Inside Athena: Judy Nadeau Fulfills Her Mission to Help Others During End of Life
LAKEVILLE, M.A. — Working in hospice care is more than a job for Judy Nadeau… it’s personal.
“My dad was on hospice years ago, and I saw the impact hospice had on him and knew I wanted to make a career change,” she said.
She began working at another hospice agency as a volunteer coordinator and was there for four years. It wasn’t until the fall of 2023 that she was offered the position as the Volunteer Coordinator for Hospice Services of Massachusetts. Then in May of 2024, her position expanded to manage the bereavement services too.
Today as the Volunteer and Bereavement Coordinator, she brings her experience, heart, and passion to assist patients and families while in hospice and also provides additional support during the grieving process before and after death.
Nadeau and the entire interdisciplinary team— including medical directors, clinical directors, supervisors, social workers, nurse case managers, certified nursing assistants, volunteers, hospice clergy, community liaisons, and others — work closely with patients and their loved ones to ensure that no one faces the end of life alone.
“We do a lot of different projects for our patients and work a lot with their families,” said Nadeau, who manages a team of 16 volunteers who regularly visit patients, offering companionship—whether through conversation or simply by holding their hand.
Within seven days of a veteran coming onto service, a veteran recognition ceremony will be scheduled. It is roughly about 15 minutes, but during this time a certificate is presented by a veteran volunteer to the patient and their loved ones, with the Hospice Chaplin reciting a prayer, she explains.
Nadeau and her team also create Memory Boards for the patients. They are personal collages filled with photos of hobbies, likes and memories. These boards are especially meaningful for individuals living with dementia or memory loss.
Supporting families is a key part of Nadeau’s approach.
“Once the family goes home and the neighbors stop bringing food, that’s when it really hits,” she said.
A phone call is often her first step, gently assessing how the family is coping and determining what more she can do to help them through the hard days offering herself as a steady presence. Hospice Services of Massachusetts continues to follow and check in with family and or responsible parties for up to 13 months after death.
“I really love seeing the patients and interacting with the families,” she said. “I love to see the little things that impact the patients in a positive way in the moment.”
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