WNC Hospice House gets closer to goal
The Hospice House Foundation of WNC is in the midst of a major fundraising campaign to construct and operate a six-bed hospice house in Franklin.
It’s a dream the nonprofit foundation has had since incorporating in 2004 and now it is becoming a reality. The foundation has so far raised $1.25 million toward the $4.3 million project. The $4.3 million also includes the first year of operating expenses. While $4.3 million seems far away, Capital Campaign Manager Phyllis Racine said she was focused on reaching the $2.2 million mark.
“When we reach $2.2 million, the (N.C. State Employees) Credit Union will give us a $1 million grant,” she said. “At that point, we’ll be well on our way.”
There are more than 50 inpatient hospice centers in North Carolina that care for the terminally ill, but this would be the first one to serve the Western North Carolina region west of Haywood County. In Macon County alone, the sheriff’s office reports there are about 50 unattended deaths each year. Racine said the 65 and older population accounts for 25 percent of the total population in Macon County and that number is expected to grow steadily.
“This hospice house is a pretty critical need,” she said.
The Hospice House project really began to take off when the former Dryman home and 2.74 acres on Maple Street in Franklin was donated to the foundation. The home will serve as administrative space and family living areas and an addition will be made to the back of the house to accommodate the six patient rooms.
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The facility will be operated by Four Seasons Hospice and Palliative Care, which also operates the Elizabeth House — a 12-bed inpatient hospice house in Flat Rock. The new facility in Franklin will be named the SECU Hospice House because of the credit union’s fundraising commitments. Racine said there are still plenty of other naming opportunities in the house for other donors, including each patient suite.
As someone who cared for both of her parents, Racine said no one should have to face the end of their life alone. The hospice house will be a place for patients as well as a place for families to feel welcome and comfortable.
Michele Alderson, president of the SECU Hospice House Foundation, said there are several reasons why hospice patients would need to be cared for in an in-patient setting — sometimes an illness can’t be managed at home or a caregiver reaches a point when they can no longer take care of their loved one around the clock.
Alderson said the hospice house would allow home-like comfort while being cared for by trained hospice nurses. While hospital nurses have a number of patients every day dealing with different conditions, nurses at the hospice house are specifically trained to manage pain and care for terminal patients. With only six patients at any given time, hospice nurses will get to know them and their needs.
“It will be a home setting instead of a hospital bed,” Racine said. “Family can come by anytime and use the kitchen to cook, use the laundry facility or stay over night with their loved one.”
The facility also will have chaplains available to assist the patient and family, social workers to discuss emotional and family challenges and bereavement services following the death of a resident for surviving family.
Volunteers will be an important aspect of hospice house care. They will be available to assist patients/families in helping with activities, care and personal errands.
The foundation had a rocky start several years ago when Angel Medical Center decided not to partner with the hospice house project and continued to provide hospice care in a hospital setting. But the foundation board continued to push forward and the work is paying off. The foundation found a new partner in Four Seasons and was able to receive its certificate of need from the state in 2012.
“We made an application to the state how many people use hospice,” Alderson said. “There’s no hospice inpatient facilities west of Haywood County to serve the western region.”
Racine said the community has been very supportive of the project so far and she hopes it continues. In addition to the support from SECU, a challenge from Jodi and Bernie Maki has helped keep the momentum going strong. The Makis donated $50,000 and challenged the community and the SECU Hospice House Foundation to raise another $50,000 toward the campaign. Once that challenge was met, the Makis donated another $50,000.
Macon County commissioners approved applying for a Building Reuse grant through the Department of Commerce on behalf of the foundation. Alderson said she expects to know by next month whether the foundation will be awarded the $100,000 grant. If the foundation is approved, the county is committed to kicking in $5,000 to the project.
“We’re looking at a number of grants — we’d like to see half of the money come from grants and the other half from individuals,” Racine said. “We’d like to finish the campaign this calendar year but that all depends on fundraising.”
Once the project has enough money to get going, architectural plans will need to be completed before construction can begin. If all goes as planned, the hospice house could be up and running by 2017.
To donate to the project, visit hhfwnc.org.
Upcoming Hospice House fundraiser
Art for the Heart of the Hospice House,
4-7 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 23, at Carpe Diem Farms in Highlands. Thirty pieces of art work will be auctioned off to raise funds for the SECU Hospice house project. Food will be served. Tickets are $50 a person. Available at hhfwnc.org or at local chamber of commerce offices.
