When Hospice of Santa Barbara (HSB) officially opened its doors in 1974, it was at the forefront of a visionary movement. Only one other hospice existed in the United States at the time, and a group of Santa Barbara leaders committed to meeting the needs of people and families struggling with life-threatening illness or grieving the death of a loved one.
Over the past 50 years, HSB has served tens of thousands of people. Its commitment to the people of the community has stood strong and never wavered.
During this time, HSB has adapted and grown to meet the area’s changing needs, including crises and disasters the community has faced.
“I couldn’t be more proud of the work HSB has done with our community over the years,” said David Selberg, CEO, Hospice of Santa Barbara. “With the ongoing support of the community and local leaders, HSB has been able to pivot quickly to meet needs as they arise.”
However, as HSB looks to the future, it sees a changing landscape that impacts its mission. HSB is experiencing an unprecedented demand for its services and anticipates the demand will grow as the average age of community members increases, and more children are impacted by mental health challenges as well as significant loss.
Legacy of Compassion Campaign
During this 50th Anniversary year, HSB seeks to better ensure the long-term sustainability and resilience of its programs by launching the Legacy of Compassion Campaign with a goal of raising $1 million to meet the current demand for services, and to build a stronger foundation to address future needs.
“This year, during our 50th Anniversary, there is a special opportunity to make a difference by supporting HSB to ensure our free services continue to be available to anyone in need, both now and over the next 50 years,” said Charles Caldwell, director of Advancement at Hospice of Santa Barbara.
Sharing Stories, Legacy of Compassion: As a way to celebrate the extraordinary work that HSB has performed over the last 50 years, HSB is gathering video testimonials from supporters, volunteers, past leadership, partners, and clients/patients to paint a picture of the work HSB has done.
HSB is reaching out to community members to share their personal connections with HSB over the years. The video memories — personal anecdotes, insights, perspectives and stories — will be shared with the community to illustrate the deep dedication, connections, and love for this beloved organization over the years.
For more, visit https://www.tribute.co/hospiceofsb/.
Core Services
For many years, Hospice of Santa Barbara has been offering their core services freely, in English and Spanish, to hundreds of local children, families and seniors.
The Children’s Bereavement Services work with 17 local schools to provide compassionate counseling to children struggling through the loss of a parent, a beloved grandparent, or a friend. More than 20% of children will lose a parent or sibling by the age of 25.
HSB’s Adult Bereavement Services support seniors and other adults who have lost spouses, friends, or even children.
The third core service is Patient Care Services, which provides wraparound care and support to individuals and families when they receive the terrible news of a life-threatening diagnosis. HSB’s team of staff and volunteers help families navigate the medical system, provide emotional support, and offer practical solutions to real world challenges facing families.
Greatest needs are among the most vulnerable: Seniors and Youth
“By 2030, nearly one in five Californians will be age 65 or older,” according to the nonprofit Public Policy Institute of California. Termed the Silver Tsunami, Baby Boomers are expected to grow to 18% of the nation’s population from just 13% today, according to Pew Research Center population projections.
That senior percentage is closer to 20% in Santa Barbara.
“There is no question that people are living longer and that the population among seniors is growing,” said Selberg. “We need to act now to meet this need in the near future.”
For youth, a new U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) study published in the American Medical Association’s journal JAMA Pediatrics reports significant increases in the number of children diagnosed with mental health conditions. These mental health challenges exacerbate the struggles for children dealing with life-altering grief.
Flexibility and Effectiveness in Face of local Tragedy
The non-medical model under which HSB operates is not constrained by health insurance and/or reimbursement regulations, which allows HSB to place 100% of its focus on the individual and the family—to focus on compassion. This offers HSB a flexibility in prioritizing what is most needed and requested in our community, especially at times of tragedy.
And the greater Santa Barbara community has not been without its tragedies. The Goleta Post Office and Isla Vista shootings, the Thomas Fire and the Debris Flow shook the community. HSB was on hand to work with those who were impacted.
The COVID-19 pandemic served as another example of HSB’s flexibility and effective response in the face of a new and unexpected threat.
HSB’s Patient Care and Bereavement services pivoted to provide alternate service solutions. HSB created the illuminate Speaker Series, a free online series of speakers who addressed the feelings and questions that accompanied this challenging time.
50th Anniversary
As part of the Legacy of Compassion Campaign, HSB will celebrate its 50th Anniversary at its signature luncheon, Heroes of Hospice, Sunday, Sept. 15 at the Rosewood Miramar Beach.
Funds raised will support HSB’s core programs as well as recent and emerging initiatives such Advance Care Planning Initiative; Bereavement Services for Youth in the juvenile justice system; a relaunched NODA (No One Dies Alone) program that provides compassionate bedside presence to those actively dying with no family or friends; and increased grief counseling for local firefighters.
To support the campaign or for more information, visit their website or contact Charles Caldwell at ccaldwell@hospiceofsb.org.
For more information about Hospice of Santa Barbara, the Legacy of Compassion campaign or Hospice video testimonials call 805-563-8820 or visit www.hospiceofsantabarbara.org.