Ohio’s Hospice of Dayton is celebrating its 45th anniversary of serving patients and families. The local, not-for-profit hospice provider is inviting members of the community to its Open House on Wednesday, Dec. 6, 4-6 pm, in its Community Room (324 Wilmington Ave., Dayton, Ohio 45420).  

“Forty-five years ago, Ohio’s Hospice of Dayton became one of the first hospice providers in the region and one of the first in the entire nation,” said Gail Stokes, executive regional vice president. “We were on the forefront of a significant change in healthcare, delivering end-of-life care in the home with a focus on quality of life.” 

Founded by Betty Schmoll in 1978, Ohio’s Hospice of Dayton grew rapidly thanks to the support of the community. In 1988, the dream of a Hospice House was launched with a two-year capital campaign to raise money to fund construction for an inpatient facility at 324 Wilmington Ave. in Dayton.  

More than 14,000 community members, including major donor Jerry Colp, made donations, large and small, to the capital campaign. In 1990, Ohio’s Hospice of Dayton opened its inpatient Hospice House, offering patients and families a homelike setting with private accommodations. In 1996, the Shaw addition, funded in part by major donor Harold Shaw, opened, more than doubling the number of care center patient beds and making the Hospice House the largest in the United States.  

For the past 45 years, Ohio’s Hospice of Dayton has served patients and families in the Dayton region in their homes, extended care and assisted living facilities, and the Hospice House location in Dayton. A variety of grief support services are available to the entire community through the Pathways of Hope^SM Grief Counseling Center. 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. Pathways of Hope was established in 2002. Ohio’s Hospice of Dayton serves more than 1,000 patients and families daily, achieving national recognition for innovative services and outstanding care. 

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.  

“As one of the founding members of Ohio’s Hospice, we work together with other not-for-profit hospices to continue to provide compassionate, quality care here in the Miami Valley,” Turner said. “Our mission is to celebrate the lives of those we have the privilege of serving by providing superior care and superior services to each patient and family.” 

There are several ways to support the mission of Ohio’s Hospice of Dayton.  

• Attend an Ohio’s Hospice of Dayton event. Throughout the year, Ohio’s Hospice of Dayton hosts several events, including its Golf Classic, Celebrating Life’s Stories® Butterfly Release, and 3k/5k Remembrance Walk. Support from the community for these events benefits patient care and services.   
• Volunteer with Ohio’s Hospice of Dayton. Volunteers make a difference in the lives of patients and families. They play a vital role as members of the hospice care team. To learn more, visit: www.OhiosHospice.org/Volunteer/ 
• Donate today to support the mission of Ohio’s Hospice of Dayton. Donor dollars and community-based partners are essential to Ohio’s Hospice of Dayton’s ability to extend exceptional support services to patients and families. For more information, visit: www.OhiosHospice.org/Give/ 

For more information about the Dec. 6 Open House, please visit www.OhiosHospice.org/OHOD45th or call 937.258.5537.