Agrace HospiceCare plans a new building in Janesville

As reported by Judy Newman in the Wisconsin State Journal

Agrace HospiceCare plans a new building in Janesville.

The nonprofit organization, based in Fitchburg, has an agreement to buy a five-acre parcel at Sandhill Drive and Wright Road, on Janesville's northeast side. Agrace HospiceCare wants to build a 16,000-square-foot building to provide training and education for staff and volunteers as well as a place for families to find solace, replacing the current Janesville building, which is smaller, 41 years old and not handicapped-accessible.

Tentative plans call for groundbreaking in spring 2012 and completion in early 2013; J.P. Cullen & Sons, Janesville, will be the general contractor. No cost estimate for the project is available yet.

"It's going to act as a point of service for our patient and family care teams," spokeswoman Liz Kopling said. "It will (also) offer a place where people can come and honor the memory of their loves ones."

Kopling said patient care will continue to be provided where patients live. She said Agrace HospiceCare serves 150 patients a day in the Rock County area and more than 650 patients in the five-county region of Dane, Rock, Green, Jefferson and Walworth counties.