Last Mile Ride

Gifford is a non-profit community medical center, a Critical Access Hospital and Federally Qualified Health Center with more than 112 years of experience in providing high-quality, accessible health care to the people of the central Vermont and Upper Valley regions. 

Patients benefit from high-quality, professional end-of-life care made possible by Gifford's Last Mile Ride in the hospital and at home.

A sampling of services the Last Mile Ride has supported:
• Garden Room, a special hospital suite for dying patients and their families.
• Massages, acupuncture and Reiki for pain management
• Legacy Projects - professional photos of patients and families
• Special wishes for one-time family grants are available, as appropriate and depending on funding. Past grants have provided estate planning, family travel expenses and more. 
• Riverbend hospice singing group (available to sing at the patients’ bedsides)
• Comfort Cart food carts for patients’ families while in the hospital.
• Comfort Kits for end-of-life patients, which include a beautiful prayer shawl, reading materials, and more.

“When a family goes through the death of a loved one, that creates a long-term memory. These memories never go away. It’s a memory that I want to be as positive as possible. Even though it’s a sad moment, there can be a joy in this. I’m trying to help these families cherish these last times with their loved ones.”

Lynda McDermott
Gifford nurse, Last Mile Ride founder