In order to better meet the needs of Palatka and the surrounding areas, Haven is investing resources to refurbish the Roberts Hospice Care Center. In choosing businesses to complete the refurbishment project, which is well underway, Haven sought out local businesses to work on the hospice care center.

Many are personally connected to Haven in the Palatka community, including the staff at Palatka Flooring, which is currently redoing the flooring at the Roberts Hospice Care Center. Palatka Flooring employee David Barnes had not been to the care center since his father passed away in 2014 but returned to help with the renovation. “I remember one particular nurse who cared for my father,” said David. “She was really knowledgeable. She would see things in his face and know what they were a sign of. Every sign she told us, it would end up happening. I was impressed. It’s like any profession, I’m sure. When I walk into a room, I look at the floor and see things you don’t see. Haven staff are like that too.”

Facilities Maintenance of North Central Florida is another local business making renovation strides at the Roberts Hospice Care Center. Owner Larry Smith has been working for Haven for 11 years and lives a few minutes from the care center in Palatka. He is completing HVAC and miscellaneous updates in the Roberts Hospice Care Center renovation. “Having a hospice in Palatka is much needed,” said Larry. “There are not a lot of people who want to travel far, so having Haven here is really important.”

The Roberts Hospice Care Center refurbishment should be completed in March 2020. During the renovation, patients in the Palatka area continue to receive care where they live or in Haven’s other care centers.

The exterior of the Roberts Hospice Care Center