Hospice & Palliative Care in Worcester, MA

We offer compassionate and quality care at every stage of illness or injury. Discover our services in Worcester and the surrounding areas.

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When life becomes uncertain, you deserve a care team that feels like family. At Ascend Health in Worcester, we’re here to walk beside you with compassion, understanding, and unwavering support.

Whether you’re recovering from an illness, facing a serious diagnosis, or preparing for life’s final chapter, our local team offers more than just care, we bring comfort, dignity, and presence when you need it most. This is care with heart, close to home.

Our Services in Worcester

Ascend Health serves Worcester and surrounding areas, including Shrewsbury, Auburn, Millbury, West Boylston, Grafton, Holden, Leicester, and Northborough. We meet you and your family wherever you are, at home, in the hospital, or in another care facility. We offer the following services:

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Palliative Care
Palliative care in Worcester is designed for individuals with serious illnesses who need relief from pain, fatigue, and other symptoms. It can be provided at any stage of illness alongside curative treatments, helping patients live as fully and comfortably as possible.
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Hospice Care
Our hospice care in Worcester focuses on easing pain, managing symptoms, and supporting patients emotionally and spiritually during the final stages of life. We emphasize comfort, dignity, and quality of life, not just for patients, but for families too.
A friendly female caregiver in blue scrubs smiles at a senior man in a wheelchair, with her hand gently on his shoulder, as they share a warm conversation.

Why Choose Ascend Health in Worcester?

At Ascend Health, we believe that end-of-life and serious illness care should be as unique as the person receiving it. In Worcester and throughout Massachusetts, our team brings more than medical expertise, we bring compassion, connection, and presence to every visit.

We understand the emotional weight families carry, which is why we take time to listen to your needs, honor your values, and tailor care accordingly. Whether it’s managing symptoms, easing distress, or simply being there in quiet moments, Ascend delivers palliative and hospice care in Worcester that truly supports the whole person.

The Ascend Difference

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Rooted in compassion and purpose

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A care team that treats patients like family

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Personalized service plans based on your goals and comfort

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Seamless coordination with hospitals, physicians, and families

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Meet the Worcester Care Team

At Ascend Health, our caregivers are the heart of everything we do. From nurses and aides to social workers and chaplains, each member of our team is chosen for both their skill and their heart.

We believe healing and peace begin with trust. That’s why our team in Worcester is committed to building strong relationships with every patient and family. Whether at home or another setting, you can count on our experts to provide hospice and palliative care that’s as personal as it is professional.

Staff Spotlights

Dr. Min Keun Song, MD, MPH, CMD, HMDC, CPE
Dr. Min Keun Song, MD, MPH, CMD, HMDC, CPE
Dr. Min Keun Song is a board-certified internist and geriatrician with extensive experience in hospice and senior care. As Medical Director of Ascend Hospice since 2009, he is committed to compassionate, patient-centered care that emphasizes quality of life and end-of-life support for older adults. He was recently named the Best Primary Care Physician in Milton by a local publication.
Dr. Andrew Popelka Jr., MD, MBA, CPE
Dr. Andrew Popelka Jr., MD, MBA, CPE
Dr. Andrew Popelka is a board-certified internist and physician executive dedicated to compassionate, high-quality care across the continuum, including hospice and palliative services. He specializes in patient-centered care, value-based models and with particular expertise in supporting medically complex and vulnerable populations.
Dr. Chieke Udom, MD
Dr. Chieke Udom, MD
Dr. Chieke Udom is Board Certified in Internal and Hospital Medicine and serves as Medical Director for Hospice and Palliative Care. Founder of MD Jraphepc, post acute care management company located in Middleton, MA. He has extensive experience in post-acute care and has served on staff at Beverly Hospital and Lahey Medical Center for over 10 years.
Dr. Min Keun Song, MD, MPH, CMD, HMDC, CPE

Dr. Min Keun Song, MD, MPH, CMD, HMDC, CPE

Dr. Min Keun Song is a board-certified internist and geriatrician with extensive experience in hospice and senior care. As Medical Director of Ascend Hospice since 2009, he is committed to compassionate, patient-centered care that emphasizes quality of life and end-of-life support for older adults. He was recently named the Best Primary Care Physician in Milton by a local publication.

Dr. Andrew Popelka Jr., MD, MBA, CPE

Dr. Andrew Popelka Jr., MD, MBA, CPE

Dr. Andrew Popelka is a board-certified internist and physician executive dedicated to compassionate, high-quality care across the continuum, including hospice and palliative services. He specializes in patient-centered care, value-based models and with particular expertise in supporting medically complex and vulnerable populations.

Dr. Chieke Udom, MD

Dr. Chieke Udom, MD

Dr. Chieke Udom is Board Certified in Internal and Hospital Medicine and serves as Medical Director for Hospice and Palliative Care. Founder of MD Jraphepc, post acute care management company located in Middleton, MA. He has extensive experience in post-acute care and has served on staff at Beverly Hospital and Lahey Medical Center for over 10 years.

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently asked questions for the Ascend Worcester service area.

Yes! Ascend Health in Worcester offers 24/7, around-the-clock support for your loved ones and for their family. We aim to be responsive and available, to give you support, compassion and peace of mind, during this critical time.

We can start as soon as the same day. Our aim is for your loved one to receive hospice care as soon as you are ready. We have a team of on-call nurses that can even admit after hours.

Of course! We want you to be comfortable with your team. It is essential that you trust and connect with every caregiver with whom you and your loved one interact.

Hospice care serves people with life-limiting illnesses where curative treatment is no longer the primary focus. Rather than being defined by a specific disease, hospice patients share the common experience of facing a serious illness with a prognosis of six months or less if the disease follows its expected course. You’ll find people with many different conditions receiving hospice care. Cancer patients make up a significant portion, but hospice also serves those living with heart disease, lung conditions like COPD, kidney failure, Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, ALS, and many other serious illnesses.

We cover all insurance, including Medicare.

A caring female caregiver in blue scrubs smiles at a happy senior woman in a wheelchair, with her hand gently on the woman's shoulder as they share a warm moment.

We’re Here When You Need Us Most

At Ascend Health, we know that choosing hospice or palliative care is a deeply personal decision. That’s why our team in Worcester stands ready to support you with kindness, clarity, and respect every step of the way.

Whether you’re facing a new diagnosis, living with chronic illness, or nearing life’s final chapter, we’re here to help you and your loved ones feel safe, supported, and seen.

Contact Ascend Health in Worcester

Reach out today to learn more about hospice care and palliative care in Worcester, MA. Contact us or call 866.821.1212 to get the care you or your loved one deserves.