People and Culture

Coastal Hospice wishes staff members a Happy Retirement!

As they are off to new adventures, Kevin Ireland, Doris Ludicke, and Casandra Green share fond memories.

Kevin Ireland, Director of Facilities and Infrastructure

I grew up in Easton, graduated from Salisbury State College (now Salisbury University), worked for a Delaware bank for 18 years, married my wife, Liz in 1986, and raised two sons here, before working at Coastal Hospice and making ties to the community.

I was hired by Marion Keenan, Coastal Hospice’s first President as an Executive Assistant in 2002, which quickly morphed into being Project Manager for Coastal Hospice at the Lake, Facilities and Safety. My position went from Executive Assistant to Facilities Manager and then Director of Facilities. At one time I was responsible for Emergency and Safety, Facilities, IT, HIPAA, Thrift Shop, State reports, and procurement. A real spread out mix!!

I think that what I enjoy most about my job is knowing that the work I do supports the care of vulnerable hospice patients. I can’t care for the patients, but what I do, create, or improve helps with their care. I take pride in the immense diversity of my responsibilities.

One of my favorite memories was helping start Coastal Hospice at the Lake. It was exciting and very fulfilling. Opening the Thrift Shop was creative and a lot of laughs. Driving nurses and aides to patient’s houses in snow storms was always thrilling and challenging!! I had a few ask me if we were going to be alright and I’d say, “Relax, you’re with the Safety Officer!!”

I have always felt very proud seeing the care that nurses and aides gave to patients and how they dealt with family members. Driving them out in storms gave me a deeper, renewed desire to do my very best at my job by supporting them. I see that care at Stansell House and Coastal Hospice at the Lake and it helps me handle facility issues with my best effort. Trust me, clogged septic pumps, broken beds, leaking fire pumps, etc. aren’t exciting but getting them fixed means safer, better conditions for patients, families and staff.

Now that I am retiring, I am looking forward to fishing, hunting, and going on trips with my wife, Liz. We want to see the Northern Lights. Iceland and Scotland intrigue us. I love to be outdoors, so being on a river or creek and going to the ocean are always fun. I find solitude in the woods and enjoy my time there. Liz has taught me to be a better birder, so we will spend time going to various state parks and wildlife refuges.

I will miss the true professionals that I have developed relationships with, Dave Schwarten, Mark Nelson, and Hugh Livingston in IT and Telecommunications. The Deer’s Head Hospital staff that take care of Coastal Hospice at the Lake, the contractors that call me right back when Coastal Hospice is having a problem even on weekends, day or night, or holidays. Also, the Coastal Hospice staff that were patient and understanding when things weren’t working while we were working feverishly to fix it.

It has been an amazing journey, much better than I ever expected. Despite the frustrations of repairing and resolving things in an urgent timeframe, it stretched me and made me grow. I developed empathy. So it has been a mutually beneficial relationship in many ways.

Doris Ludicke, Music Therapist

Music Therapy is actually my third career! I have a nursing degree from Johns Hopkins University and worked as a nurse for over 50 years. My Master’s degree is in Pastoral Counseling from Loyola College (now Loyola University Maryland). Later in my life I returned to school to follow my passion, music. In 1996 I graduated from Shenandoah University Conservatory of Music with a Bachelor of Music Therapy degree. In order to become board certified I completed a 6-month internship at Springfield Hospital Center in Sykesville, Maryland.

I joined Coastal Hospice in August of 2004 because hospice care has always been dear to me. I first learned about the concept of hospice in a Death and Dying course I took in nursing school at Johns Hopkins University. I decided then, that I wanted to be involved in the hospice movement in the early 1980’s. I even did a month-long study at St. Christopher’s Hospice in England, which at that time was the gold standard of hospice care. When I moved to the Eastern Shore, I was able to work as a Music Therapist at Coastal Hospice.

Hospice patients can benefit in many ways and they can participate at whatever level they desire... No matter what level of consciousness a patient has, they are affected by music. Music can help ground hospice patients so they feel connected to their environment. Studies have shown that music, preferably live music, which can be moderated, can slow a rapid breathing pattern or pulse rate. Music has a unique way of connecting to the body and spirit. Patients may enjoy singing their favorite hymns or just listening.

One of my favorite memories of working with a hospice patient was an elderly woman who loved to drum! Every time I went to visit her, she couldn’t wait to get her hands on the drum and she never missed a beat! It was something she could also do with her family... Even when she became weaker and was in bed, she could still use a small hand drum or shake a tambourine. It was a unique experience for her and for me.

Although I am retiring from Music Therapy at Coastal Hospice, I am going to keep music in my life because it is my passion. I plan to do some substitute music teaching in the Worcester County school system. I will continue to enjoy playing my piano, flute, and harp and doing some drumming.

Casandra Green, Receptionist

I began my journey with Coastal Hospice in 2015 as a temp from a staffing firm. Originally, I was to stay for two months, but ended up staying for seven years. Coastal Hospice is an amazing organization and I have met so many wonderful people.

I am currently an usher at my church, and our main goal is to make everyone feel welcome by creating an atmosphere that says, “yes you are welcome.” Ushers are the first face you see and that first impression is so important. Being a receptionist is no different. It’s the first impression that counts. We must understand and remember that our clientele is someone’s loved one. I attended Strayer Business College some forty-six years ago and we were taught the old school way.

One of my favorite memories is of a wife who was looking for placement for her husband. She came for a tour of the Macky & Pam Stansell House. Before exiting through the door, she turned around and said “I know this is the place for my husband to spend his last days in peace, because of your show of kindness.” Another memory… I was recently on vacation and when I came back, one of the visitors said to me, “I missed you.” It is that first impression that speaks volumes for any company.

I am looking forward to retirement. My goal is to go back to college in 2023 to obtain my Master’s in Theology. I obtained my Associate Degree in Ministry at the age of 62, my Bachelor’s in Ministry at the age of 64 and I got married this past July. My main desire is to love God, for the bible said, “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. (I Corinthians 2:9). I will truly miss all of my co-workers, especially my awesome boss, Dr. Mark Bowen, and the entire Human Resources team, and our lovely President & CEO, Monica Escalante.

Coastal Hospice Stars

We are proud to announce our four Coastal Hospice Stars, who every day make a difference in the lives of those they care for.

Coast Hospice stands behind its values of Respect, Compassion, Trust, and Resourcefulness. These stars represent and live these values every day through their work and unwavering commitment to the organization.

We truly thank them for being such a great example of what it means to work for Coastal Hospice!

Administration:

Nurses: Malik Brown

Patient Care Specialists: Rachel Schreck

Multidisciplinary Team: Alison Benko

We invite our staff, patients, families, and community to nominate outstanding Coastal Hospice team members each quarter. To nominate, go to: https://www.coastalhospice.org/staff-recognition/

Accomplishments

Brian Klinedinst Medication Technician has obtained his Assisted Living MTTP Class Certificate of Completion.