Hospice facility on track to open this winter

The Care Dimensions hospice facility on Winter Street is running a bit behind but is expected to open to patients in early 2018.

Construction started in late summer 2016 on the 18-bed, 27,500-square-foot inpatient hospice facility will provide a home-like setting for terminally ill patients who need hospital-level care for pain and symptom management where hospice physicians, nurses and support staff can provide 24-hour care. Work is expected to finish next month, followed by permitting and Department of Public Health certification.

“We haven’t had an deviation or changes” from the project schedule aside from minor delays, said Jean Graham, senior director of marketing. “Everything’s gone along exactly as planned.”

The company’s original proposal was for 42,000-square-foot with 20 beds but was scaled back after objections from neighbors. To shrink the footprint, much of the building plan went from one floor to two, and some of the patient rooms on the second floor will have walk-out patios overlooking Winter Street, Graham said. Each floor will have a dining and kitchen area for families, and the grounds will feature a remembrance/healing garden.

The facility is using a construction entrance on the Lincoln side of the town line, but once it opens, the primary entrance will be in Waltham with the Lincoln entrance used only for emergencies.

Care Dimensions is in the process of hiring and training staff for the new facility and is also recruiting volunteers for things like patient visits (especially with pets), working at the reception desk, operating a snack cart, flower arranging, etc. For more information, see the company’s volunteer web page or call 888-283-1722.