In short, hospice houses provide quiet, home-like environments for patients at the end of their lives.
They're alternatives to nursing homes, which focus largely on rehabilitation, and hospitals, which are more about managing symptoms. They also substitute for home care for patients who need close medical supervision their families can't provide.
The average stay at Solvay Hospice House, which has had 96 patients since opening in July, is 21 days. The facility has an average of seven patients on any given day.
Solvay Hospice House also provides counseling for patients and their families and amenities such as a musical therapist. Its rooms are equipped so at least one family member can stay the night with the patient, and spaces like a communal kitchen and living room make it more inviting for families to spend time there.
