we’re creating a place for loved ones to celebrate a life well lived.
Our mission is to provide the HIGHEST QUALITY OF INPATIENT CARE in an environment that reflects COMPASSION, DIGNITY, AND RESPECT for residents and their loved ones.
“Most importantly, hospice care is not giving up hope or hastening death. Instead, it is choosing to celebrate what time residents have left and making them as comfortable as possible. For their family, it means spending quality time with their loved ones instead of having to focus on caregiving and other daily tasks that are required in a home hospice setting.”
~ DR. PAUL SCHELLHAMMER / HHHR Founding Member / Retired Urological Oncologist
WHO WE ARE
The Hospice House of Hampton Roads (HHHR) is an independent, tax-exempt 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation creating this region’s first purpose-built/designed, freestanding hospice facility. Our Board of Directors includes 22 community leaders from diverse industries and backgrounds whose goal is to raise the $10.9 million needed to construct the 16,000sf house. The City of Virginia Beach donated 2.5 acres of land for the project on Upton Drive. Construction is underway and will take approximately one year.
The house was named for our lead sponsor, Dr. Ronald Dozoretz, who was a a psychiatrist, a mental healthcare pioneer, and compassionate community leader.
Dr. Ronald Dozoretz had a history of identifying a community need and helping fill it. When Dr. Dozoretz learned that Hampton Roads lacks a sufficient number of inpatient hospice beds, he and his family stepped up to support this end-of-life health care need. The importance of family was reflected in every aspect of his life. He was the patriarch of the family, always advising, mentoring, and taking care of his immediate and extended family throughout the years. The Dozoretz Hospice House of Hampton Roads reflects this devotion.
WHAT IS HOSPICE CARE?
Hospice care treats the person rather than the disease and focuses on comfort, dignity, and peace. Hospice is for people whose doctor has determined their life expectancy is likely six months or less. It is a compassionate, patient-centered approach to medical care and support for people at the end of life and their families. Care is focused on maintaining dignity and providing comfort, including pain and symptom control. Every person’s experience will be different and the hospice team will create a plan of care individualized to the needs and wishes of each person.
Hospice care shifts the emphasis from curative treatments to easing pain and distress. This is called palliative care. This approach seeks to enhance quality of life and often allows the person to spend their last months focusing on things that are most important and meaningful.
hospice house of hampton roads campaign
Total Needed: $10.9 Million
what it covers:
• Cost of Construction
• Equipment and Furnishings
• Start-up Operations for first 3 years location:
The City of Virginia Beach donated a 2.5 acre of property at 6020 Upton Drive operating partnerships:
• Beth Sholom Village
• Westminster-Canterbury on Chesapeake Bay leadership:
Community-led 501(c)(3) nonprofit Board of Directors
WHO NEEDS INPATIENT CAREWHY DOES IT MATTER?
Hospice care can be provided at home or in an inpatient setting. Home hospice services are not 24/7. This means that family caregivers are responsible for most of the care needs including administering medications, providing personal care and coordinating health services – most of whom do not feel comfortable or qualified to do so. Ultimately, every patient requires round-the-clock professional medical care to manage their symptoms.
Unfortunately, in-home visits by hospice workers and part-time caregivers do not work well for many people. They deserve to have their symptoms and pain responded to quickly by medical experts so they can maximize the quality of life that remains. Many also do not want their families traumatized by their death in the home.
Additionally, all too often, family members run out of leave from their work. And sadly, in today’s world, many people do not have close friends or relatives nearby to help with their care. Inpatient hospice care provides support in these situations, ensuring no one dies alone.
unmet need in hampton roads of hospice beds
211,553
15,126
6,958
92.6 45
Population aged 65 or older in Hampton Roads
Average number of annual deaths of persons 65+ in Hampton Roads
Annual deaths in hospice care
Average number of hospice care days per person (Total days: 644,311 per year)
Daily inpatient hospice bed need in Hampton Roads
The total need is 45 inpatient hospice beds per day. Currently, we have ZERO beds in a freestanding hospice house facility. As the baby boom generation ages, the need for these beds will only grow.
The opening of the Dozoretz Hospice House of Hampton Roads will create 12 medically equipped private rooms, bringing us one step closer to ensuring our region’s residents can access inpatient hospice care when needed.
URGENT NEED FOR INPATIENT HOSPICE CARE
Hampton Roads is the largest U.S Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) without a freestanding inpatient hospice facility to serve those who are unable to be adequately cared for with in-home service. An independent study for a freestanding hospice house was completed in January 2020 and demonstrated the need for at least 45 inpatient beds in Hampton Roads.
WHY IS HAMPTON ROADS UNDERSERVED?
Virginia has only eight hospice houses in the entire state, far fewer per capita than any neighboring states. For example, West Virginia has a hospice house for every 300,000 citizens. More than 1.6 million citizens in Hampton Roads have no freestanding hospice house to meet their end-of-life needs.
Similar communities to ours have thriving hospice houses. Data analysis of our MSA found that Raleigh, NC and Hampton Roads are comparable markets in median age, household income and overall population. They serve similar demographic groups and both do not have enough freestanding hospice houses to meet the needs of their residents. In eight years, Raleigh went from zero inpatient beds to 30 beds.
Since our mission is to provide the highest quality inpatient hospice care in an environment that reflects compassion, dignity, and respect for residents and their caregivers, we will serve all citizens, regardless of financial means, to the maximum extent possible. We will strive to cover the cost of care for those without adequate insurance, thus our services will be available to all residents of Hampton Roads.
The vast majority of hospice houses need ongoing charitable support or endowments to operate. Our community-led board studied the ten closest hospice houses and confirmed, on average, revenue from insurance and government reimbursements cover only 86 cents of every expense dollar, thus making fundraising critical for future success.
raleigh, nc vs hampton roads, va Raleigh, NC
Average Age: 36.9
Household Income: $75,165
Population: 1.36M
Hampton Roads, VA
Average Age: 36.3
Household Income: $65,604
Population: 1.73M
Timeline:
- 2007Raleigh opens a freestanding 20-bed hospice house
- 2015 -
Based on overwhelming need, Raleigh adds an additional 10-bed wing
DR. TERRY JENKINS / HHHR Founding Member / Hospice Resident
