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New ARCH Room Added At Porter

photo provided RCH Chair, Daphne Jensen, stands with Helen Porter staff holding the plaque dedicating the 3rd ARCH Room to the employees of HPHRC.

Tuesday December 17, 2013

   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.

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