

Hospeace House, Inc.
A non-profit 501(c)(3) organization
Retired Rushville Family Physician Joins the Hospeace House Board
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August 15, 2023
By Mary Stone
Dr. Robert J. Ostrander, a newly retired family medicine physician in Rushville, joins the board at Hospeace House in Naples, NY
Hospeace House is a two-bedroom farmhouse operating as a Comfort Care Home since 2018, and before that, as a hospice facility since 2003. Situated in the hills of Naples, NY, local volunteers and staff care for all the needs of its residents during their final days, weeks or months at no cost to patients or their families. Hospeace House is funded solely on donations and grants.
In the process of dying, as we lose the ability to care for ourselves, we fear losing our dignity. We fear becoming a burden to the people we love most. For this reason, among many, Family Care Physician Dr. Robert Ostrander referred families to the Hospeace House in Naples. There, he knew patients could have the peace of mind for their own care and also for sparing their loved ones the physical and mental toll of their constant care.
Staff and volunteers attend to the needs and wants of the residents, while allowing their family members to relax so they do not have to be hypervigilant, Dr. Ostrander says. This allows them more physical and emotional reserves.
Volunteers and staff also provide emotional support and care to the resident’s family when visiting their loved ones or staying in an upstairs apartment so they can be nearby.
“Sometimes loved ones hold back when talking with each other or the person who is dying, not wanting to add to each other's emotional burden,” Dr. Ostrander says. “From a dignity standpoint, it can be a tremendous relief to the resident to be bathed or cleaned up by someone other than one of their children or loved ones when needed.
Now in retirement after 37 years in practice, Dr. Ostrander selected a few causes in which to invest his attention. Hospeace House was one of them. He joins a board of eight, which includes a certified public accountant, nursing professor, a licensed registered nurse, business professionals and an ordained minister.
Dr. Ostrander understands the individual’s needs as they die, Board President Robert Brancato says. He has cared for many patients during his years of service to our rural communities and continues to consult with patients, Dr. Ostrander says. Brancato says that experience is invaluable.
Brancato says, “Robert brings his real-life medical experiences in working with his patients and families through all stages of a person’s life.” His insight and knowledge are valuable to the Hospeace House Board, staff and volunteers.
The board, which meets monthly, works with the community, the Director of Operations, staff and volunteers; allocates capital for long-term growth and assesses risk. Essentially, they look out for the best ways they can serve the present and long term needs of our communities.
The board, staff, volunteers and donors have operated the house for 20 years so that friends and family can be present with their loved ones as they die, and the dying can be free of the anxiety of their changing needs. There is living to be done in these final days and hours, volunteers say.
One resident told volunteers he never knew so much love in his life than when he came to Hospeace House to die, recalls Board Member John Evarts.
In 2018 Hospeace House was renovated and reorganized to transition from a certified hospice facility to a community-supported comfort care home, which lends itself to a less clinical, more home-like setting. Families can come and go, stay upstairs overnight, cook meals as they wish, eat meals together, with round-the-clock support of paid staff and volunteers.
The effort volunteers invest can be taxing physically and emotionally, but more important is how rewarding and fulfilling it is to enrich people’s, Brancato says. “Knowing we are able to help make this last stage of a person’s life a little less stressful and a little more comfortable, provides each of us with a feeling that we made a positive difference in a person’s life and death.”
Volunteers are one of the keys to Hospeace House providing the care our residents need. If interested in being part of our “community of helpers”, please contact us at info@hospeacehouse.org for more information.