By: Haley Jones, Director of Marketing and Development
Memorial Health System (MHS) is excited to announce that a hospice room is finally in the building phase at Village Manor, with the help of funds from Hospice of Dickinson County. This new development exemplifies what teamwork, community, and compassionate care really mean to MHS!
Hospice of Dickinson County and Village Manor, both affiliates of MHS, have been providing services to the Abilene community and the surrounding area for over 40 years. Their combined knowledge of
taking care of elderly residents, homebound individuals, and those who are terminally ill makes them the top choice when considering who will care for your loved ones; in the home or the long-term care facility.
Village Manor is a 75-bed long-term care facility that focuses on each person’s level of care. Included is a special care unit for those with Alzheimer’s and dementia, short-term recovery rooms, skilled nursing, adult day care, onsite rehabilitation services, and soon a new hospice room!
MHS currently has a hospice room located at the hospital in the Inpatient Department; which is utilized for patients who require extra monitoring (hospice acute) on a short-term basis, and for hospice respite stays. The residents of Village Manor rarely use the inpatient hospice room since they already have more direct care options available through the facility that they live in. When residents of Village Manor come to pass, they may do so with the assistance of hospice staff, but until now, the space in which this outcome takes place has lacked the kind of privacy that is deserved during this time.
The new hospice room is currently being built using space from hall 5, which was previously used for family visiting and other daily activities. The room has been cleared of carpet and the exterior door has been installed. This private entrance will not only allow loved ones to come and go with discretion, but it also allows the deceased person to be taken out of the building in a non-public way. Just outside of this door, there are plans for a gazebo where loved ones may step out of the room if needed. Having a hospice room onsite at Village Manor is also beneficial for the roommate of the passing resident. When an individual approaches the end of life and the family is notified, there can be many visitors trying to come in and out of a room that is shared by two residents. It is not an ideal situation for anyone.
It was an easy decision for the Hospice Board of Directors to approve the motion to move forward with the building of the new hospice room with the unfortunate passing of two amazing women who were among the group of founders who initiated the hospice program here in Dickinson County. Those women are Elizabeth “Beth” Schmitt, who passed on May 5, 2023, and Jo Ann Royer, who passed on July 25, 2023. Both Jo and Beth spent a great many years of their lives helping make the hospice program what it is today through their hard work as Hospice Volunteer Coordinators as well as their continued dedication to hospice as Direct Patient Volunteers and Hospice Advisory Board Members. The hospice rooms at Memorial Hospital and Village Manor are being named in their honor.
More heartwarming news to accompany this announcement is that of a generous $25,000.00 donation made by the family of Beth Schmitt. This donation will help purchase a new bed and lift for the hospice room located at the hospital.
Jo and Beth, may not be here in a physical sense anymore, but the work they left behind is beyond admirable. Hospice of Dickinson County staff and volunteers want to share their accomplishments with the community in a way that cannot be done with a short news story. Planning is underway to display the work done by these women. Watch for details on that in the coming months!
Donations with the Hospice Memorial Fund are used to help the hospice program provide patient care and quality services. Improving upon the current hospice room and building a new one, are just a couple of examples. Hospice of Dickinson County also uses donations to help offset costs for hospice care and bereavement support. MHS believes that every individual, and their loved ones, should receive the best care regardless of their ability to pay.