Abraham House is a 501c3 non-profit that has been in operation in Utica, NY since 1998. In September of 2019, we opened an additional location in Rome, NY in fulfillment of our mission to “provide terminally ill guests and their families a safe and loving home, with all the support needed for dignified end of life care, free of any financial burden.”
We are essentially a human services organization that provides the residence and hands on caregiving 24 hours per day in order to support families as they navigate through the end of life journey with their loved ones. While our primary services are the shelter, food, and care attendants, we also provide the social and emotional support that families need. Our admissions are prioritized based on need so we always serve the guest with the highest level of need first…those who live alone, are at risk of falling or aspirating, those who lack family support, or who have homes that may be neglectful or abusive, those with PTSD, etc. Vulnerable populations served include the economically disadvantaged, homeless persons, individuals with disabilities, veterans, and the frail elderly. We partner with Hospice and Palliative Care Inc who frame the medical care plan and provide health oversight for our guests.
Americans heightened focus on healthy living should consider the value of the concept of healthy dying. Since dying is an inevitable part of life that each of us faces, perhaps we can shift our thinking from the negativity surrounding death and try to reframe the process into something peaceful and inspirational. This includes our responsibility to optimize the quality of life even when the cures or treatments of modern medicine have been exhausted, and it places significance on honoring relationships above all else. High quality end of life experiences can shape a healthier respect for the process, an acceptance of the prognosis, and a conscious focus on presence in order to make every minute as significant as it can be.
