Our History

Founded in 1977 as Hospice Care of Northern Virginia, Capital Caring Health was one of the fifteen original hospice providers established in the United States. Since its founding, Capital Caring Health has become the region’s largest non-profit advanced illness care provider. Also, it has endeavored to improve care for those facing life-limiting illnesses through direct support of patients and their families, public education, and advocacy. Founder, Dr. Josefina Magno, was a pioneer in the 1970s. She understood that people living with serious illnesses needed substantial and sustained care.

In 1982, we proudly helped the 97th United States Congress to pass the historic hospice bill, increasing access to care for the terminally ill. That same year, we opened the first in-patient hospice care center in the nation in Arlington, Virginia.

As a result of this innovation, Capital Caring Health has provided hospice, palliative care, and counseling to nearly 200,000 patients and their families throughout its history. What began as a small team in a single office has expanded to a regional network that encompasses multiple neighborhood offices across Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C.

Over 1,000 employees and more than 2,000 volunteers provide these services to nearly 3,000 patients and their families each day, regardless of their ability to pay. As one of the nation’s oldest and largest non-profit providers of hospice and palliative care, Capital Caring Health is proud to provide roughly $3 million in charitable care to families in need annually.

In 2003, we became Capital Hospice. Then, in 2012, we began operations under the name of Capital Caring. Finally, in 2019, we transitioned to Capital Caring Health.

Despite these transitions, our values and commitment to care remain constant. Just as it was years ago, Capital Caring Health is made possible today by a passionate community of volunteers, donors, and staff.

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