Care Dimensions, the largest hospice and palliative care provider to adults and children in Massachusetts, is proud to announce receiving a $5,000 grant from East Boston Savings Bank Charitable Foundation (“Foundation”) to support the nonprofit’s telemedicine program. This program provides a free smartphone equipped with a HIPAA-secure, telemedicine application and internet connection for hospice and palliative care patients who don’t have access to the internet or a device to support real-time video nursing support and consultation.
“When the pandemic began and we implemented video visits to supplement limited in-person visits, we realized that many of our patients had no access to the internet or a device to be able to participate in this type of support,” said President and CEO Patricia Ahern, RN, MBA, FACHE. “The pandemic challenged us to be creative about ensuring continuity of care and healthcare equity for all patients. We are very grateful the Foundation has invested in our mission.”
A partner to Care Dimensions since 2010, the Foundation helps community organizations within their service area with an emphasis on assisting health and human services agencies and the support of low-income persons.
“For more than two decades through our Charitable Foundation, EBSB has been assisting charitable organizations like Care Dimensions by providing funding for programs that help improve the lives of those that are in need,” says Richard Gavegnano, Chairman, President and CEO of East Boston Savings Bank. “We feel very strongly about being a resource for these organizations especially during challenging times like the present.”
“Our program offers additional support and peace of mind for some of Care Dimensions’ most vulnerable patients and caregivers who lack adequate digital access,” said Vice President of Philanthropy, Donna Deveau, M.Ed.
Care Dimensions is the largest hospice and palliative care provider to adults and children in Massachusetts. As a nonprofit, community-based leader in advanced illness care, Care Dimensions provides comprehensive hospice, palliative care, grief support in more than 100 communities in Massachusetts. Founded in 1978 as Hospice of the North Shore, Care Dimensions cares for patients wherever they live – in their homes, in skilled nursing facilities and assisted living communities, in hospitals, or at our two inpatient hospice facilities, the Care Dimensions Hospice House in Lincoln and the Kaplan Family Hospice House in Danvers. Additionally, Care Dimensions HomeMD program provides in-home primary care to patients over age 65 in select communities on the North Shore and Greater Boston who have difficulty leaving home. The Care Dimensions Learning Institute educates more than 7,000 health care professionals and community members each year on advanced illness and end-of-life topics. Please visit www.CareDimensions.org to learn more about Care Dimensions.
The East Boston Savings Bank Charitable Foundation was established in 1998 by East Boston Savings Bank to provide funding to support charitable causes and community development activities within the communities of East Boston Savings Bank. Since its inception, the Foundation has distributed more than $7 million in funding to support many deserving charitable causes and community development activities.