When Pacifica House opened in July 2013, it was a special place of solace for the mind, body, and spirit, where family members could come for special care of a terminally ill loved one. Careful consideration has gone into the maintenance of the facility since that time, and, on October 13, 2017, a newly remodeled Pacifica House received a Blessing from Reverend Doran Stambaugh.
TURNING THE HOUSE INTO A HOME
The remodel has made Pacifica House into even more of a “home” by including more family-friendly spaces. A number of well-appointed indoor and outdoor spaces have thoughtfully been created where families can share emotions with other families, if they so desire, or they can just find places for quiet seclusion when needed.
STEVIE THE BLACK LAB HOUSE DOG
Stevie, a special dog trained to provide comfort and solace to patients, is a resident at Pacifica House and was there for the grand re-opening, along with the Clinical Manager of the property and the Chaplain of the Palliative Center at Scripps Encinitas. Dogs such as Stevie and those trained by Therapy Dogs International (TDI) can provide a loving companionship that enhances the quality of an end-of-life transition for patients and their families. Just being around a loving furry friend can help bring peace and joy. Through hospice experiences, the animals can often “sense” the process the terminally ill patient is going through as each new stage is reached.
ADDITIONAL COMPLEMENTARY THERAPIES
In addition to the loving presence and comradery of Stevie, other therapies to calm the soul and nurture the spirit include massage and art therapy. Music therapy can also be employed to help create a comfortable and serene sense of peace.
Hospice of the North Coast has taken lessons learned from previous experiences at Pacifica House and implemented new strategies with reconstructed spaces to offer the highest quality environment for terminally ill patients and their families.
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