Hospice House opens its doors

COEUR d'ALENE - Hospice House, the first inpatient hospice facility in the state of Idaho, received its very first patient Monday.

"My name was at the top of the list," said Henry Thompson, 89.

Thompson spoke slowly and quietly from a bed in Hospice of North Idaho's newly opened Hospice House, 2290 W. Prairie Ave.

Like all 12 of the patient rooms in the 14,000-square-foot facility, Thompson's is private, but on Monday, that didn't matter.

Thompson had the place to himself.

"The rooms are big. It's nice to have room to move around. I have a wheelchair and I need room," Thompson said.

There are other comfortable touches Thompson made note of - the landscaped gardens and fountains outside the building, and the fireplace near the entranceway.

"Things like that you enjoy, things that you had at home," Thompson said.

He said he thinks Hospice House is off to a good start, and the food's not bad.

"Lunch was alright," he said. "Well, it's just for one person. But you've got to get started somewhere." Thompson said his family is glad he's staying there.

"It gives them a rest," he said.

Thompson's five-day visit to Hospice House is for respite care - short-term care provided to a hospice patient by someone other than the patient's regular caregiver, who is usually a friend or family member.

Linda Moroney, Hospice House's nurse manager said respite care helps alleviate "caregiver breakdown."

"It gives them a chance to rest and rejuvenate," Moroney said.

Thompson has been a hospice patient for three months, said his daughter-in-law, Valerie.

"It is a wonderful break that they give the families," Valerie said.

Having Hospice of North Idaho provide assistance for Thompson has been a help from the start. An aide visits on weekdays and helps bathe Thompson and get him ready for the day.

It has provided encouragement, Valerie said, not only for Thompson's son Phil and herself, but for Thompson also.

Hospice House expects to admit two more patients on Wednesday.