First Dedicated Hospice House in City of St. Louis Coming to Barnes-Jewish Hospital

Evelyn’s House at Barnes-Jewish Hospital, the first dedicated hospice house in the City of St. Louis, is expected to open in 2028 on the Washington University Medical Campus, expanding access to specialized end-of-life care for patients and families across the region.

The new 12-bed hospice house builds on the success of the original Evelyn’s House, a 16-bed hospice house that opened in 2017 on the campus of Barnes-Jewish West County Hospital in Creve Coeur. For nearly a decade, Evelyn's House has provided patients and families with expert hospice care in a warm, home-like setting designed to support comfort, dignity, and quality of life.

As demand for hospice services continues to grow, BJC HealthCare is expanding this proven model to better serve patients and families in the city and surrounding communities. The new facility will be located on the site of the former Barnes Lodge. Construction is expected to begin in 2027.

The project is made possible through the generosity of community donors. Evelyn's House is named in memory of Evelyn Newman, a respected St. Louis community leader whose vision for compassionate end-of-life care continues to shape hospice services across the region. Leading gifts from Peggy and Andy Newman, Aja and Pat Stokes, Barbara and Andy Taylor, Jim Hunter, and Pam and Ron Rubin, through The Foundation for Barnes-Jewish Hospital, are helping bring the new hospice house to life.

“Evelyn’s House at Barnes-Jewish Hospital, like the original Evelyn’s House in Creve Coeur, is a direct response to what our community has told us they need,” says Patrick White, MD, PhD, chief medical officer of BJC Home Care and director of the Division of Palliative Medicine at WashU Medicine. More families are seeking hospice care that provides comfort, dignity, and expert support during life's final chapter. Thanks to the generosity of our donors, Evelyn's House at Barnes-Jewish Hospital will expand access to a model of care that supports not only patients, but the loved ones walking alongside them."

Meeting a growing need

BJC HealthCare is the region’s largest provider of hospice care. Over the past five years, the number of patients receiving inpatient hospice care within BJC hospitals has doubled, with the greatest growth occurring at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Christian Hospital.

While hospitals are designed to provide intensive treatment for acute illness, hospice patients often benefit from an environment focused on comfort, family presence, and quality of life. Evelyn's House at Barnes-Jewish Hospital will provide that dedicated setting, offering expert symptom management and around-the-clock support.

“The need for hospice care in our region has grown significantly, and Evelyn’s House at Barnes-Jewish Hospital will help meet that need by providing a peaceful environment designed specifically for end-of-life care,” says Nick Barto, president and CEO of BJC Health. “It will give patients a dedicated hospice environment closer to where they live, allowing more families to remain close to one another at a time when every moment matters.”

Designed around patients and families

The specialized care philosophy and thoughtful design features at Evelyn’s House in Creve Coeur will be duplicated in the new hospice house. Planned features include a gathering room with fireplace, a family kitchen and dining room, gardens, family lounges, and spaces designed to encourage reflection, connection, and support. Every element is intended to create a welcoming environment where patients and families can focus on spending meaningful time together.

A tradition that began at the original Evelyn's House will continue, as well: ice cream will always be available to guests. Inspired by Evelyn Newman's well-known spirit of hospitality, the simple gesture has become a symbol of the warmth and comfort that define the experience at Evelyn's House.

“We’re pleased this successful hospice care model is growing to embrace even more families in the community, offering comfort and celebrating life,” says Andy Newman. “In the new hospice house, we’ve ensured that design elements will align with the warmth, thoughtful details, and beautiful finishes of the original Evelyn’s House. We’re excited to be part of this next step in hospice care.”

Building on a broader commitment to serious illness care

For more than a decade, Aja and Pat Stokes have been champions of efforts to advance hospice and palliative care in St. Louis. Their philanthropy has helped support education, research, and innovation in serious illness and end-of-life care while improving access to high-quality care for patients and families.

“BJC has created a hospice model that challenges the status quo to improve end-of-life care,” Pat Stokes says. “Evelyn’s House at Barnes-Jewish Hospital is an evolution of knowledge and experience, creating a truly exceptional place to receive end-of-life care in our community.”

Evelyn's House at Barnes-Jewish Hospital is part of BJC's broader commitment to improving care for people living with serious illness and their families. That work is advanced by the Liekweg Family Palliative and Supportive Care Institute at BJC HealthCare, led by Dr. White, a nationally recognized hospice and palliative care expert. The Institute brings together clinical care, education, and research to strengthen how patients and families are supported throughout serious illness and at the end of life. It was recently named after Richard J. Liekweg, who retired as BJC’s CEO in 2025, his wife, Stacey, and their daughter, Caroline. It was previously established as the BJC Palliative and Supportive Care Institute in 2019 through a collaboration of WashU Medicine, BJC HealthCare, Barnes-Jewish Hospital, and The Foundation for Barnes-Jewish Hospital.

One of Liekweg’s significant accomplishments was elevating palliative and hospice care as a strategic priority across the organization. Under his leadership, BJC unified its eight hospital palliative care programs and integrated the organizational structure with WashU Medicine, creating a coordinated approach to delivering compassionate, high-quality care for patients with serious illness.

Together, the Institute and the expansion of Evelyn's House represent what Barto believes is an important next chapter for hospice and palliative care in the region.

“Evelyn’s House changed what hospice care could look like in our community,” he says. “This next chapter brings that same compassionate model to the heart of St. Louis.”