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published on June 2, 2016 - 9:03 AM
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A new Visalia-based nonprofit hospice organization has been formed and its new facility designed to provide end-of-life care will be dedicated at 10 a.m. on Friday.


The Open Arms House, located at 3234 W. Iris Ave., will be funded entirely through community donations and operated by a nonprofit, 501(C)3 organization.

Friday’s event will include the dedication of the house to Ruth Dunagan Wood, who supported hospice for many years and was a founder of Hospice of Tulare County in the mid-1980s. Her widower, Harry Wood, will be on hand on for the dedication and the renaming of the house to The Ruth Wood Open Arms Home.

The Open Arms Home will be a licensed, community-supported home for individuals whose medical needs will be managed by the hospice agency services in Tulare and Kings counties. The Open Arms House will allow residents to die peacefully in a home-like setting, said Carol Nickel, president of the board. There is a grassroots effort to establish such homes across the nation, and The Open Arms House in Visalia will be one of just four in California, Nickel added.

The home will be available to anyone 19 years and older who is enrolled in a hospice program and who can no longer remain in their own home. The cost of care, which is estimated to be $300 per resident, per day, will be provided at no cost to families.

“Our vision is that this home will provide ‘end-of-life care where every life matters to the very last breath and no one dies alone,’” Nickel said. “We are grateful to all those who have believed and participated in this mission to care for the dying, our very generous donors and to the City of Visalia for helping us to expedite remodeling. We expect to open in early 2017.”

The public is invited to attend the dedication and tour the house prior to the start of remodeling. For information on how to support or to volunteer with The Open Arms House, contact Nickel at (559) 280-0640.


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