News release

For immediate release

May 2, 2006

OREGON, ILLINOIS:  The Ogle County Hospice will build a Hospice Home for the care of patients at the end of life, through a unique partnership with a local church-related agency.

The Ogle County Hospice Association Foundation (The Foundation) announced today that it has acquired ten acres from Lutheran Outdoor Ministries Center (LOMC).  The site is located just south of Oregon on route 2, adjacent to LOMC’s year-round camping and retreat facility.  The eight-bed unit will become the site of the second residential hospice in Illinois, and the first in a rural area. 

After more than a year of planning, LOMC and The Foundation will create an innovative partnership that will further the mission of each organization. “I have always had a sense that LOMC’s site is ‘holy ground,’” says Lorrie Bearrows, executive director of the hospice. “LOMC is about life—and so is hospice.”

The mission of Ogle County Hospice Association is to provide dignity and care to the terminally ill and meet the needs of their families. The focus of care will remain wherever the patient calls home.

“For some patients, care in the home is the best possible option,” Bearrows notes.  “For others, more highly specialized care in a home-like residential facility will be the answer.  The Hospice Home can provide relief to family care-givers with respite care during this difficult time.”

“Although our missions are quite different, we find they are compatible in many fundamental ways”, says Russ Senti, executive director of LOMC.   “The two non-profit organizations believe that partnership in several important support functions will enable both to live out their missions of service and love.  We are very excited at LOMC about the possibilities of sharing.”

For more information, please contact Russ Senti, LOMC (815) 732-2220 or Lorrie Bearrows, The Foundation at (815) 732-2499.