, but it’s the smartest choice you can make to help prevent a needless tragedy,” Governor Cuomo said. “New York has been a national leader on this issue ever since my father helped institute the country’s first seat belt law, and while we’ve made a great deal of progress over the years, we still see instances where they are not being used. There is no debate – seat belts save lives and we will continue to raise awareness on this undisputable fact to help ensure all those who travel on New York’s roadways do so safely.”

In August, Cuomo signed legislation that strengthens the state’s seat belt laws. As of Nov. 1, everyone in passenger vehicles, regardless of where they sit, needs to wear a seat belt or be properly restrained in a child safety seat. In New York, police can lawfully ticket motorists for not wearing a seat belt even if they are not committing any other traffic infractions.

‘We don’t know what’s coming. One day we could have two cases, then the next day there could be 50 after an outbreak. You don’t know what we’re going to be up against.’ – John Papponetti, County DPW commissioner

The local municipal highway departments tend to be small crews, which makes them vulnerable to being shorthanded if Covid-19 strikes, keeping some of the workers home.

John Papponetti, the commissioner of the Orleans County DPW, is urging the 10 towns and four villages to develop contingency plans, where a neighboring municipality may be needed to help plow roads if one town loses staff to Covid.

It may not be seamless because towns have bigger plow trucks than in the villages. Papponetti urged the towns and villages to familiarize neighboring departments with equipment and routes.

“You might have a situation where two to three guys go down,” Papponetti said on Tuesday during a Zoom video conference for the monthly Orleans County Association of Municipalities meeting.

Highway departments may be forced to prioritize plowing and put some roads on the “back burner” due to manpower, Papponetti said.

In a worst-case scenario, if there aren’t enough workers to plow the roads, a travel ban may be issued.

Papponetti said the highway departments should partner with neighboring highway crews to have a plan in place to plow the roads.

“It will really wreak havoc on the traveling public if we can’t keep the roads clear,” he said.

A town may want to have multiple agreements with neighboring towns perhaps taking a section of one town where a highway crew is stricken with Covid.

“As you know we aren’t immune to this virus,” Papponetti said. “We have to plan for that. The better prepared we are, the better we’re able to respond.”

Papponetti said he is concerned with Covid cases spiking locally and in the region. The number of hospitalizations also is on the rise due to Covid, with 15 people from Orleans and Genesee currently in the hospital from Covid.

“We don’t know what’s coming,” Papponetti said. “One day we could have two cases, then the next day there could be 50 after an outbreak. You don’t know what we’re going to be up against.”

The highway employees tend to work closely together. Papponetti said they should wear masks when near other people, maintain social distancing and keep washing their hands.

He has urged his 24 employees to reduce their circle of close contacts as much as possible as Covid cases increase. The highway departments may try staggering arrival and departure times, as well as lunch breaks so the entire department isn’t together at the same time.

Mike Neidert, the Town of Albion highway superintendent, is one of three full-time workers in the department. He said he has more part-time workers lined up this winter if some of his employees are sidelined by Covid.

Neidert said there is a chance the towns could also be asked to fill in for the state Department of Transportation if the DOT loses workers to Covid.

“We’re prepared to do what we have to,” Neidert said. “We’ll cover state roads if we have to.”

A goal in a crisis might just be making the roads passable. The community may need to lower its expectations if the highway crews are depleted due to Covid.

County Legislator Ken DeRoller urged the municipal leaders to work together, across municipal lines, if a town or village is suddenly short-staffed.

“Everybody needs to step up responsibly,” DeRoller said. “Everyone thinks it can’t happen to them, well it can happen to you.”

The municipalities should also discuss ahead of time how a neighboring town or village would be compensated for using its equipment or road salt for another community. One town could use the neighbor’s equipment and supplies but that could mean using unfamiliar equipment.

The highway crews from neighboring towns should consider getting together to go over routes and equipment.

Papponetti said the highway departments enter the winter with uncertainty about Covid.

“We could get through this without a problem or we could see the worst of it,” he said. “We just don’t know.”

ALBION – The Albion FFA has set a big goal for its annual food drive: 50,000 pounds.

The student-led group last year reached 40,000 pounds for the first time. The Albion FFA started the food drive in 2010 and was able to collect 3,000 pounds of produce that was delivered to Community Action of Orleans & Genesee.

The effort has grown significantly since the first year, and now several churches and food pantries receive produce that is donated by local farmers and ag businesses.

Albion FFA Alumni help to reach out to farmers and collect the produce. It is kept in the FFA shop and then organized by FFA members.

The FFA has reached put to farms and businesses that have given to the food drive in the past. Bailey Nesbitt, the FFA president, welcomes other farms and businesses to contribute to the effort, to try to reach 50,000 pounds during a year that has been especially challenging for many local families due to Covid-19 and the strain on the local economy.

Farms and businesses interested in donating to the food drive can contact the FFA president at nesbittbailey@albionk12.org or the FFA advisor, Betsy Krenning, at bkrenning@albionk12.org.

The FFA will deliver the food to Community Action on the morning of Dec. 12.

Albion FFA members are pictured in December 2016 after the truck was loaded with food that was taken to Community Action.

Organization wants community to know it offers more than traditional hospice care services

ALBION – Hospice of Orleans will announce an exciting new change on Facebook live on Thursday, according to information from Derek Reiner, Development and Public Relations Manager at Hospice.

The public is encouraged to log on to Hospice’s Facebook page (click here) at 2 p.m. on Thursday. The change is intended to increase awareness of the services provided by Hospice.

Hospice of Orleans believes its announced change will better reflect its broad range of supportive services. Those services go beyond what traditional hospice care encompasses, and include supportive care for a variety of illnesses, not only those that are terminal.

Hospice had planned an event for the public on Thursday, but canceled it and chose to do a virtual announcement instead, due to the increase in Covid cases.

The news is also timely, as November is National Hospice and Palliative Care Month, which is an opportunity for engagement, outreach and education.

A full press release explaining the change will be posted in the media immediately after the announcement takes place on Facebook.