February 17, 2013 — The public is invited to tour the house and grounds at House on Friday, March 8, 2-3 p.m. at a free Community Open House sponsored by . The new 40,000-square-foot Craftsman inspired house opened last summer, and is tucked away on a hidden 30-acre site in the woods near Porter Creek, just north of the I-90 Crocker Road exit, between Holiday Inn and Bonne Belle. Refreshments will be provided. Reservations can be made by visiting the hospice's Website or calling (216) 486-6645. For those unable to visit March 8, a second open house is slated for Friday, June 14, 2-3 p.m.

"We are part of the fabric of the community, so we encourage Lorain County residents to bring their friends and stop in during one of our open house events," said Bill Finn, chief executive officer. "It's a great way to see first-hand the distinctive range of services we offer as a non-profit agency with 35 years of history in Northern Ohio," Finn said.

Locations people will see on the tour include the great room, the family living room and study, screened porches, courtyards and al fresco patios for patients and families, art and music therapy studios, the exercise room, spa room, meditation room, family kitchen, café, Tribute Walk, Tranquility Garden, the Veterans Garden and the Veterans Walk of Honor. The house's many "green" and technologically advanced features will also be showcased.

The site surrounding the house is home to abundant wildlife, and includes the walking trails formerly built by Bonne Belle, which have been refurbished by community volunteers and reopened for the community at large to enjoy. The public is also welcome to stroll through or meditate in the many gardens on the grounds. Bricks are available to inscribe and place to memorialize loved ones.

Finn said Ames Family Hospice House was built to provide Lorain County and Western Cuyahoga County with easier access to state-of-the-art symptom control for seriously ill patients. "We've designed it to be very homelike and non-institutional," he added. "We want it to be a home away from home for our patients and their families." The new house has been well received because of its convenient access right off I-90, and its ability to handle even the most complex cases, including pediatric hospice patients, ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease), COPD, HIIV and patients coping with multiple diseases.

"There are differences, so it's important to do your homework when the time comes to choose hospice care," Finn said. As a non-profit agency, generous funding from our donors allows us to provide a comprehensive range of care at Ames that incorporates music, art and massage therapy, life enrichment activities and an integrated, customized plan of care tailored to each patient's specific needs," Finn said.