Harmony House is a HOME, providing shelter with compassionate care for terminally ill people.
| Our Core Beliefs center around: | | |
- A Christian sense of ministry
- The desire to serve all without regard to gender, race, creed or national origin
- Establishing a facility largely staffed by volunteers
- A devotion to maintaining a compassionate, respectful and peaceful atmosphere
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The GOODNESS of a society can be measured by how it takes care of its WEAKEST MEMBERS..... |
FAQs
Q. Why was Harmony House chosen as the name of your home?
A. It is Ruth’s vision that anyone connected with Harmony House Board Members, caregivers and volunteers will reconcile their differences, if any, and agree to unite harmoniously to form a loving home.
Q. Why a one story residence?
A. For anyone, staff, volunteers or visitors who may be handicapped to facilitate exiting in case of fire or emergency evacuation.
Q. Why 10 patient rooms?
A. Ten seems to be a comfortable # for caregivers to meet patients individual needs as seen in homes visited.
Q. How does your home differ from a Hospice Home?
A. We do no nursing skills. We simply do anything that a family can be trained to do. Skilled nursing will be done by hospice. Harmony House will be a private home with more than one bedroom.
Q. How will Harmony House be funded?
A. Harmony House will be funded by donations from individuals, corporations, foundations, fundraisers and endowment.
Q. Criteria for Admission
A. An individual must be diagnosed with a terminal illness and have a prognosis of six months or less; must be unable to support him/herself financially; must have no willing, able, or available caregiver; the physical needs of the individual must not exceed those which an average functional family would be expected to care for in a home setting
Q. Referrals
A. Anyone may refer an individual to Harmony House. Referrals come from family, friends, clergy, physicians, local hospices, social workers as well as other sources. Each person who is referred must meet the admission criteria to be considered for placement. Each applicant’s situation will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis and special circumstances can be taken into account.
Q. How much acreage will you need to build Harmony House?
A. The ideal acreage would be 4-5 acres.
Q. Where will Harmony House be located?
A. At this time, a specific location is unknown. What we do know is that there is a great need in Western Mass.
Q. Would you consider purchasing a vacant building?
A. Yes, especially if it is donated or sold to us at a reasonable price.
Q. Will the support staff be the only paid group?
A. Yes, by our funds. Hospice staff will be paid by their sources.
Q. How much time would be involved in volunteer work?
A. It depends on the type of work they would be doing and their availability.
Q. What kind of work will volunteers do?
A. Laundry, cook, clean, answer phone etc. Some would be specifically trained to assist caregivers.
Q. Will volunteers be trained? By whom?
A. Yes. By a qualified staff person.
Q. When will the home be available?
A. Although we have a target date of having the home by June of ’08, it is dependent upon raising enough funds to operate once we have the building.
Q. How will you raise funds?
A. By various types of fund raisers, grants and private donations.
Q. What is the age range for your residents?
A. 18 yrs. and up
Q. Will you provide a room for hobbies, crafts, etc.?
A. Yes and an activity coordinator will be hired to provide entertainment to each resident as needed.
Q. Will there be pet therapy?
A. Yes, if the opportunity presents itself.