SOMERSET COUNTY, Pa. (WJAC) — Tuesday morning, emotional pleas rang through the streets of Somerset, begging to keep the Family Hospice House open.
The facility is set to close for good on August 1st.
"They're not looking with their heart," said Randy Ickes, who has been living there for over two months.
The 65-year-old says he's not sure what he's going to do once the facility closes.
"All in all, the care is going downhill. It is. It's going to go downhill for patients. They say that's what they're concerned about. But they're not," he told 6 News.
Formerly known as In Touch, the home is also referred to as God's House by community members.
Michelle Hay's husband, Robee, passed away about two years ago in the hospice house following a months-long battle with cancer.
"With being there, he got 24/7 care. He was cared for by the nurses and by the staff," she told 6 News.
Their children were just 3, 6, and 11 years old at the time of Robee's death.
"He did not want them to have those memories of him dying at home, nor me having that memory. He was able to go to hospice house and pass peacefully there," Michelle said.
Heated emotions were on display during the demonstration, directed at UPMC Somerset President Andy Rush.
I feel their emotions. They're certainly there and they're warranted. But we're here to understand what the majority and the mass population want for their loved ones," said Andy Rush, the president of UPMC Somerset.He says, since people over the years have been requesting more hospice care in the home, they will be transitioning their services there instead.
"We'll be taking care of patients in the home or a nursing home of their choice. We do have resources inside the hospital for those patients that want to remain in the hospital. It's really about the patient's choice and condition," Rush told 6 News.
Outpatient staff will now be delegated to homes, nursing homes, and hospitals.
Not that we don't value the services provided there -- they have been outstanding and extraordinary by our employees, our volunteers, our medical director -- so we're not here to debate that. But, we really want to allocate resources where people really want them," Rush told 6 News.Alice Barclay's mother lived at the Family Hospice Home for the last two months of her life.
"The ladies there, the nurses, everyone is wonderful. They took very good care of her. I just feel that the hospice house should remain open for the people that need a place to go," she said.
Leaving people like Randy searching for other places to go.
"I'd tell them to look with their heart and keep what the community wants. The community wants hospice," he said.
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