The Gene & Irene Wockner Hospice Center is the only freestanding residential hospice center in the Puget Sound area, and one of only 50 in the country.
The beautiful Cape Cod-style facility was designed to be as home-like as possible, consistent with safety, security and excellent medical care. The Center’s 15 private patient rooms include sleeping spaces for visitors, a private bath with shower, TV/VCR and a wardrobe closet. Each room opens to a private outdoor patio on the lush courtyard, complete with children’s play area, barbecues and walking paths through the lovely rose and alpine gardens.
Families and friends can visit at any time, and children are very welcome. The comfortable family rooms throughout the Center are furnished with sofas and chairs, gas fireplaces, TV, VCR, stereo, desks, telephones and children’s toys. A fully equipped kitchen in each patient wing allows families to cook special meals.
Most hospice patients need inpatient care at the Center for only a short time to relieve symptoms, and then they return home. The Center also offers short-term respite care; caring for the terminally ill is an around-the-clock job, and it can be helpful to get a break in order to re-energize. The Center also provides a place to call home for those who have no one available to provide regular support during their illness.
The Center is named for Gene and Irene Wockner, whose initial support provided the resources needed to research and plan for the Center. The Wockner family’s generosity continues to provide for Evergreen Hospice Services.