A New Home for Care, Connection, and Support
Blue Ridge Care officially celebrated the opening of its Hope Campus on Thursday, June 11, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony held in partnership with the Top of Virginia Regional Chamber.
The afternoon was warm — 91 degrees, with a heat index of 96 — but the heat did not dampen the spirit of the celebration. Guests gathered outside for the ceremonial ribbon cutting before heading into the Blue Ridge Independence at Home PACE Center to cool off, tour the space, and see firsthand how the Hope Campus is helping shape the future of care in our region.
One Campus, Many Ways to Care
The Hope Campus brings together several Blue Ridge Care programs in one place, including our Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) at Blue Ridge Independence at Home; our Community Grief Support Services at the Center for Hope & Healing; Volunteer Services; and our new Supportive Care Program.
Together, these programs reflect Blue Ridge Care’s strategic vision: to build a more comprehensive, accessible, and coordinated system of care for individuals and families navigating aging, caregiving, serious illness, grief, and end-of-life.
Mayor Les Veach congratulated Blue Ridge Care and expressed gratitude for the work we do. "Forty-five years of providing compassionate care and services to our region, now with the expanding campus and expanded services, we're going to be able to reach more of our families, friend, loved ones — and that means a lot to us," said Mayor Veach.
A Closer Look at PACE
During the reception, guests had the opportunity to tour the PACE Center and learn more about how the program supports older adults who want to remain living safely at home and in their community.
Our Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) provides coordinated, comprehensive care for adults age 55 and older who meet nursing-home level-of-care requirements but are able to live safely in the community with support. Through an interdisciplinary team, participants receive medical care, therapy, social engagement, meals, transportation, personal care, medication support, and other services designed around their individual needs.
Dr. Landrio spoke with guests about how the clinic functions and how the PACE model allows care teams to provide proactive, person-centered support. Instead of requiring participants and families to navigate many different providers and systems on their own, PACE brings the care team together around the person.
How PACE is Changing Lives
Jason Parsons, President and CEO of Blue Ridge Care, shared that in a recent participant survey, PACE participants rated their quality of life 2.2 out of 5 before joining PACE and 4.4 out of 5 after becoming part of the program. “Just for a moment, think about somebody in your family, and if they were to imagine their quality of life doubling — that’s an amazing thing,” said Jason.
Then Jason introduced Darlene Hamby, one of Blue Ridge Independence at Home’s first PACE participants.
For Darlene, that difference is deeply personal.
She spoke during the event about what PACE has meant to her and to many others in the program — offering not only care, but connection, dignity, support, and a renewed sense of possibility.
“I simply couldn’t envision having friends and a loving family,” Darlene shared. “But then I remember one day thinking I couldn’t wait to see my friends at PACE that day — I really said friends. It startled me, but I said it! Most of us have decided our family here is a family of choice. And that’s the kind of camaraderie we’ve built.”
“We relish the nourishing of our souls and spirits. We receive our medical care, transportation to outside medical needs, and delicious meals. Activities, physical therapy, and not to mention the therapy dogs and sing-alongs!”
“Speaking on behalf of myself and fellow PACE participants, PACE has impacted us beyond belief. I have felt my hard heart soften, my symptom tolerance expand, and I am full of hope — right here on Hope Campus.”
Building Toward the Future of Care
The Hope Campus is more than a collection of programs. It represents a continued investment in the kind of care Blue Ridge Care believes every person deserves: care that is easier to access, better coordinated, deeply compassionate, and centered on quality of life.
As our region continues to grow and the needs of older adults, caregivers, and families become more complex, Blue Ridge Care is focused on building services that meet people earlier, support them more fully, and help them remain connected to the people, places, and routines that matter most.
The Hope Campus is an important step in that work.
A Milestone Made Possible by Many
We are grateful to the Top of Virginia Regional Chamber, our board members, community partners, team members, volunteers, participants, families, and supporters, and everyone who joined us to celebrate this milestone.
Most of all, we are grateful for the opportunity to keep building a future where aging and serious illness are met with extraordinary care for all.
