Regional Hospice And Home Care Of Western Connecticut Inc

COMMUNITY PROJECT FUNDING/CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED SPENDING - CONSTRUCTION - ORGANIZATION NAME: REGIONAL HOSPICE AND HOME CARE OF WESTERN CONNECTICUT, INC. (“REGIONAL HOSPICE”) PROJECT TYPE: ALTERATION/RENOVATION OF AN EXISTING FACILITY PROJECT NAME: REGIONAL HOSPICE RENOVATION OF CENTER FOR COMFORT CARE & HEALING TOTAL CPF/CDS FUNDING REQUEST: $1,999,421 TOTAL PROJECT COST: $1,999,421 REGIONAL HOSPICE ORIGINALLY REQUESTED FEDERAL FUNDS TO REMODEL OUR 34,158 SQUARE-FOOT CENTER FOR COMFORT CARE & HEALING (“CENTER”) IN DANBURY, CONNECTICUT TO BUILD TWO PATIENT SUITES DEDICATED TO CARING FOR TERMINALLY ILL CHILDREN. HOWEVER, AFTER A THOROUGH EVALUATION OF OUR CAPITAL PLAN AND CRITICAL FEEDBACK FROM FAMILIES WHO TOLD US THAT THEY PREFER THEIR CHILDREN DIE AT HOME, WE HAVE DECIDED TO FOCUS ON EXPANDING OUR PEDIATRIC PROGRAM IN THE COMMUNITY RATHER THAN BUILD TWO PEDIATRIC SUITES AT THE CENTER. WE NOW PROPOSE TO USE FEDERAL FUNDS FOR ESSENTIAL RENOVATIONS TO THE CENTER WHICH WAS BUILT IN 2014 AND OPENED IN JANUARY 2015. THE CENTER IS A RESIDENTIAL HOSPICE CARE FACILITY DEDICATED TO PROVIDING PHYSICAL, EMOTIONAL AND SPIRITUAL SUPPORT TO BABIES, CHILDREN AND ADULTS WITH LIFE-LIMITING ILLNESS, NEEDED RESPITE FOR CAREGIVERS, AND A SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT FOR FAMILIES AND LOVED ONES FACING CHALLENGING LOSS. UNLIKE ANY OTHER FACILITY IN OUR REGION, THE CENTER HAS 12 PRIVATE SUITES THAT ACCOMMODATE FAMILIES OVERNIGHT AND PROVIDES 24/7 CARE IN A BEAUTIFUL, HOMELIKE ENVIRONMENT. OUR INTERDISCIPLINARY TEAM OF PHYSICIANS, NURSES, SOCIAL WORKERS, HOSPICE AIDES, CHAPLAINS, BEREAVEMENT COUNSELORS, AND HOSPICE-TRAINED VOLUNTEERS SERVES APPROXIMATELY 200 PATIENTS EACH YEAR AT THE CENTER. ALTHOUGH PATIENTS AT THE CENTER ARE PRIMARILY RESIDENTS OF CONNECTICUT AND NEW YORK, THERE ARE NO GEOGRAPHIC LIMITATIONS TO ADMISSION. THE CENTER CONSISTS OF 12 INDIVIDUAL PATIENT SUITES WITH ADJOINING BATHROOMS, 2 NURSING STATIONS, A SPACIOUS FAMILY LIVING ROOM AND KITCHEN, A LARGE COMMERCIAL KITCHEN, A LIBRARY, STAFF OFFICES, CONFERENCE AND MEETIN G ROOMS, A 4,000 SQUARE-FOOT PERENNIAL GARDEN WITH A CHILDREN’S PLAYGROUND, AND A CHEF’S GARDEN. THE PROJECT (“PROJECT”) INCLUDES RENOVATIONS TO THE CENTER NECESSARY TO ENHANCE PHYSICAL SECURITY, UPGRADE TECHNOLOGY, IMPROVE ENERGY EFFICIENCY, REPLACE ITEMS THAT HAVE OUTLIVED THEIR USEFUL LIFESPANS, ENLARGE OUR NURSING STATIONS FOR GREATER PRODUCTIVITY AND REPAIR BROKEN EXTERIOR SPACES. AS THE BUILDING IS NOW 10 YEARS OLD, MUCH OF THE CONSTRUCTION IS NECESSARY TO MAINTAIN THE CENTER AS THE STATE-OF-THE-ART FACILITY AS ORIGINALLY BUILT AND TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE PATIENTS WITH THE HIGHEST QUALITY END-OF-LIFE EXPERIENCE POSSIBLE. AS PART OF THE PROJECT, WE WILL BE PURCHASING CERTAIN MOVEABLE EQUIPMENT SUCH AS NEW LAPTOPS AND DOCKING STATIONS, NEW SERVERS AND OTHER TECHNOLOGY UPGRADES. THIS COMMUNITY PROJECT FUNDING/CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED SPENDING (CPF/CDS) APPLICATION REQUESTS $1,999,421 TO COVER THE TOTAL COST OF THE RENOVATION.