AUBURN – Androscoggin Home Care and Hospice board members, employees, community donors and elected officials gathered Oct. 22 to celebrate the official dedication of the $3.7 million inpatient Hospice House located on Stetson Road.

The Hospice House will care for patients who require more intensive palliative care services for symptom and pain management or lack sufficient caregiver support to remain at home.

The 14-patient suite Hospice House is the first facility of its kind in Maine and will begin serving patients throughout AHCH’s central and western Maine service area on Tuesday, Nov. 1.

Paul Soucie, board chairman, acknowledged the exemplary leadership of board member Kim Wettlaufer who, for the past two years, served as the capital campaign chairman, and members of the Campaign Steering Committee.

He noted that through their collective efforts to date the Journey of Hope Capital Campaign successfully reached more than 1,600 donors and exceeded the $1.5 million goal.

The campaign will remain open to accept gifts through year-end and in January, the permanent donor plaque recognizing leadership level gifts will be installed at the facility.

Soucie said the campaign theme of bringing hope to those seeking comfort and care at the end of life was the impetus for selecting the iris, a symbolic flower of hope, as part of the facility signage and logo.

In the years ahead, families served by the Hospice House and community members will be able to continue their support of the special facility through the newly established Hospice House endowment fund.

More information about AHCH and the Hospice House can be found at www.ahch.org.

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