High Peaks Hospice & Palliative Care, Inc.

High Peaks Hospice and Palliative Care was conceived in January 1986 by Ann and David Merkel and a dedicated group of concerned medical, clergy, and community volunteers, who saw the need for expanded services to the terminally ill throughout the Adirondack Mountains. For two and a half years volunteers alone provided supportive services to area residents from office space donated by the Trudeau Institute.

Early in 1988 our offices moved behind Adirondack Medical Center. August 29th of that same year our ability to provide comprehensive medical treatment along with supportive care was realized following certification by State and Federal agencies. That same year High Peaks Hospice received the prestigious Eleanor Roosevelt Community Service Award by Governor Cuomo for outstanding volunteer service (over 6900 volunteer hours).

Individuals, when faced with imminent death, now had choices as to how and where they would die. Patients were finally given control. In the ensuing years High Peaks Hospice and Palliative Care has continued to expand and flourish. The vision of a few in 1986 - to provide dignity, comfort and hope to the terminally ill and their families - has grown into a highly respected and valued health service organization that provides physical, emotional and bereavement support throughout the Adirondack and Southern Adirondack region.

A vision and over twenty six years later, High Peaks Hospice and Palliative Care has three offices that cover a vast service area . The organization employs over 50 employees and the volunteers – who started it all and continue to be the heart and soul of the organization – number well over 200.

Since "High Peaks Hospice" was founded by Ann and David Merkel the organization has grown to include three clinical offices with a Services are provided in a demographically and geographically diverse area. In the early 1990's both the offices serving Warren and Essex were added resulting in a vast service area covering over 4600 square miles. Our service area spreads from the urban/suburban area of Glens Falls and Queensbury, to tourist areas of Lake George, Lake Placid and Saranac Lake to the extremely rural outlying villages and tiny hamlets hidden in the mountain valleys of the Adirondack North Country. We have over 200 active volunteers and employ more than 60 health care professionals who provide compassionate end-of-life services. We have served more than 6,100 patients and families in the past twenty six years.

The vision of a few in 1986 - to provide dignity, comfort and hope to the terminally ill and their families - has grown into a highly respected and valuable health care organization. We take the holistic, whole body approach to end-of-life care which recognizes the interconnectedness of the physical, emotional and spiritual person.

In 2008 our name was changed to High Peaks Hospice & Palliative Care to better reflect the services we provide. High Peaks Hospice & Palliative Care. We are proud to have brought dignity and comfort to more than 6100 people with terminal illnesses and peace of mind for their loved ones in over 35 Adirondack communities over the past twenty six years and look forward to continuing to help people to live until they well into the future.