Peace at the End
We all deserve peace at the end of life. We want the best possible endings for those we love. To have a time of peace, comfort, support and dignity.
And we’d love to have the best possible memories for those left behind.
But that’s not the end-of-life experience for many in our communities.
Without peace at the end
Today, most deaths by natural causes happen in a hospital or skilled nursing facility. This means an emergency room, intensive care unit, rehabilitation unit or similar place. The patient is surrounded by machines, likely to be prodded or awakened at all hours. Not peaceful or dignified.
Even for deaths at home, the experience can be far from ideal. With loving but untrained family members exhausted and stressed by providing or supervising care for a person they love. This can bring arguments, panic, 9-1-1 calls, turf battles, medication mistakes and painful long-term memories.
With peace at the end
Each of us has time and makes space near the end of life for peace, comfort, support and dignity.
We have time and space,
- To be with those we love.
- To achieve, resolve and prepare.
- For meaningful conversations, fulfilling wishes and sharing stories and laughter.
- For quiet reflections.
- To reconcile, connect and support each other.
And we create the best possible memories for those left behind.
End-of-Life Care Homes
I’ve dedicated a lot of my time as a volunteer focusing on end-of-life care homes for men and women and families — helping to assure peace at the end.
Caring House
Caring House is an end-of-life care home in Torrance, CA, the first of its kind in Los Angeles County, CA. It’s an IRC 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to helping residents in the last weeks and days of their lives.
All residents receive hospice services from the hospice agency of their choice. Freed from caregiving duties, family and friends can spend their time supporting and connecting with their loved one and each other.
Caring House has six attractive private bedrooms in a home in a peaceful residential neighborhood. Residents/families are asked to help cover the costs of care to the best of their ability.
Patty (my wife) and were among the founders and we served as the volunteer management staff from opening in 2016 until early 2021. For more information see YourCaringHouse.org.
Hopewell House
Hopewell House is an end-of-life care home in Portland, OR, and re-opened in early 2023. It’s an IRC 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to helping residents in the last weeks and days of their lives.
All residents receive hospice services from the hospice agency of their choice. Freed from caregiving duties, family and friends can spend their time supporting and connecting with their loved one and each other.
Hopewell House has twelve attractive private bedrooms in a home in on a beautiful 4.5-acre property in SW Portland. Residents/families are asked to help cover the costs of care to the best of their ability. Hopewell House is able to accept Medicaid as payment for Medicaid-elibible residents.
Patty and I now live in Portland, OR, and are glad to support Hopewell House as volunteers and donors. For more information see HopewellHousePDX.org.
Omega Home Network
The Omega Home Network is a nonprofit national membership organization that promotes development and expansion of community homes people who are dying. Through information sharing, consultation and educational offerings, the Network provides direct assistance to those developing and operating homes in their communities.
Members of the network are independent homes for end-of-life care located across the U.S., either currently operating or in development. They vary in size, appearance and internal policies and operate under different state and local rules — but share a common foundation and philosophy.
For more information and to see if there’s an Omega Home in your area, see OmegaHomeNetwork.org.
Epilogue Foundation
I’m working with others to help create a new end-of-life care home guesthouse for Portland, OR. To learn more, see Epilogue Foundation.org.
