Administrative and Community Services BuildingWilliam M. Dunlap Center for CaringTransitions LifeCare was founded as Hospice of Wake County in 1979.  This end-of-life agency provides physical, emotional and spiritual care to those living with an advanced illness, their caregivers and those who have lost a loved one.  Back in 1979, Dr. Billy Dunlap and two nurses met in the basement of a private home.  Thirty years later, we have our own facility, located on eight acres of North Carolina State University land.  End-of-life is experienced throughout your own community – a community of family, colleagues, neighbors, loved ones.  Support is available in many different and appropriate forms, from hospice to palliative care, transitional support, and grief support.

History

• [1977] Dr. Billy Dunlap, a hematologist and oncologist in Raleigh, reads an article on the hospice movement. He realizes the need for services for terminal patients in the Triangle. He attends an organizational meeting of a grassroots movement for hospice care in the Triangle also attended by Kathleen Townsend, a primary-care nurse at Rex Hospital. They become the founding members of the first Board of Directors of Hospice of Wake County, along with Derenda James, a nurse at Wake Med.
• [1979] Hospice of Wake County is started by Dr. Dunlap, with one staff member and 20 volunteers. The first patient is admitted, a young child with leukemia. Five more patients are served that year.
• [1980-2000] Hospice of Wake County institutes a popular annual fundraiser, Oktoberfest.
• [1988] Hospice of Wake County receives Medicare.
• [1989] Hospice of Wake County has 25 staff members and 227 volunteers, serves 257 patients, and makes 9,600 patient visits.
• [1990] Hospice of Wake County’s yearly budget exceeds $1 million for the first time.
• [1992] Horizons Home Health program launched. Hospice of Wake County Board of Directors creates Hospice of Wake County Foundation, Inc.
• [1993] Hospice of Wake County’s Reflections program, a child-focused grief counseling service, is initiated.
• [1999] Hospice of Wake County has 60 staff members and 250 volunteers, serves 690 patients, and makes 23,700 patient visits.
• [2005] Horizons Palliative Care program launched. Marketing begins on Build Hospice capital campaign private phase.
• [2007] North Carolina’s Council of State awards 8.7 acres of land for the area’s first independent, free-standing hospice facility to be built off Trinity Road, Cary.
• [2009] Hospice of Wake County celebrates 30 years on February 6 with staff, volunteers, Board members and special guests. In attendance were two of the founders, Dr. Billy Dunlap and Kathleen Townsend.
• [2010] Hospice of Wake County opens the area's first freestanding hospice facility.  Hospice of Wake County is inducted into the Raleigh Hall of Fame.
• [2011] Hospice of Wake County and Hospice of Harnett County merge to enhance access to non-profit hospice care.  On May 24, Hospice of Wake County's campus was dedicated as the Reid S. Towler Campus, thanks to the generosity of Mr. Towler and his $1 million gift in 2010.  Hospice of Harnett County celebrates 25 years on November 6 with staff, volunteers, Board members and special guests. 
• [2012] Hospice of Wake County surpasses 300 hospice patients on daily census for the first time. Adult bereavement services offered in Harnett, Johnston counties.

• [2013] Board of Directors approves name change to Transitions LifeCare to better reflect offerings of more than “hospice” care and service to patients well beyond “Wake County.” Hospice of Wake County named a 2013 Hospice Honors recipient, recognizing it as one of the top 100 agencies nationwide.

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  [2013-14] Construction of Veterans Garden to honor those who have so bravely served in the military.