While much has changed since Center for Hospice Care (then called “Hospice of St. Joseph County”) opened its doors in 1980, one thing that hasn’t is the organization’s promise to provide hospice care for anyone eligible for that care, regardless of their ability to pay. This retrospective highlights Center for Hospice Care’s focus “to improve the quality of living” over the past four decades.
While the Hospice Foundation was created comparatively recently – in 2007 – our work assures that Center for Hospice Care (CHC) can keep its promise. We are also tasked with educating the communities CHC serves about the need for planning for the end of life as well as how hospice and palliative care improve the quality living of those with life-limiting conditions and their families.
1980-1989
1980: Hospice of St. Joseph County served its first patient – 27 patients were cared for the first year
1983: The Hospice Medicare Benefit is created; Hospice of St. Joseph County serves more than 100 patients in a year for the first time
1985: Inaugural Helping Hands Award Dinner – the award recipient is James W. Frick
1985: The “Rockne Returns – Hospice Goes Hollywood” fundraising event is held on October 18th, raising more than $135,000
1986: The inaugural “Walk for Hospice” is held
1989: The organization admitted its 1,000th patient; offices are relocated to the JMS Building
James Frick accepts Helping Hands Award
“Rockne Returns – Hospice Goes Hollywood” event
John Krueger, MD receives Hospice Caring Award
Opening of South Bend hospice house
1990-1999
1992: Rev. Theodore M. Hesburgh, CSC, is named the 8th recipient of the Helping Hands Award
1994: John Krueger, MD, CHC’s first medical director, is awarded with the inaugural “Hospice Caring Award” for his contributions to the organization; the award is renamed the “John E. Krueger, MD, Caring Award” and is presented to volunteers for meritorious service to the organization
1995: Marshall County Hospice is opened in Plymouth
1996: Hospice House is opened in South Bend, becoming the region’s first hospice inpatient care unit.
1997: Begin serving LaPorte County
1999: Corporation changes its legal name to “The Center for Hospice and Palliative Care, Inc.”
2000-2010
2001: Hospice of Elkhart County opens on Bristol Street in Elkhart
2003: Begin serving Kosciusko County
2005: Begin serving LaGrange County
All offices become CHAPC offices
The Life Transition Center opens in Mishawaka’s Cambridge Office Park to serve bereavement clients
2007: The Hospice Foundation (HF) is established as “The Foundation for the Center for Hospice and Palliative Care, Inc.”
Administration and fundraising offices move to leased space in the Quality Dining building in Mishawaka
2008: Following a successful fundraising campaign, the second Hospice House and care office is constructed in Elkhart
2009: Partnership is established with the Palliative Care Association of Uganda through the Foundation for Hospices in Sub-Saharan Africa (FHSSA)
Begin serving Kosciusko County
Opening of Elkhart’s hospice house
Partnership established with Palliative Care Association of Uganda
Groundbreaking ceremony for Mishawaka Campus
Camp Evergreen celebrates 25th anniversary
Milton Adult Day Services acquired
Ernestine M. Raclin House opens
2010-2020
2010: After research, name is changed to Center for Hospice Care along with a new logo
Center for Palliative Care is opened, the region’s first palliative care center
2011: HF produces its first award-winning documentary film, “Okuyamba”
2012: Ground is broken on a new St. Joseph County (Mishawaka) Campus
2013: “Cornerstones for Living: The Crossroads Campaign” is launched with a goal of raising $10 million in capital, endowment and annual gifts; ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Mishawaka Campus is held
2014: Agreement signed with Mayo Clinic to train fellows in hospice and palliative medicine
2015: HF produces its second award-winning documentary film “Road to Hope”
2016: CHC acquires Milton Adult Day Services (MADS)
2017: Global Partners in Care (formerly FHSSA) becomes a HF affiliate
2018: Camp Evergreen for youth/teenagers who have lost a loved one celebrates its 25th year
2019: Second phase of the Mishawaka Campus is finished with the completion of the Clinical Staff Building and Ernestine M. Raclin House; “Cornerstones for Living: The Crossroads Campaign” concludes after raising more the $14 million
2020: Ernestine M. Raclin House opens
The Next Decade… and Beyond
The COVID-19 pandemic has up-ended how we work, go to school and how healthcare is delivered. As the world evaluates how best to move through these changes – and others – it has become evident that compassionate care for those with life-limiting conditions is more important than ever. In the nine counties CHC serves, in the 10 countries with Global Partners in Care partners, we will continue to deliver and facilitate the delivery of exceptional-quality care for families now and for generations to come.
The Care Connections Center at Milton Village is the next exciting venture for Center for Hospice Care and its affiliates