Changing

The World

To the Editor:

One of my favorite quotes is by Margaret Mead: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”

We live by that motto at Regional Hospice and Home Care, and have just completed a goal that we have been working on for years — the new hospice regulations have passed!

This has truly been a team effort to transform the hospice regulations in our state to meet modern standards. Our planned hospice residence will be the first of its kind in Connecticut and will fulfill many promises made that loved ones would be cared for in a peaceful setting at the end of their lives when home is not an option.

I am proud of our legislators who led this charge in Hartford: Sen Andrew Roraback, Rep Janice Giegler, Rep David Scribner, Rep Bob Godfrey, Rep Jay Taborsak, Sen Michael McLachlan, Rep Daniel Fox, Rep Chris Lyddy, Rep Dan Carter and Rep Arthur O’Neil. I thank the Honorable Jodi Rell and Dr Norma Gyle for their dedication to our community and their time, talent and efforts to make this happen. The unanimous vote in the House of Representatives and the 33-3 vote in the Senate culminated with Governor Malloy signing the new hospice bill last month, a huge success. The Commissioner of Public Health, Dr Mullen, and her staff were instrumental in identifying the need for quality outcomes in care. Our state association, CT Association for Home Care and Hospice, worked tirelessly on this bill.

But most of all, to those who wrote, called, e-mailed, and signed petitions to make this dream a reality, thank you!

Never doubt that a small group of committed people can change the world — it has indeed!

Cynthia Roy Squitieri

President and CEO

Regional Hospice and Home Care of Western CT

405 Main Street, Danbury                                               July 25, 2012