Coastal Hospice announces the appointment of two long-time employees as managers of spiritual care and bereavement support services at the non-profit agency.
Coastal Hospice offers spiritual care as a regular part of their hospice services. The non-denominational spiritual caregivers assist patients and their families in coping with the emotional stress associated with life-limiting illnesses.
Coastal Hospice offers bereavement support to anyone in the community who has lost someone close to them, whether or not Coastal Hospice cared for their loved one. The support can be individual or in support groups and is offered throughout the four Lower Shore counties Coastal Hospice serves.
Sharon Hutchison is now manager of spiritual care for Coastal Hospice. A native of Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley, she received her BA from Bridgewater College and her Masters of Divinity from Bethany Theological Seminary in Illinois. Hutchison and her husband located to Salisbury in 1999 to become pastors of the Community of Joy Church, where they currently serve. Hutchison joined Coastal Hospice in 2004 after she developed an interest in hospice through working with her congregation. She has received certification in Hospice and Palliative Chaplaincy from California State University and certification in Thanatology from The Association of Death Education and Counseling.
Howard Travers is now manager of bereavement support for Coastal Hospice. A native of Salisbury, he received his ministry ordination in 1982, a BS in Practical Theology and Church 
Leadership in 1989 from Southeastern University in Lakeland, Fl., and Master of Theology and Master of Divinity degrees from Southwestern Assemblies of God University in Waxahachie, Tx. He has been with Coastal Hospice for 22 years and has received certification as a Hospice and Palliative Care Chaplain from California State University. He previously worked with prisoners and ex-offenders and in Christian radio.
Founded in 1980, Coastal Hospice is a nonprofit health care organization that cares for individuals facing life-limiting conditions but who want to remain as active and engaged as possible. Coastal Hospice cares for patients in their home, nursing home, assisted living facility or at Coastal Hospice at the Lake. The organization serves Wicomico, Worcester, Dorchester and Somerset counties. Information is available at 410-742-8732 or at CoastalHospice.org.
