Connecticut Hospice

TERRIBLE! I do a better job taking care of my love one than they do! It takes them over 5 minutes to get to my loved ones room when needing to go to the bathroom or simply turning off a machine. If you want to be treated with respect and not an inconsiderate person do not come here! If you do one thing that upsets them it will be a unpleasant stay. I pretty do their job! This is crazy!

I imagine that working as a hospice nurse is very difficult. While my experience with my mother wasnt perfect, I think this is an amazing place. They bathed her so gently every night and she loved it so much. They moved her position, raised the bed so she could see the ocean, turned the channel on the TV, delivered food, changed her linens and smiled much more than I expected. I never could have done that in myself. They came to check on us all several times an hour, and let us sleep at the facility to be near her in the last hours. It wasnt perfect. They told us they'd know when she was close to death, but they were wrong and woke me up in the middle of the night twice. There was one nurse who was grumpy a few times. I cant fault them, they are human. Since everyone shares rooms, family members of other guests comforted us and we returned the favor. It was the hardest thing I ever had to go through and they were great. My father says that he wants to go there when it s his time, and if I cant be at home when its my time, I'd prefer to be there too. Thank God for them.

The Hospice employees and volunteers are wonderful! They are thoughtful and knowledgeable.
Most of the problems are essentially administrative.
1) No Wi-Fi available for visitors, relatives or patients.
2) No chipped ice anywhere on the floor for patients.
3) TV's are very old, not working properly and do not receive religious stations. (EWTN)
4) Lobby has 10 couches. None are more than one foot from the floor. It would be impossible
for anyone over the age of 10 to get out of them after sitting down.

My father was a patient at branford hospice in 2015. Two of your CNA S were SO rude to me. One would not talk to me but made fun of me to family sitting next to us in the room. The other aide laughed st me right to my face!! You need to get better people to work there. I was a CNA for 15 years and I never acted like that to a FAMILY MEMBER who s father was dying!!! It took me a long time to want to write this terrible review. I would never recommend this place to anyone. It is a disgrace

Our mom was so very blessed to spend her last days there. The staff were all wonderful caring people. There staff artists and musicians were awesome. The view out her window of her beloved ocean was beyond words amazing. We could not have imagined that a place this perfect for her actually existed! If I could give it ten gold stars I would and even that would not be enough.

Connecticut Hospice took care of my father at its Branford facility for the last week of his life. His wife and I could not have been more pleased with the staff's support for him and his family. Everyone was calm, caring, and compassionate. The beautiful facility and grounds combined with a quiet atmosphere created an ideal setting for a loved one to slip away. Medicare covered all expenses, thereby eliminating any financial concerns so that we could concentrate on saying goodbye.

The worst time of my life and this was a horrid experience. I am 37 years old I was the sold caregiver to my husband (43). He was diagnosed in 11. The cancer spread to his bones dx sept 13, he passed away Jan 18,2014.
My husbands last visit to smillow was on jan 16th. The doctors told him he had four more months to live. He was my soul mate my everything I was crushed. Smillow called in hospice. The head nurse came the following day to do the paperwork and evaluate the situation. I asked her several times will you or one of your nurses please let me know when we are very close to the end? We have two children and I wanted to be prepared and to prepare them as best I could. Knowing he would die in our home. She assured me that they knew almost to the hour when someone is going to pass.
They ordered us a hospital bed and had it delivered. We put the hospital bed in our livingroom. Later that evening I carried my husband by myself from our bedroom to the hospital bed. I stayed awake with him, reading to him getting him drinks until 5am finally he fell asleep as did I next to him on the couch. When I woke at 8am he was gone.
I called hospice right after calling my immediate family. I got the answering service. I called a second time after an hour no call back it was after my friend called screaming at them they sent a nurse over.
They disposed of his meds and I never heard from them again. Not once. We were useless now that they couldn't bill our insurance. This was all after promised to get my two children therapy and help with this and that.
I honestly didn't need there help. I would have looked after my husband on my own. But there are people who do really need their aid. I would look elsewhere for hospice care

My dad was there for only a short while, but the comfort and support for him and for our family was amazing. Losing my dad was extremely difficult and the loss is huge, but seeing and experiencing the care made it easier. I can not recommend this amazing place enough. Thank you so very much for your care of my most special person.

The staff was kind and compassionate in our families time of need. Thank you for everything in making the the final days as comfortable as they where.
Family of Robert L. Cryoskie.

My father, my uncle, my father-in-law and now my mother. If the facility was that bad I wouldn't have brought my family here. This place is wonderful the people are unbelievable especially those volunteers.
The patience that come into this facility sometimes are rough, obnoxious and rude, unfortunately it makes it harder for these workers and volunteers to help.
On my behalf I want to say "thank you for being the people you are, helping our family through our journey of pease".
Mary Elizabeth

The nurses, aides, social worker and Doctor are exceptional, they are kind, caring and compassionate!!!!! The location is peaceful and serene.

The Staff at CT Hospice made a very difficult time much easier to deal with. Very helpful and kind.

I planned for a month a Memorial for my Grandmother who had passed at the Branford Hospice. Relatives were coming from out of state, I had put several hours into drawing up landscaping plans for a Serenity Garden the family was going to donate for the memorial, speaking with Rev Woody in detail and sending emails back and forth, then I was told two weeks prior the CEO of Hospice Rose Mary had to approve the Serenity Garden (which was where the Memorial would take place!).
A week to the day of the Memorial I received a message from Rev Woody that they could NOT do the memorial!!! He offered a prayer service that could be done but nothing more & of course I could still make a donation!!! I went into a panic!! These people have no respect for peoples lives! They simply want the money! They left me and my visiting relatives with ONE week to make different arrangements!
Thank goodness for the kindness of Edgerton Park in New Haven that helped with last minute arrangements in their Carriage House Garden for the Memorial!
But to add insult to injury Rev Woody sent me an email 3 days after the voice mail saying he COULDN'T even do the prayer service he had offered!!
Again a higher power was looking out for us! Thanks to Minister Mansfield from the Church of Scientology in New Haven coming to our aid last minute!
Despite the SABOTAGE by Branford Hospice, my family and I had a beautiful ceremony!
Don't trust this Hospice! They only care about the money! Look, they even put in their details PAYMENT METHODS! Is this a store?! or a medical facility??

Amazing. Sadly, I have lost family and friends who have passed away at The Connecticut Hospice facility and while in their care but at their own homes. Cannot say enough good. Most recently my beloved father passed after just a few days at the facility.
Daddy was kept comfortable but no one was pushing him to eat, drink or take medications. No one did anything he did not want - and at the same time everything he did want was cared for with great compassion.
The staff are awesome. Completely professional and also completely human.
The mission of The Connecticut Hospice is superior in every way to a hospital, nursing home or other "forced to live" institution.
Thank you .... more than I can ever say

My Mom passed away here in N. Branford in 1986. She was taken care of very well. This is a wonderful place to go when there is nothing else to be done.My best friend of 40 years will be going there soon. She has lung cancer and like my Mom there is nothing else that can be done for her.I told her it is a good place and that she would be taken care of and will be kept comfortable.

I can't speak for the facility, but the home care was poor. The people who came were good I had 4 hours of aides per day the rest I covered with friends or myself. The response when placing a call for help was slow so I can't give them more than 2 stars. They need to make a lot of improvements.

For those who gave CT Hospice poor reviews... are we even talking about the same place? Today, my Dad departed in peace while at this beautiful facility. I cannot say enough for the KINDNESS, CARE, and SINCERITY of their absolutely FANTASTIC staff!! I will recommend this facility to anyone who has a loved one needing Hospice care. We are so thankful and appreciative of the nurses and staff. THANK YOU, CT HOSPICE, for making our last days with Dad as comfortable as possible.

My mom was on home hospice care and took a turn for the worse . She was moved into conn hospice and has been very well . They got her meds straightened out and have been nothing but kind and helpful . They call with updates all the time , even just to say shes doing great . Place is clean and very welcoming. Have been into other places and here i felt life not a cloud of neg energy . Thank you all .

The CT Hospice at Branford is a terminal care facility, first and foremost. Although it offers all possible support to the family and friends of its guests, its primary role is to care for those of us who are looking at our very real mortality. We are not leaving this place with a couple of patches and a clean bill of health. To serve us, whether we're fully bed-ridden or, like me, temporarily still a touch ambulatory, they keep us comfortable, pain free or as near to as possible, without drugging us into blank numbness. The engage us. They make us laugh or help us cry. In the quiet hours of the morning, a nurse will mop the brow of a frightened, perhaps disoriented patient and help her recover her calm and grace and dignity. When another place might just leave a patient propped before a TV, here the volunteers, nurses, and CNAs draw us into their own lives. Just because we're terminal doesn't mean we have to begin to vegetate away from life. The peculiar society that springs up in Hospice care may not be fully clear to our loved ones. They are maybe thinking about the "service" they get for their "healthcare dollar." Their perspective is reasonable in the conventional world of sickness and cures, perhaps. But in my world, where life is quite finite, the joy and gentleness and kindness of Hospice folks - from staff to volunteers to the docs and nurses and CNAs - cannot be praised enough. Because of them, no matter how my condition may decline, no matter what comes, they have made my journey joyous, and will continue to do so for as long as it takes for me to make as graceful an end as i can. For this, I am more grateful than I could possibly say, and I hope my family and friends someday come to realize what a gift this time in Hospice has been for me.

Went to visit a dear friend of mine and was overwelmed with the cleanliness, compassion of staff, and the ever presents of peace that the room had. You look out and see the beautiful waters of Branford harbor through a wall width widow. The last days of dignified care and attention one receives here, should make familys take comfort in their love ones transition into peaceful rest.

A quite respite while we transitioned toward my husband's life. Although he didn't speak very much toward the end. I know hs felt safe and cared for. It was blessing for us to have that much support and care thank you

Caring and respectful.... But it's just Death's Waiting Room.