Open House at Clarissa C. Cook Hospice House

BETTENDORF, Iowa – A public open house will be held at the new Clarissa C. Cook Hospice House on Saturday, Oct. 28 from 9 a.m. - noon.

The house is located at 2546 Tech Drive in Bettendorf.

The 16-bed house, operated by Genesis VNA and Hospice, is the only facility of its kind between Joliet, Ill., and Waterloo, Iowa. The first freestanding hospice house in the region was designed exclusively to provide a home-like environment for the terminally ill, their families and loved ones.

The $7.4 million Clarissa C. Cook Hospice House, funded entirely from community financial support, will provide an alternative to hospice care available in private homes, nursing homes and hospitals. 

Features of the Clarissa C. Cook Hospice House include:

• Oversized (240 square foot) patient rooms with pullout couches and space for overnight stays by family and friends.
• Patios off each patient room with doors accessible for wheelchairs and patient beds.
• A chapel.
• Stereo television with VCR and DVD players in each room.
• 14-foot dormer feature in patient rooms.
• Common areas for patients and loved ones, including two rooms with fireplaces.
• A children’s play room with computer and game system.
• Two water features, including a spectacular feature on Tech Drive with extensive landscaping, balconies overlooking the water and two piers.
• A fenced pet park. Pets will be permitted to visit patient rooms.

The Clarissa C. Cook Hospice House is scheduled to begin accepting patients with a terminal diagnosis on Wednesday, Nov. 7.  A staff of more than 40, including nurses, a chaplain and a medical social worker, will be available to provide care and comfort for patients, families and loved ones.

Pat Christy, BSN, is manager of hospice house operations.  Marianne Meyers, BSN and Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse, is director of hospice.

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