New Pathway Home to open in Tyre

A few months ago, the Pathway Home of the Finger Lakes Board of Directors made the decision to move forward with renovation plans on the home it owns on Marshall Road, Fayette. But, as they say, plans change. Shortly after the decision was made, board members became aware of a home on Route 414, Tyre. After touring the vacant ranch, board members unanimously felt the Tyre facility was more suitable to the mission and goal of the not-for-profit organization. After much deliberation, debate and weighing options, the board approved the process of purchasing the Tyre property and selling the Fayette site. Due diligence was invested in assuring the move was fiscally prudent as well as expedient. Construction vs. purchase/renovation costs were evaluated. An operational budget was drafted. Board Chair Rick Coe said the decision was not taken lightly. In the end, the Tyre property gives Pathway Home the potential to move forward more quickly and be able to open the doors sooner in a cost-effective manner. It is expected Pathway can start serving the community by early next year. Executive Director Lisa Hochadel echoed the sentiment of the board. The home in Tyre is better suited to a comfort care facility, with two large bedrooms, wide hallways and an open floor plan. It also features a full basement — something not available at the Fayette site — and is handicapped accessible. It also has an operational back-up generator and central air conditioning. She noted the house needs very little renovation or upgrades. Hochadel noted the previous owners of the Tyre home were older and pre-planned some of the amenities they would need as they aged. Both have since died, but their children stated “having their parents’ home used for comfort care is a great legacy to them.” Daniel R Long Architecture & Associates, Geneva, will continue to work with the board on bringing the facility into compliance. The purchase is contingent upon receipt of a permit from the Town of Tyre. Days after the board made its decision, Hochadel was approached by Jessica Sinicropi of Jessica & Co., a Seneca Falls hair salon, about the possibility of purchasing the Fayette property. Last month, the Pathway Home Board of Directors approved the sale terms. The fortuitous sequence of events is a blessing, said Hochadel. “We have our financing in order with a local bank. We can afford the purchase price, equipping the house and doing renovations.” Of course, monetary issues will be a key factor in determining when the home can open. Donations can be made anytime, designated specifically for the building fund or operating costs. Donations are tax deductible and can be made by sending to Pathway Home of the Finger Lakes, PO Box 516, Seneca Falls, NY 13148-0516. Pathway Home is also starting a capital campaign to create an endowment fund for operational costs. The original concept of a comfort care home was spawned because Seneca County is the only county in the area that does not have such a facility, meaning county residents needing palliative care and unable to remain at home, have to either be hospitalized, placed in a nursing home or placed in a comfort care facility 40-plus miles from home. The goal of Pathway Home has always been to provide quality care to the dying by attempting to meet each resident’s physical, emotional, social and spiritual care needs in a supportive home like environment, while respecting their individuality and maintaining his or her dignity until death. Care to be provided by volunteers and staff include hands on care for residents such as assistance with bathing, dressing and medications; cooking for the residents; emotional and spiritual support to residents and families; housekeeping and maintenance of building and grounds. Residents will need to be associated with a home health hospice program. In Seneca County, hospice is provided by Lifetime Care Hospice of Wayne and Seneca Counties, which provides trained hospice nurses, medical social workers, pastoral services and bereavement services. Families can participate as much as they are able to in providing resident care and are encouraged to do so if they wish. The plan of care for the resident is based around the resident’s needs and their goals. Pathway Home will be available to any person with a terminal illness in need of care, regardless of age, creed, color, ethnic background or religion. Care provided by Pathway Home will be free of charge to the resident. Hochadel can be reached at (315) 539-9376 or (315) 729-2428 or by e-mail at [email protected] for comments or questions. Additional information will be updated on the organization’s website [pathwayhome.org] and Facebook page.