Crescent Cove Respite and Hospice Home for Kids
Creating a home where families are embraced, celebrated and assured
Children with life-threatening conditions have very unique needs. As do their families and caregivers. As the first pediatric hospice and respite care home in Minnesota, and only the third in the nation, we assisted Crescent Cove with state legislative conversations for change in order to be licensed as a residential hospice. This ultimately informed real estate decisions, supported a facility design and activated communications to further their goals, vision and mission.
Our research uncovered the importance of the location of the home, along with the needs for social engagement and connection. These insights informed the layout, programming and design of the new space. They also bolstered Crescent Cove’s commitment to providing “mini-respites” to support families, even before the home was open. Above all, our findings underlined the need to help families feel assured, embraced and celebrated. The end solution envisioned a new ground-up hospice facility, which would allow us to plan from the inside out. The space would take the experiences defined in our research and translate them into an environment that supports families and staff as they travel through the minefield of terminal illness. And it would also celebrate life.
The respite house that was ultimately purchased with our assistance is an adaption of an adult hospice home, formerly owned by North Memorial. It combines the idea of home with the capabilities of nursing staff to physically, emotionally and socially care for families. Space was adapted to help create social connectivity and encourage play for all involved. Every space was evaluated to ensure flexibility, creating multi-purpose spaces for play, gathering and sleeping. Working with Cushman Wakefield and Gardner Builders, along with the support of countless volunteers and donations, we carefully finessed the existing hospice home into a sacred space for living and to honor the end of life.
Awards:
- 2019 Finalist, MREJ Awards, Medical West Category
Mural Art (image above) by Christi Becker, commissioned by Crescent Cove
