Robert “Bob” Abel of Medford, has been named Director of Merrimack Valley Hospice, the leader in hospice care in the Merrimack Valley, Northeastern Massachusetts, Southern New Hampshire and York, Maine. Bob will oversee the clinical management of hospice operations in the community and at Merrimack Valley Hospice House.
Bob began his nursing career at the forefront of the hospice movement and has spent the past 30 years focused on hospice and home health care. He worked with Elizabeth Kubler-Ross, a pioneer in the hospice movement and author of the groundbreaking book “Death and Dying”. He is passionate about the incredible impact that end of life care has on patients and their families.
“Bob has dedicated his career to quality end-of-life care and brings a wealth of experience to Merrimack Valley Hospice” said John G. Albert, MBA, FACHE, President and CEO of Home Health Foundation which includes Home Health VNA, Merrimack Valley Hospice and HomeCare, Inc. “He has developed and implemented innovative programs in hospice and palliative care and is committed to quality services and optimal patient care.”
Bob received his Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Massachusetts at Boston. He was most recently at Hallmark Visiting Nurse Association and Hospice where he served as Clinical Director for VNA & Hospice, and Hospice & Specialty Services. Prior to Hallmark, he was focused on Hospice and Dementia care as a Program Team Leader, and as a Hospice Nurse Case Manager at the Visiting Nurse Association of Cape Cod.