irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $0ALTHOUGH HOSPICE CARE WILL ALWAYS BE PRIMARILY PROVIDED IN A PATIENT'S OR CAREGIVER'S HOME, THERE ARE SOME INDIVIDUALS WHO DO NOT HAVE A HOME ENVIRONMENT APPROPRIATE FOR HOSPICE CARE, OR LACK THE FAMILY OR FRIENDS NECESSARY TO PROVIDE 24/7 CARE IN A HOME ENVIRONMENT. ADDITIONALLY, SOME HOSPICE PATIENTS NEED AROUND-THE-CLOCK MEDICAL ATTENTION DURING MEDICATION ADJUSTMENTS OR FOR SYMPTOM MANAGEMENT. IN RESPONSE TO THESE NEEDS, NIAGARA HOSPICE HOUSE WAS BUILT.NIAGARA HOSPICE HOUSE IS NIAGARA COUNTY'S ONLY RESIDENTIAL HOSPICE HOUSE, PROVIDING SERVICES TO PATIENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES WHO ARE NOT ABLE TO RECEIVE HOME HOSPICE CARE. THE RESIDENTIAL WING CONSISTS OF EIGHT SUITES SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED FOR LONGER STAYS WHEN THE HOME CAREGIVING STRUCTURE IS COMPROMISED. THE IN-PATIENT WING HAS TEN SUITES DESIGNED FOR PATIENTS NEEDING SHORT-TERM MEDICAL MONITORING AND SYMPTOM MANAGEMENT.EACH SUITE IS DESIGNED WITH PATIENT AND FAMILY IN MIND WITH A SITTING AREA AND EASY-CHAIR SLEEPER. EACH FAMILY ALSO HAS ACCESS TO GATHERING ROOMS, FIREPLACES, A CHAPEL, KITCHEN AND THE HOSPICE MEMORIAL GARDENS.
named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
Niagara Hospice House
Residential hospice facility with eight long-stay suites for patients lacking home caregiving support and ten short-term inpatient suites for symptom management and medical monitoring
Palliative Care (Pathways Program)
Provides case management and support services for individuals living with serious, progressive illnesses who may not yet qualify for hospice care
Pet Peace of Mind
Supports patients’ emotional well-being by providing care coordination for their pets during hospice care
Spiritual Care
Offers counseling, ritual support, and spiritual guidance to patients and families of all faiths or no faith, addressing meaning, legacy, and end-of-life concerns
activities · 6 groups
What they do
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Hospice and Palliative Care Services 4 activities
- Delivering interdisciplinary hospice services through home and facility visitsProvides comprehensive, customized care plans via an interdisciplinary team including doctors, nurses, social workers, spiritual counselors, and home health aides. Services include skilled nursing care, pain and symptom management, 24/7 on-call nursing support, medical equipment delivery and setup, oxygen therapies, emergency response systems, laboratory services, and complementary therapies.
- Operating Niagara Hospice House for residential hospice careOperates the only residential hospice house in Niagara County, offering eight suites for long-term residential care and ten suites for short-term in-patient medical monitoring and symptom management. The facility has provided specialized hospice care for 19 years and serves as a key site for delivering end-of-life services.
- Providing hospice care to patients with a life expectancy of six months or lessDelivers compassionate hospice care focused on comfort, dignity, and symptom management for patients with a prognosis of approximately six months or less, regardless of diagnosis or ability to pay. Services are provided in patients' homes, hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, assisted living facilities, adult homes, and at the Niagara Hospice House in Lockport.
- Serving over 1,000 families annually with hospice careProvides hospice services to more than 1,000 families each year, with cumulative service to over 30,000 Niagara County residents and their families since 1988.
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Grief Support Groups and Counseling 1 activity
- Delivering bereavement support services for familiesOffers ongoing bereavement support to family members and friends for thirteen months following the death of a loved one. Includes annual Remembrance Celebrations to honor deceased patients and Camp Hope, a bereavement camp for children coping with loss.
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Volunteer-Driven Residential Care Support 1 activity
- Engaging volunteers in patient and family support servicesRecruits and utilizes approximately 100 volunteers annually to support direct patient and family care, including office assistance, caregiver relief, pet and music visits, and bereavement services.
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Animal-Assisted Support Services 1 activity
- Offering music and pet visit therapy programsProvides music therapy interventions to address patient and family well-being, including pain, anxiety, respiratory issues, and spirituality. Also offers pet visits through trained volunteers to reduce blood pressure, anxiety, and loneliness while improving mental alertness and social interaction.
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Organized Community Cycling Events 1 activity
- Organizing annual community fundraising eventsHosts the annual Hospice Gran Fondo bike ride, featuring multiple route options and a post-event celebration. The event has been held for 13 consecutive years and supports organizational sustainability.
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Non-Emergency Medical & Essential Transportation 1 activity
- Providing non-emergency medical transportation for hospice patientsOperates an ambulette owned and staffed by Niagara Hospice to transport patients to and from medical appointments, Niagara Hospice House, and special events such as spa days. Transports are staffed by two specially trained employees, at least one of whom is a certified EMT.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$20.80M
Contributions & grants$746K4%
Program service revenue$19.31M93%
Investment income$308K1%
Other revenue$438K
expenses
Total expenses$20.54M
Program expenses88%
Admin / overhead10%
Fundraising2%
Salaries & benefits$9.38M
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$17.77M
Cash$5.44M
Investments$1.96M
Liabilities$1.99M
Net assets$15.78M
Liquid reserves4.3 mo
6 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue +6.6%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 10
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JAY NEWMAN | HOSPICE PHYSICIAN | 1 | $321K |
| RICHARD CASTALDO | MEDICAL DIRECTOR | 1 | $301K |
| EDWARD O'BRIEN | HOSPICE PHYSICIAN | 30 | $243K |
| DANIELLE M BURNGASSER | VICE PRESIDENT OF OPERATIONS | 38 | $233K |
| DALE DIBBLE | DIRECTOR OF PLANT/FACILITY OPERATIONS | 1 | $150K |
| KARRIE B GEBHARDT | DIRECTOR OF ADVANCEMENT | 1 | $145K |
| JANET LIGAMMARI | DIRECTOR OF NURSING SERVICE | 38 | $134K |
| JUDITH BAILEY | RN- NH CASE MANAGER | 38 | $129K |
| PATRICIA JERLA | RN - CASE MANAGER | 38 | $120K |
| RYAN KENNEDY | RN - OFFICE COORDINATOR | 38 | $112K |
board members · 7
- JAMES BAKER — SECRETARY
- LINDA FLESSEL — DIRECTOR
- MARY BRENNAN-TAYLOR — DIRECTOR
- NICHOLAS GRANCHELLI — DIRECTOR
- PATRICIA EVANS — TREASURER
- PAUL NANULA — DIRECTOR
- SHARON JEAN HEWNER PHD — DIRECTOR
relationships · 15
Who they work with
- Accreditation Commission for Health Care Government — Holds ACHC accreditation for hospice care, demonstrating compliance with nationally recognized standards.
- Accreditation Commission for Health Care Government — Niagara Hospice is accredited by ACHC, demonstrating compliance with national quality standards.
- Accreditation Commission for Health Care (ACHC) Government — Niagara Hospice is accredited by ACHC, the only hospice in Western New York with this designation.
- Liberty Homecare Partner — Contracted provider through which Durable Medical Equipment (DME) services are made available to hospice patients.
- Medicaid Government — Government insurer with which Niagara Hospice works to cover patient services.
- Medicare Government — Government insurer with which Niagara Hospice works to cover patient services.
- Pathways Partner — Collaborates on palliative care services, with separate referral pathways for Pathways programs.
- Physicians Partner — Collaborates with patient physicians to support care planning and symptom management.
- Veteran’s Administration Government — Federal agency that covers hospice services for eligible patients served by Niagara Hospice.
- adult homes Partner — Provides hospice services in partnership with adult homes.
- assisted living facilities Partner — Provides hospice services in partnership with assisted living facilities.
- community clergy Partner — Spiritual Care Counselors serve as liaisons to community clergy and assist them in patient care.
- contracted hospitals Partner — Provides hospice services in partnership with contracted hospitals.
- contracted nursing homes Partner — Provides hospice services in partnership with contracted nursing homes.
- long-term care facilities Partner — Collaborates with long-term care facilities to support patient care.
strategies · 5
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Early Admission in Palliative and Hospice Caremethodology: early-admission hospice careBy admitting patients earlier in their illness trajectory, Niagara Hospice maximizes quality time and reduces family caregiving burden because early palliative intervention addresses suffering sooner and allows families to focus on relational rather than medical roles.
- Interdisciplinary Team Model for Holistic Caremethodology: interdisciplinary_care_teamBy deploying an interdisciplinary care team that integrates medical, emotional, spiritual, and practical support, Niagara Hospice enhances patient and family well-being because coordinated, multi-dimensional care addresses the full spectrum of end-of-life needs more effectively than fragmented services.
- Person-Centered Care Prioritizing Quality of Lifemethodology: person-centered_careBy focusing on holistic, individualized care rather than disease treatment, Niagara Hospice improves end-of-life experience because prioritizing dignity, comfort, and personal goals leads to more meaningful final months for patients and families.
- Spirituality Distinct from Religious Practicemethodology: spirituality_distinct_from_religionBy addressing spirituality as a universal need for meaning, hope, and dignity—separate from religious doctrine—Niagara Hospice supports patients of all belief systems because existential care improves psychological and emotional well-being regardless of faith affiliation.
- Volunteer-Integrated Care Modelmethodology: volunteer-integrated_careBy incorporating trained volunteers as essential members of the care experience, Niagara Hospice enhances emotional and practical support for patients and families because human connection and companionship reduce isolation and improve well-being during end-of-life transitions.