Our mission is to improve the quality of life of those with life-limiting illness by providing guidance and warm, loving, supportive help to a dying person and family, and to keep intact the dignity, integrity and personal choices of the individual. One of only a handful of all-volunteer hospice organizations in the country, Hospice of San Juan focuses on the needs of individuals and families trying to cope with the reality of death as an approaching part of life's journey.  We offer five main program areas: direct patient care and caregiver respite; grief support; community and volunteer education; Music & Memory matching; and durable medical equipment lending.  Founded in 1984 by a small group of dedicated island nurses and caregivers, we received non-profit status in 1985 and Federal 501(c) status in 1993 and currently work both independently and alongside Medicare-funded hospice services that come from Skagit County.     

What we do:

Grief support – our Winter/Spring grief support group has been consistently filled for the past 3 years.  Rosa Blair, a professional grief support counselor, runs this 6-week, pre-registration session.  Additionally, we have an Autumn "handling holiday grief" session, which is open to everyone on a walk-in basis. Other sessions are scheduled during the year that address other topics such as anticipatory grief (contact us for more info)
Compassion Fatigue Roundtable
Patricia Smith, founder of CompassionFatigue.org, created much interest about how to manage compassion fatigue when speaking to the 25 attendees of our Spring Training.  Following up on that interest, she now embarks upon a bi-monthly Compassion Fatigue Roundtable beginning in October. 
This new program offer an opportunity to earn more about compassion fatigue, burnout and stress, as well as a place to share our self-care and healing Best Practices as well as troubleshoot body, mind and spirit issues blocked by loss and grief. Please watch for further information on the Compassion Fatigue Roundtable. If you have questions or suggestions, please contact Patricia Smith at patricia@compassionfatigue.org
Education – great interest in caregiver training and self care (all shown to have a positive impact on the end-of-life experience and use of the health care system) exists.  Hospice of San Juan provides multifaceted and up-to-date training and education opportunities for its volunteers as well as the community to address issues surrounding end of life care and decision making. Many people desire greater control over their ability to live and die in their own homes, or assist loved ones or clients facing that process. We strive to provide the educational tools needed in that effort.  Contact us if you are interested in joining any of our training sessions! 
Durable medical equipment lending – Hospice of San Juan maintains a storage locker filled with lending items that homebound individuals might need, yet find difficult to obtain from off-island.  Approximately 10% of lending goes to our patients, with the remaining 90% benefitting the wider community, enabling people to access important equipment that might make a difference in their ability to remain at home.  Our volunteers sanitize and repair items upon return. Lending can be arranged by phoning us at 360.472.0322
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The Music & Memory program taps into music's ability to combat memory loss or debilitating effects of chronic illness and restore a deep sense of self to those suffering from life limiting conditions. We joined this national movement to train our volunteers so that they may bring music to people in need of hope and joy, uniting with several organizations in our community in an effort to improve quality of life for Long Term Care residents as well as other community members. 
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Direct patient care and caregiver respite - Hospice of San Juan provides services specifically designed for the needs of those with life limiting conditions. Our trained volunteers become part of a team working with individuals and their families, primary caregivers, physicians and home health to:
  • provide care and comfort services for patients and their families or primary caregivers free of charge, with one or two of the volunteers serving as the patient’s Team Leader and primary contact for the patient and family
  • arrange up to two-hour visits, with frequency depending upon the family’s needs and the volunteers’ availability
  • coordinate visit schedules to accommodate needs of patient and family as well as Team volunteers
  • use Universal Precaution Procedures (i.e. wearing gloves) whenever appropriate to reduce risk of infectious disease transmission
  • engage in general supportive activities for the patient/family such as reading to the patient, writing letters, playing music or games, organizing, or providing other assistance as needed to enhance the patient’s comfort or quality of life
  • perform light household duties (make beds, wash dishes, vacuum, dust, laundry), walk dogs, or help with light yard chores
  • deliver “light” hand or foot massage when authorized by the patient’s primary caregiver, nurse or other medical provider
  • assist patients with personal care, such as grooming, and dressing (volunteers customarily do not assist patients with changing bandages, bathing, showering, washing hair, shaving with a razor, or contact lenses care)
  • feed patients when authorized by the patient’s primary care- giver, nurse, or other medical providers
  • offer access to other services such as grief support, durable medical equipment lending, art and/or music therapy
  • help with other specialized services as needed
If you need any of our services, call 360.472.0322 or email info@hospiceofsanjuan.org