On Sunday, the inpatient hospice facility will observe its 10-year anniversary of providing compassionate care to patients and their families.
“End of life is all about comfort,” said Sally Stitt, executive director of Hospice Care of the Washington Hospital, which operates the Donnell House.
“It’s almost a privilege to help a family through that time of life,” said Stitt, noting the staff develops a strong bond with patients and their families. The Donnell House, nestled at the corner of Core and Leet streets, was made possible through a donation of more than $1 million by Richard and Shana Donnell through the Richard H. Donnell Foundation. Private contributors donated the remaining money to complete the $3.2 million center.
The couple approached the hospital with the idea of an inpatient hospice facility after the death of Shana Donnell’s father, who, Stitt said, had a wonderful experience at a hospice house in Ohio.
Their timing couldn’t have been better. The hospital had just completed a study that concluded an inpatient hospice care in the Washington area was desperately needed.
“Because we’re the only freestanding facility in Washington, Greene and Fayette counties, we have contracts with most other hospice organizations,” Stitt said.
In addition to serving patients at the Donnell House, Hospice Care of Washington Hospital continues to provide in-home services as well.
“We see patients wherever they consider to be home,” Stitt said.
The Donnell House has a large community room on the lower level, plus a kitchen and dining area for family members, who are encouraged to bring food and enjoy meals with their loved ones. Daily patient meals are provided through the hospital’s dietary services department.
“We’ve had huge family dinners here, and they say how much it’s meant to them,” Stitt said.
The eight patient rooms are on the second floor, which, because of grading, is level with the outdoor garden. The garden is accessible through a private patio door that is large enough to accommodate a hospital bed.
The house also has a bright sun porch, chapel, great room and children’s play area. The third floor houses the Hospice Care office complex.
Hospice patients are admitted to the Donnell House for one of two reasons: either their symptoms have become uncontrollable or their primary caregiver requests a respite stay. Five-day respite stays are provided once every 40 days.
However, “very few caregivers use that benefit to the fullest,” Stitt said.
Patients at the Donnell House are seen by a physician on a daily basis, and that care is coordinated by Dr.
Jeffrey Minteer of the Family Medicine Center in Washington and a palliative care specialist. Social services and spiritual and bereavement counseling also are provided.
Stitt said Hospice Care of the Washington Hospital also relies on a large pool of dedicated volunteers to promote comfort and personal care to its patients.
To commemorate the 10th anniversary, the Donnell House plans to hold “something small” each month through December, including daylong widows’ and widowers’ retreats. All proceeds from the Washington Hospital Ball on March 3 will benefit the Donnell House, and at Christmas, families of former patients will be invited to hang an ornament on the tree in their loved one’s memory.
For more information about Hospice Care of the Washington Hospital, call 724-350-4500 or email hospice@ washingtonhospital.org.
