Care center plans opening of Marshak Family Hospice

Contributing columnist Lenna Scott

Updated: August 6, 2012 7:41PM

LINCOLNSHIRE — Hospice is a difficult word for many. Thinking of the end of life can be depressing and sometimes scary.

But a new Glenview facility is designed to reaffirm that “dying is a part of living.” Midwest Palliative Hospice CareCenter will open the doors to the first free-standing hospice specialty care center in Cook County.

Many families elect to have hospice and palliative care services provided at home, but for those who require or desire a different level of care, the Marshak Family Hospice Pavilion can provide short-term, 24-hour care.

“The whole purpose of a hospice residence is to replicate the warmth, the creature comforts you would have at home. It is a home-like environment that makes available to patients the same level of care they would have in the hospital, but it doesn’t look or feel like a hospital,” said Craig Dresang, vice president of community development for Midwest Palliative Hospice CareCenter.

The facility has 16 suites that blend state-of-the-art care for end of life with a specialized home-like comfort. Both within the suites and throughout the facility, the design takes into account that both the resident and their family and friends are going through a transition.

There are public and private spaces, including private dining rooms, family rooms, children’s play areas and an alcove with family refreshments and laundry rooms to wash and dry clothing.

The pavilion was built to receive a gold level Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification, one of the first hospice residences in the country to receive such certification.

“The whole idea of having the building and grounds that is eco-friendly was that we wanted to have a more gentle imprint on the environment,” Dresang said. “Projects like this are just better spaces — healthier work and living environments for staff and our families.”

The pavilion is surrounded by a community garden, the Waud Family Healing Garden, designed to be enjoyed both within the garden and from above. The healing garden was developed with input from more than 100 community residents, staff, hospice patients and their families.

“We took those ideas and incorporated them into the design of the program. The latest research is showing that nature and the ability to connect with nature is an important part of health care, especially as it relates to palliative and hospice care,” Dresang said.

The garden’s design will accommodate wheelchairs, walkers and even hospital beds. Volunteers will care for the garden, which will serve as a national demonstration site for horticultural therapy through the Chicago Botanic Garden.

“Our mission is to provide world-class palliative and hospice care, and we have a reputation of providing care in 150 facilities in the area,” Dresang said. “This building gives us the opportunity to have a world-class facility that matches the level of care we provide.”

A grand opening celebration will be in early August and patients will begin moving into the facility at the end of August. For more information, contact Midwest Palliative Hospice CareCenter at www.carecenter.org, (847) 467-7423.

Lenna Scott is the marketing director at The Wealshire, a short-term rehab, skilled nursing and assisted living community in Lincolnshire. She lives in Buffalo Grove with her husband and two children. Contact her at lscott@wealshire.com.