Chesapeake Supportive Care, the palliative care division of Hospice of the Chesapeake, announced a partnership Oct. 16, 2025, with Southern Maryland House Calls to expand in-home palliative services for seniors in Calvert County. The collaboration targets residents facing progressive illnesses, delivering coordinated care through home visits to manage symptoms, set treatment goals and guide medical choices.
The initiative addresses gaps in access for older adults who prefer staying in familiar surroundings. Teams from both organizations will combine expertise to support patients and families, focusing on comfort and dignity without requiring travel to clinics. This marks the latest effort by Hospice of the Chesapeake to integrate supportive care into community-based models across Southern Maryland.
Becky Miller, president and chief executive officer of Hospice of the Chesapeake, highlighted the alignment. “Southern Maryland House Calls has been an exceptional partner in caring for our shared patients,” Miller said. “Together, we’re building on that relationship to help more people access the kind of care that truly improves quality of life.”
Stephanie A. Shepard, MPA, PA-C, owner of Southern Maryland House Calls, emphasized the shared mission. “We are excited to work alongside Chesapeake Supportive Care in bringing high-quality palliative care to Calvert County,” Shepard said. “Together, we can ensure that more seniors receive the care, comfort, and support they need, right in the familiar surroundings of their own homes. This partnership is about caring for our seniors and helping them age in place with dignity and peace.”
Palliative care differs from hospice by focusing on relief from serious illness symptoms at any stage, alongside curative treatments. Services include pain management, emotional counseling and advance care planning, often delivered by interdisciplinary teams of physicians, nurses and social workers. In home settings, this approach allows personalized adjustments, such as coordinating with primary doctors to avoid redundant visits.
Southern Maryland House Calls, founded by Shepard with more than 18 years in geriatric medicine, serves Medicare-covered patients age 65 and older who are homebound. The practice operates in Calvert, Charles and St. Mary’s counties, providing primary care through house calls to reduce hospital admissions. Shepard, a certified physician assistant, leads a team that handles chronic conditions common among seniors, like diabetes and heart disease.
Hospice of the Chesapeake, established in 1979, began as a volunteer-driven program in Anne Arundel County and now covers four counties, including Calvert. The organization admitted its first patient that year and has grown to serve thousands annually with physical, psychological and spiritual support. Its palliative arm, Chesapeake Supportive Care, launched to bridge gaps before end-of-life needs arise, offering consultations in homes, hospitals or long-term facilities.
Calvert County, with an estimated 2025 population of 95,066, counts about 15,900 residents over age 65, or 15.9 percent of the total. This segment has expanded steadily, driven by retirees drawn to the area’s waterfront communities along the Patuxent River and Chesapeake Bay. Local data show seniors face transportation barriers, with rural pockets like Prince Frederick and Lusby complicating clinic access. Home-based models like this partnership align with Maryland’s push for aging in place, supported by state initiatives under the Maryland Department of Aging.
Maryland law recognizes palliative care’s role in improving outcomes, with programs like the state’s Palliative Care Policy and Advisory Council promoting integration since 2012. Home delivery cuts costs by lowering emergency visits; studies indicate such services reduce hospitalizations by up to 20 percent for eligible patients. In Southern Maryland, where medical resources cluster in larger towns, partnerships like this extend reach to isolated homes, fostering equity.
The collaboration builds on prior Hospice of the Chesapeake efforts, such as its 2020 acquisition of Hospice of Charles County to unify services. Recent expansions include similar house call ties in Anne Arundel County. For Calvert residents, eligibility typically requires a physician referral and Medicare or private insurance coverage. Initial assessments occur within days, with ongoing visits scheduled based on needs.
Contact Chesapeake Supportive Care at 1-877-462-1102 or visit its site for referrals. Southern Maryland House Calls accepts new patients through its Hollywood office, reachable at 301-904-4800. Both emphasize confidentiality and family involvement, key to Maryland’s patient rights under Health-General Article 5-601.
This partnership reflects broader trends in Southern Maryland health care, where providers adapt to a median resident age of 40.5 and rising chronic illness rates. Calvert’s senior centers, like the one in Prince Frederick, complement these services with wellness programs, but home palliative care fills a critical niche for those with mobility limits. As the county’s population grows at 0.18 percent yearly, such initiatives ensure sustainable support amid demands from baby boomers.
Maryland’s framework for palliative care, outlined in House Bill 378 from 2022, mandates reporting on access and outcomes, guiding expansions like this one. Providers must adhere to standards from the National Consensus Project, ensuring holistic care. In practice, teams document progress via electronic health records, sharing updates with primary physicians to avoid fragmentation.
For families, the emotional layer proves vital; social workers address grief early, preventing crises. Hospice of the Chesapeake reports serving over 1,000 palliative patients yearly across its region, with satisfaction rates above 95 percent in post-visit surveys. This Calvert focus could add dozens more, easing burdens on local hospitals like CalvertHealth Medical Center in Prince Frederick.
