Those who choose to live out their final days at Walter Reed Army Medical Center have few options for a place to spend special time with their families. There was no designated area for a family member to sleep while on vigil, except in a bedside chair. The new Palliative Care room along with a family/patient lounge allow for patients to spend the last weeks of their lives in comfort and dignity with family keeping a loving vigil. The interior remodel reflects extensive research into current best-practices for patients to receive quality care, while being treated in a soothing environment equipped with state-of-the-art technology, conveniences and comforts of home. Designed to be comfortable, visitors will find a sense of familiarity and comfort in the room through the careful selection of furnishings that appear residential in nature. The careful selection of color creates a smooth interplay of warm and cool tones, also increasing comfort. Amenities include modern kitchens and bathrooms, sofa beds for family members, flat-screen televisions, DVD and CD players. In addition computers with Internet access which are provided and become an resource for information and online support groups that help patients and their families understand the illness they face.
