New Regional Hospice Residence in Danbury to be Completed this Fall

FINAL BEAM SIGNED AND BOLTED INTO PLACE AT NEW HOSPICE RESIDENCE

A cheer went up from the crowd of several dozen supporters – capital campaign committee chairs and members, donors, staff, friends, and local and regional politicians – who gathered on a chilly but sunny April 1st morning, as the final construction beam was bolted into place at the future home of the state's first and only private-room hospice residence.

After thanking those who have worked tirelessly for seven years to bring the dream of a hospice home to fruition, Cynthia E. Roy, president and CEO of Regional Hospice and Home Care of Western CT, announced that the building, on Milestone Rd. in Danbury, was on-schedule for completion by November 15 and plans to accept its first hospice resident patients December 1.

"We will welcome more than 1,000 patients and their families to the new hospice residence from throughout Connecticut and nearby New York in the first year," she said. "Many of the patients in our 12 suites will be pediatric patients."

Regional Hospice was among the voices that worked toward modernizing legislation in the state of Connecticut to allow for the construction of the hospice home. Gov. Dannel P. Malloy and Former Gov. M. Jodi Rell are among those who supported the changes in legislation, which passed unanimously in the Legislature's Regulations Review Committee in 2012. After the changes were then passed in the Connecticut State House and Senate, Governor Malloy signed the bill into law.

Those who came to the event spent the morning signing the beam and writing messages of hope and inspiration before the metal was hoisted into the air, lowered into its place at the center of the building, signed by two construction workers and attached to the rest of the beams that make up the framework of the building.

"God bless this building and all of those who will walk through its doors," read one message. "With the spirit of light and love," said another.

Regional Hospice and Home Care is a nonprofit hospice and palliative care agency based in Danbury, Conn. The construction of the new building is being funded by donations, with only $4 million needed to complete the $12 million total cost. Anyone wishing to contribute to the construction efforts may contact Paul Sirois, executive director of the Regional Hospice Foundation, at (203) 702-7414 or email psirois@regionalhospicect.org. Additional information about the plans for the building may be found at www.regionalhospicect.org.

Regional Hospice and Home Care of Western CT, Inc. is a nonprofit palliative care and home hospice agency based in Danbury, Conn., thatoffers real hope to those facing advanced illness through patient-focused care, education, resources and advocacy. Our team of certified caregivers helps patients and families discover what end-of-life care can be—what can be gained, what can be realized and what can be recaptured. Our range of services includes medical, emotional, spiritual and comfort. We never turn patients away, regardless of the ability to pay. We are also home to the award-winning Healing Hearts Center for Grieving Children & Families, a bereavement center that offers a range of grief support services. Regional Hospice is currently building the first and only private-room, family focused hospice residence facility in the state of Connecticut, with plans to open in December 2014. For more information, visit www.RegionalHospiceCT.org or call (203) 702-7400. Follow us on twitter: @real_hope. Like us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/RegionalHospice.

From left to right: Cynthia E. Roy, president and CEO of Regional Hospice and Home Care of Western Conn.; Kevin Kelleher, vice chair of the campaign to build the hospice residence and president and CEO of Cartus; Paul Sirois, executive director of the Regional Hospice Foundation; Alain Schwarz, chairman of the Regional Hospice Board of Directors and general manager of Branson Ultrasonics; and Joe Dillon, president of Branson Ultrasonics.