|
|
 |
|
| News & Events |
| June 17, 2008
|
« Back To News |
| NIAGARA HOSPICE HOUSE OPEN ONE YEAR |
 |
 Niagara Hospice House recently celebrated the one year anniversary of opening its doors to Niagara County hospice patients. The facility has served over 400 patients since June 5, 2007. The 24,000 square foot building is centrally located on the Niagara Hospice campus on Sunset Drive in the Town of Lockport and it is Niagara County’s only residential hospice house.
Thirty-two individuals have resided so far in the residential wing of the house that holds eight suites specifically designed for patients who have an insufficient caregiver system at home. These residential suites have remained 100% occupied since July 2007.
“I remember clearly the first resident we welcomed to Niagara Hospice House,” said Janet Ligammari, Clinical Director. “Many of the staff greeted her right at the door and walked with her to her suite. I’m proud to say we have made that a tradition and continue to do it with every patient who comes to our house.”
The in-patient wing at Hospice House has ten suites designed for patients needing short-term medical monitoring and symptom management.
Each suite is designed with patient and family in mind with a sitting area, flat screen TV, and easy-chair sleeper. Each family also has access to gathering rooms with fireplaces, family kitchens, visitor lounges, a chapel, and the Niagara Hospice memorial gardens.
“When we founded Niagara Hospice in the 1980’s we had a dream then to one day open a hospice house,” said Patricia Evans, board member and one of the organization’s founders. “Now that we have been open one year, we realize the dream was not only ours, but that of many Niagara County residents looking for compassion and care during a most difficult and yet precious time of their loved one’s life.”
State Health Commissioner Richard F. Daines, MD announced in early May that Niagara Hospice is one of three New York State hospices to be allowed to submit an application for a Certificate of Need (CON) to add eight residential suites under the Department’s Hospice Residence Pilot Program.
“We know there is a need for more residential hospice services since our suites have been full for nearly a year,” said Niagara Hospice President & CEO John Lomeo. “We have submitted everything requested by the State for our application and hope to hear in July whether we are approved. If we are granted the CON this summer, we plan to start building the additional suites before the end of this year.”
A video tour and photo album of Niagara Hospice House is available online at www.niagarahospice.org. For more information about Niagara Hospice House or to schedule a tour, call 439-4417.
Sidebar:
Hospice care will always be primarily a home-based service. Niagara Hospice celebrates 20 years of providing hospice home care this June. Since serving its first patient in 1988, Niagara Hospice has served over 10,000 individuals as well as their immediate and extended families - providing comfort, dignity and choice. Hospice services include physical, emotional, spiritual and bereavement care. Hospice care is appropriate for any advanced stage illness, not just cancer, where the prognosis is a life expectancy of approximately six months or less. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
|