By James Lomuscio
UPDATE A Westporter says the first hospice home in lower Fairfield County won’t be in Westport because “nobody wants to confront their mortality.”
Artist’s rendition of the new hospice house. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo
Inspired by Westporters who initially hoped lower Fairfield County’s first residential hospice would be in their hometown, Fairfield County Hospice House (FCHH) will have its official groundbreaking attended by state and local officials Wednesday, Dec. 2, at noon in Stamford.
Westporter Larry Weisman, a retired land use attorney and co-chairman of the FCHH board, said that the six-bedroom home planned on 1.25 donated acres has been six years in the making. The nonprofit FCHH originally considered using space on Westport’s town-owned, 22-acre Baron’s South property, “but we knew that was not going to work out,” Weisman said.
“It’s a hard sell because nobody wants to confront their mortality,” said Mary Lou Weisman, who has worked with her husband on the project. “But in a hospice, a peaceful death and taxes are what we all have in common.”
Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, Stamford Mayor David Martin and Norwalk Mayor Harry Rilling are expected to attend the groundbreaking ceremony near the intersection of Den and Roxbury roads close to Exit 33 off the Merritt Parkway.
The FCHH board drafted and lobbied for the adoption of state statutes allowing the facility to operate as a residence rather than a hospital, officials said. The now dissolved Roxbury Community Association donated the land.
According to FCHH officials, each of the six-bedrooms will have individual baths and private outdoor spaces, serving as a home away from home for an estimated 300 individuals and their families each year.
“The idea is to gather these families together while these people are in hospice,” Wreisman said.
Richard Redniss, principal of the Stamford-based surveying and engineering firm Redniss & Mead, serves as co-chair with Weisman. He said the house is designed for less fortunate families unable to have a family member “spend their final weeks at home …for financial or other reasons.”
“Our Hospice House will help fill this void by providing a true, home-like setting for those in need,” he said.
According to Mary Lou Weisman, the idea for the hospice came from Westporter Lynda Tucker, a pediatric nurse who had worked at a children’s hospice in Cincinnati. Mary Lou Weisman recalled that one of the first things Tucker pointed out when relocating to Westport more than a decade ago was that there was no hospice in the area.
The idea took root, and others in Westport and surrounding towns became involved to volunteer time or donate services.
According to Weisman, FCHH is being made possible by the pro bono work of lawyers, engineers, architects, construction managers and contractors.
Local volunteers, including Janet Nevas, wife of retired senior U.S. District Court Judge Alan Nevas, came on board. Howard Lathrop donated the architectural services of his company Sellars Lathrop Architects, and Sam Gault is donating propane from Gault Fuel.
Weisman also said that Westporter Dr. Richard Zelkowitz, chief of hematology and oncology at Norwalk Hospital, has volunteered his time serving on the FCHH board.
“This is truly a community effort,” Weisman said. “Many generous individuals, businesses, foundations and nonprofit organizations from cities and towns across Fairfield County have donated time, money and materials, including land, to make this happen.”
Jewish Senior Services of Fairfield has been contracted to provide hospice nursing care.
For further information, visit http://www.fchospicehousect.org.
Story has been updated to correct that this will not be the first residential hospice in the state but the first in lower Fairfield County,
Congratulations to this group, however, this is NOT the state;s first hospice home. Regional Hospice and Home Care opened their hospice home, The Center for Comfort Care and Healing, in Early 2015. It has already served well over 300 families, including many families from Westport, Weston, Wilton and other nearby Fairfield County towns. It has 12 large private patient suites – each with their own bathroom – and a private balcony. Surrounded by woods, patients enjoy the views of wildlife and other natural beauty. There are many other amenities for the patients and their families including a full time kitchen staff that lovingly prepare individual meals for each patient, a family dining area for large groups and several lounges and private sitting areas throughout the house.
http://regionalhospicect.org/?gclid=Cj0KEQiA4eqyBRDUh7Omv9vCtsoBEiQAspfs8qm0HJpNMnzESqyTS4y2_l6yABHu25n28ECTjwYY94YaAhw38P8HAQ
Marcy is correct. Our press release was in error in stating that ours is the “first hospice home in CT”. The regional hospice in Danbury opened earlier this year and delivers excellent care. We should have said that we will be the first such facility in lower Fairfield County. We regret the error and look forward to cooperating to fill the County’s needs.
Great to have a hospice here in lower Ffld County! Now I understand the typo. I wondered because so many Westporters have been helped by Connecticut Hospice (they were the first hospice in CT, probably 40 years ago) that built a lovely, loving facility up in Branford, CT. Hospice is not just for people who are dying, but also a way for them and their loved ones to live fully for whatever time they have left.
Oops, I meant “in-patient hospice” … AND I didn’t realize I was on my husband’s account.