Construction of Pen Bay Healthcare Sussman House, a hospice facility, is under way on the northern edge of the 64-acre Pen Bay Medical Center campus in Rockport. Its construction began in January, and Penobscot Bay Pilot has been making periodic visits to the site to chronicle its progress.

Expected to open in the fall of 2014, the Sussman House is to be a place where patients will receive end-of-life care. With the opening this free-standing hospice house — the third in the state — the options for end-of-life care in Central and Midcoast Maine communities will expand to offer an alternative to hospital or long-term care facilities.

The 12,000-square-foot hospice house took a giant step forward to reality last fall when Pen Bay Healthcare received a $1 million donation from Donald Sussman to help get the $6.8 million project under way on the northern edge of the 64-acre Pen Bay Medical Center campus in Rockport.

In October, hedge fund founder, financier, philanthropist and newspaper owner Sussman was in Rockport with his wife, U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-Maine), touring the site. It was there and then Pen Bay Healthcare announced that the hospice house is to be named after Ida Sussman, Donald's grandmother.

The hospice house is one of three projects in the organization's Better Together campaign, the other two being Partnership Care and Women and Family Services. The total campaign goal is $15.5 million. Of that, $6.65 is relegated to the Hospice House. According to the nonprofit: "The newly named Sussman House will offer a tranquil, private atmosphere with the look and feel of a New England farmhouse."

WBRC Architects and Engineers of Bangor, Portland and Sarasota, Fla., designed the hospice house. Wright-Ryan Construction Inc., of Portland, is the chief contractor for the job; subcontractors include George C. Hall and Sons of Rockland; Goodwin Well and Water of Farmington; Lindsey Foundation of Milford; and Granite Corp. of Oakland. Viking Lumber will be providing the roof trusses.

Work to date

Raising the funds for the house, and Better Together campaign

In late February, the Pen Bay Healthcare Foundation reported that $12.7 million had been raised against the $15.5 million goal, with more than 700 donors contributing to the campaign.

“All the fundraising is local,” said Pen Bay Healthcare Foundation Executive Director Holly Miller, at a late winter tour of the facility as it was being built.

While there have been some major donors, still more are middle-of-the-road, and the campaign is offering a variety of giving opportunities, such as brick purchases, or benches. Up until now, the fundraising campaign has been in a quiet phase, with major fundraising taking place behind the scenes.

Originally named the Pen Bay/Kno-Wal-Lin Hospice House, the site is adjacent to Pen Bay Medical Center property in Rockport. The $5.8 million project is expected to create 13 new jobs. The hospice house is anticipated to carry $1.1 million of operating costs during its first year, and grow to $1.5 million by its fifth year in serving the community. Know-Wal-Lin will operate the house, where the average stay is expected to be five days.

Joanne Billington, of Rockland, sits on the Foundation board, which has nine members. To her, the Sussman House is personal. She was with her mother when she died.

“If I had this this available it would have been wonderful,” said Billington. A home environment, with non-sterile surroundings, where family can stay with one who is dying is the goal, she said.

Jane Daigle, a vice president at Camden National Bank, said her own father died at home, and it was difficult for her mother.

“We are fortunate to have this in our backyard, the whole facility,” she said.

In early February, the Town of Rockport approved pursuing the application of a $390,000 government grant to help finance starting up the seven-bed hospice house. A Community Development Block Grant is a mechanism whereby the health care nonprofit would get assistance from the town in pursuing federal job creation funding. Obtaining grant money would be contingent on the creation of jobs at the hospice.

A memo, authored by Miller and consultant Chris Shrum, outlined the state's Community Development Block Grant program, which provides grants to businesses creating jobs for low and moderate income employees, referred to as LMI, which is "defined as 80 percent median household income of the county or state, whichever is higher."

The CDBG economic development program provides up to $30,000 per job created. The business has 12 months to create the jobs, as outlined in the grant application.

According to the memo, Kno-Wal-Lin will create 13 new jobs, of which seven will target LMI employees. The majority of those positions will be service workers — certified nursing assistants or home health aides.

"In addition to the new positions, the facility will draw from a host of other services already provided through the Pen Bay/MaineHealth system," the memo said.

Jobs anticipated to be created at the hospice include:

• 4-1/2 fulltime registered nurses, with hourly salaries and eligible fringe benefits of $39.59

• 5-1/2 home health aides, with hourly salaries and eligible fringe benefits of $16.93

• 1 house manager, with an hourly salary and eligible fringe benefits of $41.13

• 1 administrative coordinator, with an hourly salary and eligible fringe benefits of $18.78

• 1/2 housekeeper, with an hourly salary and eligible fringe benefits of $14.63

• 1/2 social worker, with an hourly salary and eligible fringe benefits of $31.23

Overall Design

The entire site and building will have a welcoming feel with its warm, residential style.

The design of the Hospice House is based on a New England Farmstead with a “Big House, Little House, Back House, Barn” configuration.

The House

The “Big House” is home to the community living room, great room, family room, dining area, kitchen and pantry.  The living and dining areas are separated by a double sided fireplace surrounded in stone.

The “Little House” consists of the administrative offices, conference room and workspace for staff. 

The “Back House” consist of 7 patient suites (approximately 365 sq.ft.) each with a private bath and living area to accommodate family.  The suites have their own patio and private garden separated by privacy screens.  A library and sanctuary are also part of the “Back Houses.” 

The “Barn” contains storage, clean rooms, and electrical/mechanical rooms.

The Houses will be connected by a large, central courtyard with four-seasons gardens.  

The atmosphere of the Hospice House will be one of peace and tranquility and the interior design and furnishings will “look like, act like, and feel like home.”

Gross building square footage is approximately 10,000 sq. ft.

The Hospice House will be a certified Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (“LEED”) project, Which means its construction will be of practical and measurable high performance green building design, construction, operations and maintenance solutions. For instance, the building will utilize a geothermal system for heating and cooling, water will be reduced by 30 percent, and crews will optimize energy performance.

The site and house have been designed for 7 additional future patient suites and expanded parking

The Site

Large front porch entrance.

Two four-seasons gardens.

Extensive landscaping, including an apple orchard.

A memory walk, a stone dust trail through the woods, will circulate along the edge of the site.