A closer look at the care, programs, and support available to Marion County families beyond traditional hospice services.
For more than four decades, Hospice of Marion County has helped patients and their families navigate one of life’s most difficult journeys. Established in 1983 as a nonprofit organization, it has been a source of compassionate care, comfort and support for Marion County residents facing advanced illness and the loss of loved ones.
In 2023, Hospice of Marion County became affiliated with Empath Health, a nonprofit health care organization, and is now known as Empath Hospice of Marion County. While compassionate end-of-life care remains at the heart of its mission, the organization has continued to expand its services to meet the changing needs of the community.
When most people hear the word “hospice,” they immediately think of end-of-life care. But the services offered through Empath Hospice of Marion County extend beyond those final stages of life. From dementia education and caregiver support to grief counseling and other specialized programs, the organization offers assistance to individuals and families at different stages of illness and loss.
For Lisa McCoy, executive director of Empath Hospice of Marion County and a hospice nurse for 30 years, two comments have stayed with her throughout her career: “I wish I had known what hospice does” and “I should have called sooner.”
“Hospice is not ending health care; it is refocusing health care,” McCoy explains. “Hospice focuses on quality of life, education and support for the patient, caregivers and family members through medical, psychosocial and spiritual programs and services.”
Those services include music therapy, Reiki, end-of-life doulas and grief counseling for adults and children, including community members whose loved ones were not hospice patients.
Among the organization’s expanding services is support for individuals living with dementia and their caregivers. Approximately 14,000 Marion County residents are living with dementia, a diagnosis that can also dramatically change the lives of spouses, children and other family members who become caregivers.
In March 2026, the organization opened the Empath Dementia Education and Care Center, expanding access to education, resources and support for those affected by the disease.
According to Martha Dominquez, dementia services manager, one of the greatest challenges caregivers face is knowing where to turn for help.
“Many feel alone, confused and overwhelmed as they navigate their caregiving journey, often unsure of what resources are available or where to begin,” she explains.
The Empath Dementia Education and Care Center offers caregiver workshops, support groups and monthly Memory Cafés, where individuals living with dementia and their caregivers can participate in activities and connect with others.
The center also offers the Virtual Dementia Tour, a simulation designed to help caregivers better understand the physical and cognitive difficulties their loved ones experience.
“Many caregivers shed tears as they experience some of what their loved ones are experiencing,” Dominquez says. “This allows caregivers to be empowered to better navigate the challenges of caregiving.”
For one Ocala woman, caring for her husband after his dementia diagnosis brought challenges neither of them had anticipated. The couple had moved to the area just a few years earlier, and although they had made friends, they didn’t have the same support system they had left behind.
Through Empath Hospice of Marion County’s dementia education program, she found guidance and support as she learned to navigate her husband’s changing needs. She developed a relationship with a dementia education nurse who visited their home. The couple also attended Memory Cafés together, and she saved photographs from each gathering, knowing there might come a time when he could no longer attend.
“Hospice is not ending health care; it is refocusing health care.”
— Lisa McCoy
Eventually, her husband required hospice care. After his death, she reached out to the dementia team to express how much their support had meant to her. She now receives grief counseling services through Empath Hospice of Marion County.
The center’s educational programs also serve first responders, medical students and staff at assisted living and skilled nursing facilities. Through the Nancy Renyhart Dementia Education program, participants learn how dementia affects communication, behavior and everyday activities.
The training helps participants recognize the challenges associated with dementia and develop more effective ways to communicate with individuals who may be confused or disoriented, particularly during emergency situations.
Families are encouraged to contact the center as soon as a loved one receives a dementia diagnosis, even if they are not yet ready to participate in a program. No referral or previous relationship with Empath Health is required.
Community contributions play an important role in making these services available.
“As a not-for-profit hospice organization, we have the unique opportunity to provide services and programs that exist because of thoughtful and impactful gifts from donors, grants, corporate support, the State of Florida, and the generous patrons who donate to and shop at our four thrift stores,” says Rochelle Kelly Wristen, executive director of the Hospice of Marion County Foundation.
The foundation helps fund dementia education, grief counseling, uncompensated care and other services. Its four thrift stores, located throughout Ocala and Summerfield, generate revenue that supports these programs, with volunteers playing an essential role in their operations.
In 2026, nearly $1.6 million was invested in community services, including hospice and palliative care, dementia programs, grief counseling and nursing education. Another $2.1 million has been granted for 2027 to support existing services and planned expansions.
Community members can also support the organization through its annual Lights of Love Memorial Tree Lighting Event, scheduled for Dec. 3 at Citizens’ Circle in downtown Ocala.
The free event begins with complimentary hot cocoa and cookies at 5:30 p.m., followed by a remembrance ceremony and tree lighting at 6:15 p.m. A 14-foot memorial tree, topped with an illuminated purple butterfly, will honor loved ones who are no longer with us.
Whether facing serious illness, caring for a loved one with dementia or grieving a loss, Marion County residents can turn to Empath Hospice of Marion County for services and support, knowing they don’t have to face these challenges alone.
