Carlsbad CA— Hospice of the North Coast (HNC’s) Pacifica House is a sanctuary for the terminally ill and a blessing for the entire North County community. Newly reconstructed to better serve the needs of end-of life patients receiving symptom management care and their families, on October 13, 2017 Pacifica House welcomed dozens of guests to a Blessing followed by tours.

Led by the convivial Reverend Doran Stambaugh, an HNC Board member and Priest-in-Charge at St. Michael’s By-the-Sea Episcopal Church, the Blessing was both spiritual and spirited. Father Doran, who said he is committed to the “holy work of hospice,” confided, “I typically perform blessings for people’s homes. But this Pacifica House sacred space is in fact a home. It is a gift to people when they need it; beautifully remodeled to be more purposeful and family-friendly.”
In addition to HNC board members and staff, the people gathered together for the Blessing represented a microcosm of the caring North County community, including selfless Pacifica House volunteers, medical and community partners, grateful families of current and former patients, and of course Stevie, the Black Lab house dog, specially trained to provide solace, comfort and joy.
Located on a tranquil street in “Olde” Carlsbad, the six-suite Pacifica House now offers not only homey amenities such as a full kitchen and dining room, but a variety of gracious indoor and outdoor spaces where families can share their experiences and emotions with other families or in quiet seclusion. To date, more than 750 patients and families have been welcomed.
Touring the home with Pacifica House Clinical Manager Rachel Rivadeneyra, Bill Harman, Chaplain of the Palliative Center at Scripps Encinitas, said, “I attended the July 2013 opening and was delighted to see a facility like this in North County, as it is so needed. I love the repurposing. It has made it so much more open and welcoming. Not just a facility, but a home.”
Nonprofit Hospice of the North Coast was established in 1980 to fill the need for comprehensive, compassionate hospice care in North County San Diego. Since its inception, it has grown in services that include global partner Nkhoma Palliative Care in Malawi, a resale store in Encinitas, Pathways Palliative Care, Hope Bereavement Center and Pacifica House, the only in-patient acute symptom management facility in North County. For more information, visit www.hospicenorthcoast.org