TITUSVILLE – St. Francis Reflections Lifestage Care commemorated the official grand opening and ribbon cutting of their new hospice care center at Courtenay Spring Village on Tuesday, March 29, 2022.  The ribbon cutting ceremony was attended by community dignitaries, community members, as well as St. Francis Reflections Board and staff. The new hospice care center originally opened November 15, 2021; however, the ribbon cutting ceremony was delayed due to the pandemic.

A blessing of the St. Francis Reflections Merritt Island Care Center was provided by Reverend Haywood Davidson, St. Francis Reflections Foundation Board Member and Veteran Volunteer. Jimmy Lane, President of Cocoa Beach Chamber of Commerce, Robin Hayes, Cocoa Beach City Manager, Michael Rivera, Executive Director of RHF (Retirement Housing Foundation), Donn Weaver, Brevard Veteran Memorial Center and Sheriff Wayne Ivey provided opening and closing remarks.

“St. Francis Reflections is proud to celebrate this momentous occasion with Courtenay Springs Village and our community. We are honored to be a part of this collaborative effort to help better serve our community,” said Joe Killian, president and CEO of St. Francis Reflections.

The hospice unit is intended for the short-term management of complex symptoms and periods of respite where families can rest assured that their loved ones are being cared for with compassion and dignity. Located at 1100 South Courtenay Pkwy in Merritt Island, the St. Francis Reflections inpatient unit at Courtenay Springs Village features all private rooms with en suite bathrooms, 24/7 facility access for family members, and a shared kitchenette with food for families provided by the facility; tranquil outdoor space offers a peaceful environment for mediation and reflection.

Compassionate care offered by St. Francis Reflections Lifestage Care clinicians, board-certified hospice and palliative medicine physicians, social workers, and chaplains will guide the care and comfort of patients during their inpatient stay.

“We are pleased to come together as a community and celebrate as we expand this important service to meet the growing needs of the community,” said Michael Rivera, Regional Vice President of RHF.

The St. Francis Reflections Merritt Island Care Center is the organization’s third hospice care center in Brevard County, with other hospice care centers located in Titusville and Melbourne.

About Courtenay Springs Village:

At Courtenay Springs Village our mission is to provide housing options for older adults in an environment that enhances their quality of life physically, mentally, and spiritually. RHF is one of the nation’s largest non-profit providers of housing and services for older adults, persons with disabilities, and low-income families. Courtenay Springs Village is proud to be a Retirement Housing Foundation (RHF) community, offering affordable living options and services to older adults. For more information about Courtenay Springs Village, please visit courtenayspringsvillage@rhf.org.

About St. Francis Reflections:

St. Francis Reflections Lifestage Care was founded in 1977 and licensed in 1990. St. Francis is Brevard’s longest-serving, not-for-profit, independent, interfaith provider of hospice, palliative care, pediatric palliative care and grief support services. For more information about St. Francis Reflections Lifestage Care, please visit ReflectionsLSC.org or follow on Facebook @StFrancisReflections.