Avow has opened an office in Fort Myers to serve Lee County families as the nonprofit health care organization expands its hospice, palliative care, Medicare-certified home health and grief support services across Southwest Florida.<\/p>\n
The Naples-based organization recently announced its future intent to build a 40,000-square-foot facility at Hope Preserve in Fort Myers, where patients and their families will have convenient access to compassionate, mission-driven care and support through every stage of serious illness, caregiving, loss and grief.<\/p>\n
Located in the Banyan Building at 8140 College Parkway, Unit #201, in Fort Myers, the new location features staff offices, outpatient palliative care clinic rooms, conference space and a reception area. Avow executives and board members joined community leaders, elected officials and representatives of the Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce and The Sanibel Island and Captiva Islands Chamber of Commerce on Oct. 8 for a ribbon-cutting celebration and guided tours of the new space.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis year alone, we\u2019re going to invest over $10 million into Lee County,\u201d said Jaysen Roa, president and CEO of Avow. \u201cWe\u2019ve already hired more than 85 employees that are Lee County residents for our operations, and we believe that number is going to double next year. We\u2019ve had the privilege of serving over 500 patients who are Lee County residents so far this year.\u201d<\/p>\n
Established in 1983 by volunteers as Collier County\u2019s first hospice, Avow\u2019s mission is steadfast: to create peace of mind by providing compassionate care and support to those who need us. The organization has grown into one of the country\u2019s largest providers of hospice care, and its plans for Lee County include an inpatient hospice house, an outpatient palliative care clinic, grief and loss support for adults and children, and Medicare-certified home health services. The future facility at Hope Preserve will also provide space for Avow\u2019s hospice and other care teams, along with the flexibility to accommodate future programs and services as community needs evolve.<\/p>\n
\u201cHealth care is often measured by the treatments we provide, the technologies we adopt and the facilities we build,\u201d said Michael Nachef, board chair of the SanCap Chamber and chief of staff for Lee Health. \u201cBut perhaps the true measure of a community\u2019s health care system is how we care for people during life\u2019s most vulnerable moments. That is where organizations like Avow make such a profound difference\u2026 Compassionate care extends beyond medicine. It addresses emotional, spiritual and practical needs when they matter most.\u201d<\/p>\n