Hospice of Jefferson County residence nearing completion
By REBECCA MADDEN
TIMES STAFF WRITER
FRIDAY, AUGUST 19, 2011
Hospice of Jefferson County gave a sneak peek at its 8,378-square-foot residence at 1398 Gotham St. on Thursday, in response to the community’s request for more information about the agency.
CEO Stephen P. Lyman said he hopes keeping the community apprised of what Hospice is doing will ensure better responses to a future survey about the agency, as well as encourage more people to use Hospice services and programs.
“We did a survey of the community and one question we asked folks was about the residence,” he said. “Half of the folks thought the residence was under construction, one-fourth didn’t think there was one, and one-fourth thought it was already open.”
The telephone survey was conducted by the Center for Community Studies at Jefferson Community College, and focused on the attitudes and concerns about end-of-life care. Results were reported to the agency in June.
Mr. Lyman said people also have thought the residence construction means no more home care, but that is not true.
Construction of the residence is on schedule, and should be complete in November. The one-story building rests on a 5½-acre lot donated by Aline C. Taylor, Watertown.
There are eight private patient rooms on one side of the facility, with a central nurses station to look after residents.
There’s a community kitchen, dining and living room areas, office space, bathing facilities for families, a laundry room, a copy room and a large room for community groups to use.
Purcell Construction, Watertown, is the project’s general contractor, and Aubertine & Currier, Watertown, is the architectural and engineering firm. Construction began in October.
“Now we’re down to the finishing and duct work,” Mr. Lyman said. “Putting the flooring in is the end, as is final trim. To get to this point, there was an awful lot of time spent getting the underground stuff done.”
Linda R. Sharlow, Hospice Foundation of Jefferson County executive director, said many features, including outdoor patios and private rooms, are designed to make patients feel as if they’re at home in their final days.
“This is supposed to be more of a homelike setting, so rooms aren’t designed to look like a nursing home as much as possible,” she said.
Patient rooms will include a pull-out sofa so family members or friends can stay with their loved ones.
All doors, including the ones in patient rooms, open up to accommodate a hospital bed. Taking residents out to enjoy the fresh air and the scenic view of Dry Hill would be common, Mr. Lyman said.
There are several windows throughout the facility for residents to enjoy the sunlight, as well as for energy efficiency, according to Michael L. Aubertine, a managing partner of Aubertine & Currier. The windows, as well as stonework inside and out, will contribute to energy efficiency, he said.
The $4.3 million project was made possible through agency fundraising and a $3.3 million state grant, which was requested through former state Sen. Darrel J. Aubertine, now commissioner of the state Department of Agriculture and Markets.
Since there were several other financial contributors to the project, Mr. Lyman said, there will be a ribbon-cutting ceremony in the fall to show donors what their contributions helped construct.
To further help Hospice financially, there eventually will be memorial gardens and walkways where people can buy bricks or other features, Mr. Lyman said.
“Maybe with a gazebo, playground and flowers and shrubs, some folks may walk around and find some peace,” he said.
