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Uplifting Lives on Island

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Winter 2021 - On The Island IPU staff

No man is an island,
No man stands alone,
Each man’s joy is joy to me,
Each man’s grief is my own.

~Joan Baez

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Brevard County is 72 miles long with islands and beaches galore. For the first time St. Francis Reflections will cross the causeway and provide a care center for patients on Merritt Island. This new location will help bring our compassion close to home. We are grateful to our partner, Courtenay Springs Village. A newly renovated hospice care center will welcome up to eight patients at a time. The center will bring hospice and respite care for all residents of central Brevard, Merritt Island, and the beaches.

“Our nonprofit was founded on the philosophy of neighbors helping neighbors,” said Joe Killian, President and CEO of St. Francis Reflections Lifestage Care. “We are committed to providing the most compassionate and comfort-focused care in all of Brevard County. Our neighborhood is growing! Given recent population surges and an increase in demand for our services due to the pandemic, we must continue expanding to meet the needs of our neighbors, which is exactly what we will do.”

The Care Center is intended for the short-term management of complex symptoms, and periods of respite where families can rest knowing their loved ones are being cared for with compassion and dignity. Located at 1100 South Courtenay Pkwy on Merritt Island, the St. Francis Reflections in-patient unit at Courtenay Springs Village will feature private rooms with ensuite bathrooms, 24/7 facility access for family members, a shared kitchenette with food provided by the facility for family members, and tranquil outdoor space for meditation and reflection.

“Courtenay Springs Village is happy to announce their partnership with St. Francis Reflections Lifestage Care. St. Francis Reflections will be opening their new in-patient unit within our Skilled Nursing Facility”, said Michael Rivera, East Coast Regional Administrator. “Together we can provide the care and services that our patients and families need. We are honored to be a part of this collaborative effort to help better serve our community.”

The same compassionate care that patients expect from St. Francis Reflections around Brevard County will be mirrored through St. Francis Reflections staff, including its board-certified hospice and palliative medicine physicians, social workers, and chaplains.

In a county so geographically large, it takes vision to see where next we might uplift lives and serve patients and families. This next step brings our mission of neighbor helping neighbor to the islands and beyond. It was NOT a bridge too far.

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