Meet Our Members: Old Colony Hospice & Palliative Care

7/7/2025

Old Colony Hospice & Palliative Care
670 Washington Street
Braintree, MA 02184
781-341-4145
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How and when did the company get started?
Old Colony Hospice & Palliative Care was founded in 1979 by Dr. Ruth A. McLain and serves over 60 cities and towns in Southeastern Massachusetts. We are a free-standing, non-profit, Medicare- certified, accredited healthcare organization that provides services through a core staff of registered nurses, social workers, counselors, volunteers, hospice aides, and consultants. From the moment you contact Old Colony Hospice, you will experience a uniquely personal approach that focuses on caring for patients and families in a specialized way. We take a team approach to deliver care to patients and their loved ones, in a dignified experience that respects their wishes at every stage.

What products or services do you offer?
Hospice:

We provide care for all end-stage diseases, including but not limited to: cancer, heart disease, lung disease, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s disease, kidney disease, and other life-limiting illnesses.
Our care is covered under Medicare, Medicaid, Blue Cross, Harvard Pilgrim, Tufts, other HMOs, and most private insurances.
We provide visits from registered nurses, social workers, hospice aides, volunteers, spiritual counselors, and bereavement support counselors
We pay for medications and equipment that are related to the hospice diagnosis and have it delivered directly to your home.

Palliative Care:
For many people, the diagnosis of a serious illness does not require the comprehensive services of hospice. Palliative care is a specialized medical care for people living with a serious illness. It focuses on providing patients with relief from symptoms and difficulties of living with illness. The goal is to improve quality of life for both the patient and the caregiver(s).

We have created specialized programs specifically for the care of our palliative patients and have partnerships with several community facilities to ensure the absolute best care is provided.

What’s the one thing your business is known for, over your competitors and why?
Old Colony Hospice & Palliative Care is known for providing exceptional, compassionate hospice and palliative care services to patients and their families. We are recognized for their high-quality care, positive patient and family experiences, and dedication to preserving dignity and quality of life for individuals facing advanced illnesses.

CHAP accredited, BOSS 2024 & 2025, Boston Globe's Top Places to Work for multiple years, Hospice Honors Elite, "We Honor Veterans" Level 5 Partner, consistently above state and national averages for quality.

Tell us an interesting and fun tidbit about your business.
We were founded in 1979 by Dr. Ruth McLain in the basement of New England Sinai. A true grassroots effort with Dr. McLain and two nurses volunteering their time to care for those at end-of life in the community. Dr. McLain's dream was to one day have a hospice home. In 2020 her dream care true when we opened the Dr. Ruth McLain Hospice Home in Braintree.

Why did you decide to become involved with the Chamber?
Old Colony Hospice decided to become involved with the Chamber because we believe in the power of community collaboration and connection. As a nonprofit dedicated to providing compassionate end-of-life care and support to patients and families, it’s important for us to build strong relationships with local businesses, organizations, and leaders. The Chamber offers an excellent platform to increase awareness of our services, participate in meaningful community outreach, and partner with others who are committed to making a positive impact. Being part of the Chamber helps us strengthen our mission, extend our reach, and stay actively engaged with the communities we serve.

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