AccentCare Expands Hospice Care Business to Rhode Island

WARWICK, Rhode Island—AccentCare, a nationwide provider of home health, hospice and personal care services, announced the opening of its Warwick hospice location and its expansion into Rhode Island. 

“We are excited to expand our footprint in New England and to provide hospice services to more patients and families in the region,” said Andy Johnston, president of hospice & PCS, AccentCare. “We know the critical role hospice plays in extending the continuum of care to patients and adding dignity to the end of life. We are honored to begin providing high-quality, compassionate care in Rhode Island.”

Services include nursing care, pastoral care, medical social work, respite services, 24-hour continuous care in the home at critical periods and bereavement services for family members. The Hospice team will also offer art therapy and legacy programs to remember loved ones through memory bears, video recordings and thumb prints. The team also recognizes veterans as part of the “We Honor Veterans” program and trains clinicians in culturally appropriate and inclusive hospice care.

“We’re grateful for the Certificate of Need process to ensure qualified hospice programs and services are available to patients and families throughout the state, particularly in underserved communities. We want to enhance the remaining time each patient has left,” said Balu Natarajan, chief medical officer, AccentCare.

AccentCare’s Warwick, Rhode Island, office executive director Melanie Machado has more than 13 years of hospice experience and is certified in Hospice and Palliative Care by the Hospice and Palliative Credentialing Center (HPCC). 

“Recently, we’ve seen an increase in the aging and seriously ill population in Rhode Island,” said Machado. “We are confident that our partnership with patients, families and local medical professionals will provide access to meaningful and quality hospice care.”

According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, approximately 51% of eligible RI residents utilized hospice care, representing about 7,000 residents in 2023. 

“We believe in the work we do and feel that everyone deserves an exceptional hospice experience when dealing with a terminal illness,” said Machado. “It’s a gift to receive hospice at the end of life. We want to be able to give that gift to our fellow Rhode Islanders.”