Dave Emerson knew Solvay Hospice House had good things to offer. Yet, it was nothing like what he expected. “Everything was warm and peaceful,” he says. “I just didn’t realize what a quality place it is.” Dave’s mom, Carol, fought cancer for more than 10 years, and at 70, spent her final days at Solvay.
Carol’s family gathered in her room to spend precious time with her, hold her hand, share stories and simply reminisce. They cooked meals in Solvay’s kitchen, walked the forested grounds and grew closer. “I saw family members shine in ways I’d never seen before,” Dave says.
The Solvay staff make peaceful end-of-life experiences possible, allowing families to focus on each other. “The staff are very capable and very compassionate,” Dave says. “They never lost sight of the significance of the moment. They always knew what to do and when to do it.”
“That’s really the story of Solvay,” says Nurse Manager Kevin Rodlund. “Solvay gives families the time to be families again. The staff takes care of the rest.”
Carol’s family wasn’t able to provide the medical care she needed at the end of her life, but at Solvay, they didn’t have to worry about it. “Families don’t have to think about anything other than their loved ones,” Dave says. “The Solvay staff make it easy to simply focus on loved ones.”
The only thing Dave says he would have changed about his family’s experience at Solvay is to have arrived there sooner. “I would encourage people not to wait,” he says. “Come here to be comfortable,” he says. “Not just to die, but to be as comfortable as possible.”
Solvay is marking its 10th anniversary this year. Built with donor support by the Miller-Dwan Foundation, the facility is one-of-a-kind. “I don’t know of any other place like it,” Dave says. “A lot of thought and intention went into the creation of Solvay, and it is a tremendous asset to the community.”
You can help ensure Solvay’s mission is carried into the future with a gift to the Solvay Hospice House Legacy Fund.
