Hospice of Jackson to develop hospice home
May 1, 2006
Jackson, Mich. — Hospice of Jackson, a subsidiary of Allegiance Health, will create a family-centered hospice home to expand end-of-life care options for families within the community facing the death of a loved one.
The unique working relationship calls for Hospice of Jackson to staff the home and provide medical, nursing and support services. The building will be constructed on the campus of the Lloyd Ganton Retirement Centers, and Lloyd Ganton will act as the developer of the project. Hospice of Jackson will provide design specifications for the exterior and interior of the building and then lease the building from the Ganton’s. Allegiance will provide operational support and management oversight of the program.
The hospice home will feature 20 private rooms, family baths, as well as family gathering and support space, including a library and children’s area. The 15,000 square-foot building will be located in Blackman Township in a natural, wooded setting. The home will be operated, licensed, and staffed through Hospice of Jackson, the area’s only not-for-profit hospice provider.
“We are absolutely thrilled to be able to bring this important level of hospice care to our community,” said Hospice of Jackson Board Chairman Grant Brown. “This has been a dream of our organization for many years. We firmly believe that Jackson area residents deserve access to all end-of-life care options without the burden of travel, and regardless of their ability to pay.”
Similar hospice facilities exist in surrounding communities, including Lansing, Battle Creek and Ann Arbor. Other hospice organizations in the region offer residential facilities privately for those who can afford to pay for the services. As not-for-profit entities, Hospice of Jackson and Allegiance provide services to everyone, regardless of their financial situation.
“We see every single day how painfully difficult a life-limiting illness can be on a family – both emotionally and financially. Our hospice home will not only provide physical and emotional comfort for patients, it will also serve the needs of family members during the process,” said Allegiance Health President Georgia Fojtasek. “Allegiance’s mission directs us to care at every stage of life and it is important make the final weeks and days of life meaningful for everyone.”
Lloyd Ganton, CEO of Lloyd Ganton Retirement Centers, said the hospice home will be built on property he owns along Springport Road. He said the site is a perfect location for the home.
“It will provide a wonderful natural setting that will be very peaceful and soothing,” he said. “We are really excited to have a part in bringing this important service to Jackson. This is an excellent example of businesses collaborating for the benefit of the community.”
Hospice of Jackson was established in 1981and has served more than 5,000 terminally ill patients in its 25-year history. In addition to medical care, the organization also provides free bereavement and support services to the general public through an endowment it maintains. Annually, about 800 area families and community members take advantage of these free services. In 1998, Hospice of Jackson sought affiliation with Allegiance Health and is now part of the Allegiance Home Care Services division. It continues to maintain a separate not-for-profit identity and a community Board of Directors.
A groundbreaking for the hospice home will be held in May. The building is expected to be operational in April 2007.