www.roanoke.com

[UPDATE 6/27/11 5:20 p.m. Clarification. As it was recently pointed out to me, Bedford House is the first of its kind in the Roanoke region. A similar facility exists in Dublin in the New River Valley region. I was unclear in describing the region in this post. END UPDATE]

Last month I wrote about the Roanoke region’s first assisted-living facility for hospice patients being constructed in Bedford.

Today I got word that not only is the project on track to open in the spring, but also that two new grants have recently been given to help complete the new building.

Called Bedford House the facility will serve as a place for people nearing the end of their lives to stay when they can no longer live at home. Part of the goal is to keep people who don’t need to be hospitalized, or don’t want to be, out of the hospital.

Southeast Rural Community Assistance Project, based in Roanoke, gave a $45,000 grant to pay for the water and sewer infrastructure and connection fees.

The Greater Lynchburg Community Trust  gave $10,000 for the purchase of all electric and gas appliances.

Prior to these latest two grants Bedford House had raised $1.6 million to support the construction and start-up costs. Some of the money has also been set aside as an endowment so the facility can take patients regardless of their ability to pay.