A community-wide recognition of the need for critical patients facing life-limiting illness to receive loving care in a comfortable home-like environment is a step closer to fulfillment.

Today, Cornerstone Hospice and Palliative Care leaders celebrated the groundbreaking of the Cornerstone Hospice Care Center at the new 110-bed Orlando Health Center for Rehabilitation. They were joined by representatives from Orlando Health-Health Central, the West Orange Healthcare District, the West Orange Health Alliance and members of the community.

Norma Sutton, chair of the West Orange Healthcare District, presented a check for $1.25 million as a generous lead capital campaign donation for the Cornerstone Hospice unit which will include ten private rooms and a family lounge. Each room will have a pullout bed, refrigerator and showers so family members can be with loved ones as much as possible.

Additionally, Mike Yoakum, who is the chair of the West Orange Health Alliance, announced a $440,000 donation to the project.

"The Cornerstone Hospice Care Center at Orlando Health-Health Central will help fill a gap in health care services available in West Orange County. Patients and their families will receive inpatient care in a homelike place, not an intensive care unit, when symptoms become too difficult to manage at home," said Chuck Lee, President and CEO of Cornerstone Hospice. "We are grateful for the partnership of Orlando Health which designated space for the unit and for the generosity of the West Orange Healthcare District and West Orange Health Alliance to kickstart the capital campaign."

In November 2015, the 22-bed Cornerstone Hospice Unit opened at Orlando Health's Orlando Regional Medical Center. More than 2,200 patients and their families have received loving care and end-of-life support at the downtown Orlando unit.

"Orlando Health is proud to expand our partnership with Cornerstone Hospice by providing the West Orange County community with this important facet of care," said Mark Marsh, President, Orlando Health - Health Central.

"The West Orange Healthcare District is dedicated to ensuring that the residents have access to medical care and wellness services right in our community," said Sutton. "The District is pleased to make an investment in the Cornerstone Hospice Care Center which will help fill a gap for families who want to provide comfort and dignity for their loved ones facing end of life."

"Aside from meeting a critical need, having this resource in our community will help raise awareness about hospice care and the peace of mind it provides to patients and families facing life-limiting illness," said Lynn Walker Wright who is a member of the West Orange Health Alliance and chairs the project's $3.6 million campaign.

The 95,000 sq. Orlando Health Center for Rehabilitation and Cornerstone Hospice Care Center are scheduled for completion in 2019.