VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — An idea five years in the making is taking shape on Upton Drive in Virginia Beach. The site will be home to the Dozoretz Hospice House of Hampton Roads.
Victoria Crenshaw, the executive director of the nonprofit hospice house, said the region needs a facility of this kind.
“We didn’t have one," she said. "I’ve traveled to other areas, North Carolina, Maryland and there’s hospice houses there. They’ve been in existence for 20 years.”
She said now it’s time to bring more end-of-life care to Hampton Roads.
“In Hampton Roads, this will be the first freestanding… hospice house,” Crenshaw said.
This is a partnership between Westminster-Canterbury on Chesapeake Bay and Beth Sholom Village. Since March, construction crews have worked on building the facility set to have with 12 beds.
“Which is not enough for this area,” she said.
According to Old Dominion University’s 2023 State of the Region Report, an independent study identified the need for at least 45 inpatient beds in Hampton Roads. Crenshaw says this facility is just the start to achieving that goal.
“To be able to provide care to individuals at end of life. So, their families can be families and they can come here and be supported.”
Crenshaw said along with end-of-life care, this hospice house will assist families with other concerns.
“It’s inpatient which means that the individual is having issues really managing pain…Or the family needs a break and the resident would come here for a couple of weeks.”
Crenshaw hopes the hospice house can serve as a source of support for families during a time of grief.
The resident rooms will include 24-hour nursing with a patio and back porch. The facility will have several common spaces including a large living room, kitchens and coffee bar, extra bedrooms for family members to stay the night and more.
The facility is expected to open spring 2024.