New ARCH Room Added At Porter
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On December 7th, a Dedication Ceremony of the third “ARCH Room” (named the Addison Room) at Helen Porter Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center (HPHRC) was attended by board members from both organizations, Helen Porter staff and residents, families and friends.
These beautifully furnished rooms, funded by the organization, offer compassionate end-of-life care in a lovely home-like setting.
In dedicating this new room, Daphne Jensen, the President of the ARCH Board, said,
“We would not be here today, if not for Neil Gruber’s vision of culture change, he opened the door for us. This new room in the Memory Care Neighborhood is special. The concept of this room was initially brought to our attention by the attentive staff that understands this unique environment and the individual needs of people residing here. We are grateful for the caregivers’ ability to navigate through the issues during this stage of life with flexibility, kindness and love. The people that work here are a gift to the community of Addison County and therefore we would like to dedicate this room to the staff of HPHRC.”
The ARCH (Addison Respite Care Home) initiative, that started planning 9 years ago for a way to provide our community with compassionate end-of-life care when home is not an option, has come a long way. After countless hours of conversations, research, meetings, organizing, and fund-raising the ARCH Board joined with HPHRC to achieve this dream. In the spring of 2011 the first room--Green Mountain Room in honor of the Middlebury Lions--was
created at HPHRC on Otter Creek Place. In the fall of 2012 the second room—Champlain Room in memory of Milo Schaefer-- was created, next door to the first. Then a request was made to the ARCH Board by the remarkable staff at HPHRC for a third room. This room is unique in that it is located on the Memory Care Neighborhood. Many folks call this home, and the staff’s
insight into the needs of these resident’s in their final days was compelling. Creativity on the part of both partners in this venture, ARCH and HPHRC, led to the newest room—Addison Room in honor of the staff at HPHRC.
Collaboration between many people and organizations throughout Addison County have worked together to take care of those in our community who deserve compassion, dignity and respect during this final passage in life. ARCH, Hospice Volunteer Services, Addison County Home Health & Hospice, Helen Porter, Porter Hospital including all the staff, volunteers, residents and family members have participated in raising awareness and hope for the dying
and their caregivers. Heather Quesnel, Director of Nursing at HPHRC, supports the ARCH mission, “I have seen the magic that occurs within the ARCH rooms. The care giving process transforms from something that is provided, to a gift that is eagerly shared. The beautiful rooms bring pride to the staff which enhances their desire to go above and beyond for the patient and their families. The room reminds them about the very intimate, special and once-in-a-lifetime
moment they are part of and for that they feel privileged and honored to be included.”
ARCH is currently exploring new initiatives to further encourage ways to deliver what Dr. Ira Byock, Palliative Care Physician, compels us to envision, “the best care possible”. The ARCH Board would like to express their gratitude to all who have supported their efforts.