East End Hospice Unveils New Inpatient Facility

East End Hospice (EEH), which has been serving the East End for two decades, held a special groundbreaking ceremony on July 25 to celebrate the construction of its much anticipated new inpatient facility. The hospice, designed by renowned architectural firm Roger Ferris & Partners, is located in a peaceful and unique setting overlooking the Aspatuck River in Quiogue, where the organization aims to continue offering the exemplary end of life care.

Well established architectural firm Roger Ferris & Partners (RFP) and its innovators have created the perfect designs for the new facility. Intended to become part of the natural beauty that surrounds it, the center will feature a number of low, one-storied gabled forms, residential in scale, joined by sky-lit hallways and common areas, as well as a spa room, gathering room, sunroom, library and a set of gardens—all overlooking the picturesque Aspatuck River.

According to head architect Roger Ferris, his firm designs buildings as “contextual responses” to their environment, whether in urban or natural settings. This strategy allows structures to become one with their surroundings.

The new Quiogue facility will help East End Hospice reach more patients and do so more effectively. It is intended to provide a comfortable and caring environment where terminally ill patients may live out their last days in peace, while also serving as a supervised replacement for the home environment, with 24-hour care and all the comforts of home. Staffed by trained volunteers and professionals, the East End Hospice not only cares for the patients themselves, but also offers emotional support for their families.

“The new center will not be just a building, but a symbol of a caring philosophy. It will be a peaceful place where people will spend their final days comfortable and with dignity,” Priscilla Ruffin, CEO of East End Hospice, explains, adding, “This is a long awaited day for us and our patients and their families.”

The facility, as yet unnamed, will have a moniker bestowed upon it by the leading benefactors of the Building the Dream Capital Campaign, which was the driving force behind funding the project.

Since its establishment in 1991, EEH has provided intensive care to more than 8,000 patients across the East End, and it refuses to deny anyone care due to an inability to pay. Along with hospice services, the foundation provides grief counseling and bereavement services to the families of patients, including a camp for children, which is now in its 14th year.

No matter the accommodations necessary, East End Hospice is there to serve the needs of its patients. “This is an architecture designed to look after its patients, families and caregivers,” Ferris says, “to inspire and soothe the spirits of all who come through the doors.”

For more information, visit eeh.org and ferrisarch.com.