Board approves conveyance of Bedford Hospice House to Good Samaritan Hospice

The Bedford County Board of Supervisors voted July 28 to convey the hospice house at the Falling Creek complex to Good Samaritan Hospice, with the deed including a reversion clause if hospice services cease.

County staff explained the property was originally donated in 2015 to Bedford Memorial Hospital for hospice use with a reversion clause; after the previous operator ceased services the property reverted to the county earlier in 2026 and staff solicited nonprofit operators. "We determined that Good Samaritan Hospice would be a good fit for that building," County counsel/administrator Dr. Skelly told the board.

Aaron Hausch, CEO of Good Samaritan Hospice, said the nonprofit — which he said has provided hospice and palliative care for 34 years — plans to invest in the facility and reopen it as a residential hospice house. "We saw this as an opportunity to preserve what had been built so long ago by the Friends of Bedford Hospice House in this community," Hausch said.

Members of the Friends of Bedford Hospice House and local residents spoke in support. John Messier, a member of the Friends group, told the board the organization raised about $1.6 million to build and furnish the facility in the early 2000s and urged the supervisors to approve the transfer so the house can serve hospice patients again.

The board approved resolution R072826‑03 on a roll call vote. Chair and members thanked the Friends group and Good Samaritan Hospice for their work and partnership.

What’s next: the deed will include the same reversion language that returns the property to the county if hospice services cease, and it allows the county a role in approving any successor operator.