About
Our History

Caring for Area Residents Since 1978

Ashland Community Hospice, Inc. was established in the spring of 1979 by a group of concerned citizens who recognized the need for a program that would provide physical and emotional care to terminally ill patients and their families. The organization was incorporated as a private not-for-profit agency governed by a voluntary board of directors.

Ashland Community Hospice, Inc. began serving patients and families in 1979, and in 1983, became the first Medicare Certified Hospice Program in Kentucky. In 1986, Hospice of Lawrence County, Ohio merged with Ashland Community Hospice.

In 1986, as the organization began serving additional counties in Eastern Kentucky, its name was changed to Community Hospice, Inc.

In 1991, a satellite office was opened in Louisa, Kentucky to improve access and quality of hospice services to residents of Lawrence County, Kentucky.

In 1994 the organization's main office and administrative headquarters were moved to 1538 Central Avenue, Ashland, Kentucky.

On January 26, 2004, Community Hospice, Inc. opened the first freestanding hospice inpatient facility in Kentucky. The Community Hospice Care Center is a short-term care facility that has been designed for the hospice patient with special needs.

In 2008, Community Hospice realized there was a need for additional hospice services in Johnson and Martin counties and was granted a state Certificate of Need to serve this region. We expanded our service area in September of that year and now have a dedicated team designated to providing home care services in the Big Sandy area of Lawrence, Johnson, and Martin counties.

Since occupying our previous facility in 1994, Community Hospice has experienced steady, sustained growth with triple the number of employees and patients served during that time.  In 2011, we embarked on construction of a new administrative office building located at 1480 Carter Avenue, Ashland, Kentucky, and moved to the new facility in March 2012.  Designed by TSHD Architects to specifically to meet the needs of our hospice organization, the 20,000 square foot facility is located in downtown Ashland.  With plenty of room for our current operations, space designated for future expansion and ample storage, we anticipate this facility will meet our needs for many years.

In 2022, a major $2 million refresh to the Community Hospice Care Center began.

To date, Community Hospice, Inc. has provided care for thousands of terminally ill patients and their families residing in Boyd, Greenup, Carter, Elliott, Lawrence, Johnson and Martin Counties, Kentucky and Lawrence and Scioto counties, Ohio. Our staff of one-hundred and twenty-five (125) employees and two-hundred and fifty (250) volunteers care for approximately one-hundred and seventy-five (175) patients per day.

As locations, staff, and board members have changed over the years, Community Hospice. Inc. constantly re-evaluates and improves services to meet the changing needs of our community and patients. Our services are provided to all persons with a life-limiting illness, regardless of their ability to pay. Hospice care is available to persons living alone or in a nursing home. Emphasis is always placed on the patient's and family's individual needs. Improving the quality of life for our patients and their families remains our mission.