By Payton Tholstrup
Images courtesy of Lisa Hoffman, Manager of the Rebecca A. Morrison House
The Rebecca A. Morrison House in Salina, KS is entering its 32nd year of operation.
Created to provide lodging for family members whose loved ones were receiving care at Salina Regional Hospital, the six-bedroom home – donated by Dianna Lee – opened on November 24th, 1993.
Lee had previously created two similar homes in Wichita and Denver, but today, the Morrison House is the only one of the three that is still open.
The home was named after Rebecca A. Morrison who was a charter member of the Salina Regional Health Foundation and Salina Regional Health Foundation of Trustees.
“The Salina Regional Health Foundation was pleased to recognized Mrs. Morrison for her years of dedication to helping others, by making this home-away-from-home in her honor,” said Lisa Hoffman, House Manager.
After a decade of success, it became clear that the Morrison House needed more space. Better accessibility was also needed, so in 2002, the home was expanded by connecting a newly built 14-bedroom addition (with an elevator and private accessible bathrooms) to the original 1920s house. All of this was made possible through a $1.3 million fundraising campaign.
The house continues to offer accommodations for primary caregivers or family members traveling from outside Salina to be close to a loved one who is a patient at Salina Regional Health Center or receiving radiation treatment at Tammy Walker Cancer Center.
All guests must be referred to the house by a medical care team member from Salina Regional Health Center. Admission is granted on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Once a referral has been made, the guests can check in to obtain house keys anytime from 7am-9pm. The length of stay varies from person to person and has ranged anywhere from one night to 156 nights.
The house is designed to be cozy and welcoming. Each private bedroom is fully furnished with all the essentials, and most rooms include private accessible bathrooms.
The kitchen is equipped with basic cooking supplies, breakfast items, and snacks. Families can relax in the family room where they can watch TV, socialize, or enjoy fresh baked cookies made by housemates.
Each guest is responsible for their own housekeeping and meal preparation as needed, but laundry facilities are available for use.
At all times, a staff member is available to assist family members as needed. Security escorts are also available to help navigate the parking lot to the hospital.
“This service can include wheelchair escorts, or simply having someone accompany them, a service often requested by family members with elderly parents staying in the house.”
The sustainability of the house depends on the generosity of donors; guests stay at no charge, so contributions help keep the doors open for future guests. Donations also help enhance the hospitality extended to newcomers.
“Simple gestures, such as offering a cup of coffee with a homemade cookie, leaving an encouraging handwritten note on a guest’s bedroom door, or showing compassion after a tough day, are powerful expressions of support,” Hoffman said.
Hospital guest housing is becoming increasingly vital within the healthcare system as it shifts towards a patient-centered support model.
“The role of guest housing in enhancing access to specialized healthcare is crucial, especially for rural communities in Kansas. Despite its significance, this component of healthcare is often overlooked.”
While the specific impacts that this type of housing has might not be well documented yet, Hoffman said raising awareness and advocating for services like these remains important.
“While much focus is placed on patient health, little attention is given to those who love and support them. By raising awareness and advocating for these essential services, we can strengthen support, ultimately leading to improved healthcare access and outcomes for patients and their families.”
The Morrison House will celebrate its birthday on Monday, November 24th from 12-2 pm. It will be open to the public for tours, cookies, and conversations during that time.
