By David Fleet

Editor

Goodrich-A new occupant for a former hospice facility may be on the way.

Grand Rapids-based Hope Network has applied for a special use permit for the vacant Goodrich Hospice Care Center, 7280 S. State Road. If approved, the building will be used as an adult foster care facility with a capacity of 30 beds.

Calls to Hope Network were not returned as of press time Thursday.

The Village of Goodrich will host a public hearing for the Hope Network’s application for a conditional use permit. The hearing will be at 7 p.m., July 25 at the village offices, 7338 S. State Road.

“The old hospice facility is zoned as a hospital,” said Jakki Sidge, village administrator. “However, due to the length of time its been closed, approval is needed. We have had a lot of interest in the building since it closed, but this is as close as we have come. Providing services, like the adult foster care is always important to the community.”

The Goodrich Hospice Care Facility has been closed for about three years.

According to their website, Hope Network is a non-profit Christian organization founded in 1963 to empower people with disabilities or disadvantages to achieve their highest level of independence. The company provides a continuum of specialized care for those with brain and spinal cord injuries, mental illness, developmental disabilities, and other disadvantages. Their support services include transportation, subsidized housing, case management, community-based services and workforce development. Hope Network cares for the whole person addressing the social, mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual needs.

With corporate offices in Grand Rapids, Hope Network provides services in more than 170 locations, by 2,100 staff to people in more than 50 counties.

The Goodrich Hospice Care facility had been the location of a hospital for many years.

In 1961, Goodrich General Hospital closed after serving the community since being founded by Amos Wheelock, MD, in 1916. The facility was located on Hegel Road and Ridge Road. Soon after, residents gathered at a public meeting and submitted pledges and received additional support from the Industrial Mutual Association, Mott Foundation and General Motors, paving the way for a full-service, 53-bed hospital on 8.7 acres along M-15 north of Hegel Road. The hospital was named Wheelock Memorial Hospital, in memory of the founder of Goodrich’s original hospital. About 1992, St. Joseph Health Systems took over Wheelock and changed its name to Genesys Health System and the names of its four hospitals to Genesys Regional Medical Center.

In February 1997, Genesys consolidated its four hospitals, Flint Osteopathic Campus, Genesee Memorial Campus, St. Joseph Campus and Wheelock Memorial Campus into one with the opening of Genesys Regional Medical Center Health Park in Grand Blanc. Sometime after that Wheelock Hospital became a hospice.

In June 2013 Genesys Health Systems announced that it would locate its residential hospice services in Goodrich to a separate, dedicated wing of Genesys Convalescent Center (a skilled nursing facility) in Grand Blanc. At that time, Genesys, like other healthcare facilities across the nation, made changes to help ensure its long-term sustainability in the era of healthcare reform. A

According to the statement issued by Genesys, these initiatives resulted in the reduction of approximately 100 full-time equivalent positions, as a reduction brought about through the Affordable Care Act and Sequestration.