Ohio’s Hospice of Dayton Marks 45 Years of Providing Compassionate Care to Patient and Families
Forty-five years ago, Ohio’s Hospice of Dayton responded to a need in the community, becoming the first hospice provider in the region and one of the first in the entire nation. This year, Ohio’s Hospice of Dayton is honored and privileged to celebrate its 45th anniversary of serving patients and families.
“As we reflect on the past 45 years, Ohio’s Hospice of Dayton was on the forefront of a significant change in healthcare, delivering end-of-life care in the home with a focus on quality of life,” said Gail Stokes, executive regional vice president. “Since our beginnings, we have been focused on providing compassionate care to the patients and families in our community we are honored and privileged to serve.”
In 1978, Hospice of Dayton was among a handful of community-based, not-for-profit programs in the United States. The initial staff included founder Betty Schmoll and two other nurses whose pay was covered by local hospitals. Hospice of Dayton grew rapidly, adding patients and establishing a small inpatient facility in space donated by St. Elizabeth Hospital.
In those first few years, Betty spoke with groups large and small about hospice. She recruited like-minded volunteers who shared her vision of supporting people as they died at home surrounded by family instead of in the sterile, uncomfortable and often lonely confines of a hospital room. She found support among other nurses, doctors and members of the community.
In 1988, the dream of a Hospice House was launched with a two-year capital campaign to raise money to fund the construction of an inpatient facility at 324 Wilmington Ave. in Dayton. More than 14,000 community members made donations to the capital campaign. In 1990, the building opened. Nature was incorporated into the design of every patient room by featuring a window wall that overlooked natural landscaping. The Hospice House offered patients and their families a homelike setting with private accommodations.
“We’re grateful for the community members who made donations, large and small, to our capital campaign,” said Lori Igel, president of the Ohio’s Hospice Foundation. “Our Hospice House earned a reputation for innovative patient-centered design that brought visitors from around the world to tour.”
In 1996, the Shaw Building opened. The building was named after Harold Shaw, a major donor. The addition to the Hospice House more than doubled the number of care center patient beds, making it the largest in the United States.
Pathways of HopeSM opened in the early 2000s to provide grief and bereavement support to all members of the community, regardless of whether a loved one had received care. Today, Pathways of Hope provides a variety of services to the communities served by Ohio’s Hospice of Dayton. Support and education are provided by a team of counselors and social workers, all with significant experience and expertise in assisting grieving children, adolescents and adults.
By 2008, with ever-increasing demand for hospice services in the greater Dayton area, Hospice of Dayton was providing care for more than 4,000 patients and their families. Hospice providers found themselves addressing the unique needs of Veterans of the Greatest Generation and Vietnam War. Hospice of Dayton joined in efforts to ensure Veterans received all the benefits to which they were entitled and were provided specialized care to ensure quality of life. Today, Ohio’s Hospice of Dayton offers American Pride® Veteran Care by Ohio’s Hospice.
“We recognize the importance of honoring the service of our nation’s Veterans,” said Yvonne Turner, senior regional vice president of Clinical Care and chief nursing and care officer at Ohio’s Hospice of Dayton. “We are honored and privileged to celebrate the lives of Veterans and honor their contributions through participation in Veteran recognition ceremonies, Honor Flight and special observances and celebrations.
In 2013, Hospice of Miami County joined Hospice of Dayton and Hospice of Butler & Warren Counties to form a strategic partnership to combine strengths, resources and expertise to ensure the long-term success of their shared hospice mission. That partnership resulted in the formation of Ohio’s Hospice, a partnership of mission-driven, not-for-profit hospices in Ohio committed to a shared vision of strengthening and preserving community-based hospices.
“Our mission is to celebrate the lives of those we have the privilege to serve by providing superior care and superior services to each patient and family,” Yvonne said. “Despite changes in the hospice industry, our mission remains strong, as does the quality of care and dedication of our staff who have a passion for excellence.”
As a local, community-based, not-for-profit hospice, Ohio’s Hospice of Dayton is there for members of the community, offering innovative services and care, beyond what is required by Medicare or Medicaid.
“For the past 45 years, we’ve been honored and privileged to provide expert medical care to patients facing a life-limiting illness or injury,” Yvonne said. “For the next 45 years, we’re committed to providing compassionate care to meet the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of our patients and families so they can cherish final precious moments together.”
