The long-term care unit at St. Joseph’s Hospital is going to be named after one of its residents.
The family of Mylan Chase announced during the final moments of the St. Joseph’s Hospital Foundation’s Radiothon for Life on May 1 that Chase had bequested $100,000 for the long-term care unit at the hospital.
Chase, who died Nov. 11, 2018, at the age of 96, had been residing in long-term care, which will now be known as the Mylan Chase Long-Term Care Unit.
“He was very passionate about giving back to our long-term care unit,” said Breanne Van de Woestyne, the executive director of the St. Joseph’s Hospital Foundation. “We reached out to the family, and really wanted to bring them into the hospital to celebrate his legacy, and to make a major announcement about the long-term care naming rights.”
Hicks’ widow Adaline Deschneider and his stepdaughter Deshan were present for the announcement.
It was exciting to see how wonderful they thought it was to have a beloved member of the family recognized at the hospital.
“The excitement from our long-term care department and their staff, they’re so excited to celebrate Mylan’s legacy and to see the improvements that are needed in our long-term care unit from his generous donation,” said Van de Woestyne.
She did not know him personally, but Van de Woestyne said he was well-known throughout the hospital.
“From his family, he was a quiet, quiet person, and he had a huge heart, and that came through with that donation,” said Van de Woestyne.
Chase’s family had approached the hospital about the donation a couple of weeks before the fundraiser, and so they decided to announce it at during the fundraiser to celebrate his legacy.
The money will be used to purchase much-needed equipment within long-term care. The hospital’s auxiliary has been raising money for the purchase of beds in long-term care, but other equipment is needed to upgrade rooms and make residents as comfortable as possible.
The foundation will be meeting with the hospital staff to determine which equipment will be purchased.
Long-term care is a big part of the hospital, she said.
“It is home. It’s a place where our residents live, and they spend all of their time there, and so we want to be able to make it a special place for them.”
Van de Woestyne is looking forward to seeing the improvements in long-term care once all of the equipment has been purchased.
“It’s going to be a special for our residents, and a special place for their families,” she said.
