WAUSAU, WI (WSAU) — Construction will begin for a new facility near Aspirus Wausau Hospitals campus.
Aspirus held a groundbreaking ceremony for their new family house on Tuesday. Kaylenn Pempek the Executive Director of the Aspirus Health Foundation explains that the family house is mainly for patients who have traveled to Wausau for care or to see family.
“And that might be patients traveling for longer-term care like oncology or cancer care. Where their receiving treatments for multiple weeks for daily treatment. But it also might be for family members who have a loved one in the hospital tragically, either planned or unplanned.”
Pempek describes the planned layout for the family house. “Our plan is to create a 10 bedroom family house. And that would include 5 bedrooms that are patient suites. Five that are family or guest suites. And then shared living spaces that would be conducive to support and healing from others in the home.”
The idea for a family home for Aspirus has been in the works for a while but really materialized in the past year. With Aspirus growth, Pempek says the hospital noticed how some of their most vulnerable patients weren’t always able to afford housing to get treatment.
“As Aspirus has grown, we recognize that the cost of traveling and housing can be a burden to some of our most vulnerable patients. So we have worked together to find a solution so that the patients who need help with housing and can’t afford to stay in hotels, would be able to stay at this family house.”
Once the facility is open in January of 2020, Pempek says there will be plenty of volunteer opportunities for those in the community.
“We will have volunteer opportunities for people in our community to volunteer for extended periods on a regular basis. Or to come in and do activities or bring in meals or do something that feels good to help others. Who are in our community because of illness or sickness.”
The renovations of the building on the corner of 28th Ave. and Westhill Dr. is set to begin by July 8th. The goal is to complete renovations by December 18th to be ready for a January opening. Aspirus serves patients from 14 counties in Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.
