Marshfield, Wisconsin is a city that is constantly growing. The area of the Marshfield Clinic and Hospital is like a city within a city. But they have a lot of different facilities and buildings that they offer to help out patients and their families. The American Cancer Society Hope Lodge known as the “home of hope,” is one of those places designated to help.
The Hope Lodge is located at 611 West Doege Street, a block away from the clinic and hospital. It is a short term residential facility that offers a place to stay for patients that are receiving outpatient oncology treatment at the hospital. Marshfield was the site for the first Hope Lodge in Wisconsin. They choose the lodge to be placed in Marshfield because of the large number of cancer patients that travel from all over for treatment. Depending on the type of cancer people have leads into how much treatment they need. Some treatments last a few weeks, and some last for months. So it really can drain the pocket book driving back and forth and the cost of treatment. The Lodge helps the patients out by offering its’ services free of charge to lessen the financial strain to the patients.
Besides offering free rooms to their patients, they also offer plenty of other services too. They have a great support group you can join in on for patients and their families. They offer access to new and updated information from the American Cancer Society. They also offer information to the patient and their families about making certain decisions in different situations. So they are really there to make things easier for everybody and to help you out as much as they possibly can.
The building is a beautiful four story building that is 22,000 square feet. It has 23 beautiful rooms inside. Some rooms also have pull out couches and beds in them, some are single rooms and some have one single bed and one king sized bed. That way the people that are traveling with you can stay with you also. Then you don’t have to worry about finding a hotel room to stay at or worry about paying for it. They also have rooms that are handicap accessible to accommodate those who need it.
All of the rooms have a small desk area with a mirror and a phone. They also have a comfortable chair to lounge in as you look out the window. Each room also has its’ own TV so you can hang out in the privacy of your own room and watch your favorite show. You also have use of a large closet in the room to keep all your clothes organized.
One of the rooms they have right off of the lobby area has computers in little cubicles. Here is where you can go online to research different things about cancer. If you need help or assistance, one of the people working there will you search. The lodge also has 2 kitchens where volunteers come in and cook an evening dinner for the guests.
The living room area of the Lodge is amazing! It is a great area to hang out and relax in, or to get to know the other guests that are staying there. It has a few lounge chairs and sofas that are spread out. In between them are coffee tables and plants to decorate and lighten up the room. The colors of everything are very bright and cheerful. There is also a TV in here where you can watch the news or your favorite show. This is the area where many of the group activities take place also like meetings or playing games. There are also bookshelves stocked with books in here so you can read a book and wind down from your busy day at the clinic.
There is also a lower area of the building that has laundry facilities, a craft room, and another room with a big screen TV in it for you to relax and enjoy some peace and quiet. They really make things as comfortable as possible for their guests.
The Hope Lodge is a great way to help those that need it. You are able to give them a money donation if you would like to help them with things that are needed for the building, but it is not required of you. They have volunteers daily that help them answer phones, make beds, clean, cook and everything else that help keep the place in shape for patients. I think all these people who volunteer their time are amazing!
If you have any other questions or would like more information about this lodge, you can call them at 1-715-486-9100. You do need a doctor’s referral to stay here, so make sure you get that before you go and try to stay at the Lodge. Once you walk in the Lodge you will feel comfortable as can be!
