Our Mission: To care for anyone experiencing the impact 
of a life-threatening illness or grieving the death of a loved one.
Hospice of Santa Barbara is deeply saddened by the nightclub shooting in Orlando and extends its heartfelt thoughts and prayers to the victims, their families and members of the LGBT community impacted by this senseless tragedy and painful loss. Unfortunately, here in the greater Santa Barbara Community, we have also had more than our share of unspeakable violence, including the shootings in Isla Vista and the Goleta Post Office facility. Other similar occurrences, such as Orlando, can be emotionally triggering for many of us. Emotions can include feelings of shock, numbness, anxiety, anger and fatigue, in addition to physical sensations and thoughts of confusion or disbelief. Normal reactions in the aftermath of violent events can also involve profound sadness, worry, and heightened vigilance. We urge you to take good care of yourselves and to reach out to family, friends, and, of course, all of us at Hospice of Santa Barbara when you need us.
 
Be well,
David Selberg, CEO


Local Artist Gary Chafe Exhibition to Benefit 
Hospice of Santa Barbara
It was great seeing everyone at the open house reception for the opening of local artist Gary Chafe's new art exhibition at our Leigh Block Gallery. We're proud to be able to have it on display through July 29 and so grateful Gary will donate 25% of the proceeds from his art sales to Hospice of Santa Barbara.

You can schedule a viewing of the exhibit at Hospice of Santa Barbara -- 2050 Alameda Padre Serra, Suite #100, Santa Barbara - by calling (805) 563-8820.

Most of Gary's exhibit was created prior to his diagnosis of Lewy Body Dementia, a neurological disorder that affects movements and presents neuropsychiatric symptoms. With his work, Chafe depicts scenes of Santa Barbara landscapes, cityscapes, personal experiences and the town's personalities through monotype prints and oil paintings.

Gary continues to reside in Santa Barbara while in transitional hospice care, along with assistance from his daughter. He is a well-regarded artist in the Santa Barbara area.

 
Faces of Hospice of Santa Barbara
Volunteer Arlene Radasky

Arlene Radasky felt more and more helpless as she watched a close friend suffer from a fatal illness, uncertain how to discuss the condition and even what to talk about with her. But following the death of this loved one, Arlene vowed she would never allow this uncertainty to get in the way again. She came to Hospice of Santa Barbara in 2004 to receive volunteer training, and she said she feels as if she has been home ever since.
 
Arlene's years as a Patient Care Volunteer have taken her into the lives of patients throughout the community to do anything from giving rides to medical appointments to helping them around the house. But no matter what, Arlene includes that 'human touch' during her time with patients by providing compassionate support and reducing feelings of isolation. Arlene recalls one patient who could no longer speak, but would enjoy going through family photos with her.
 
"I'm always honored to get to be there when patients and their families are brave enough to ask and reach out for help," said Arlene. "Disease and death affect families detrimentally, and being part of where they can get help is really special."

Fall 2016 Volunteer Training 

Interested in providing emotional, social and practical support to people with life-threatening illnesses and their families? Volunteer with the Hospice of Santa Barbara.
 
Patient Care Volunteers play a vital part of the Hospice of Santa Barbara Team as they provide companionship, respite care, transportation, household help and other support services to patients and clients.
 
Those interested in volunteering must attend the training series, which will be held on six consecutive Wednesdays starting Sept. 28.
Application deadline is Sept. 15. Seating is limited.
 
Date: Wednesdays, Sept. 28 - Nov. 2 
Time:  12 pm - 3 pm
Location: Hospice of Santa Barbara 2050 Alameda Padre Serra, Suite #100, Santa Barbara 93103
 
To learn more about volunteer opportunities, please visit hospiceofsantabarbara.org or contact Nicole Romasanta, Director of Volunteer Services, at (805) 563-8820.
Support Groups
Survivors of Suicide
1st and Third Thursday evenings of the month

Widow/Widowers Support Group
2nd, 4th Mon (Evening); 
1st, 3rd Thu (Daytime)
 
Healing the Loss of a Loved One 
2nd, 4th Mon (Evening) 
1st, 3rd Thu (Day) 
T uesday Evenings (2nd and 4th)
 
Ongoing Support Groups
Thank you for all that you do to support our work!

It is a remarkable privilege to witness the difference we make for those we serve on a daily basis. It is only through your generosity that we can accomplish all that we do and will do in the future.

AT CAPACITY
'Being Fully Awake in Life & Death'
Venerable Dr. Barry Kerzin   

July 1, 7 p.m. 
The New Vic Theatre, 33 W. Victoria St.  

Venerable Dr. Barry Kerzin, physician to His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, will share basic techniques to increase awareness, enhance life experience and learn to be fully present in each moment. The event is now at capacity.

Presented by the Alliance for Living and Dying Well
 
Click here for more.    
 
Spotlight: 
Community Education
We offer a wide array of educational opportunities, both for health-care professionals and for the larger community.

Caregiver support, school and community outreach are just some of the ways we reach out to educate and inform.   
Learn more here. 
Contact Us
Hospice of Santa Barbara
2050 Alameda Padre Serra
Ste. 100
Santa Barbara, CA 93103

Phone: (805) 563-8820
Fax: (805) 563-8821

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Hospice of Santa Barbara uses Cutting Edge Therapy
Which Has Proven Successful for Veterans with PTSD


With National PTSD Day June 27, Hospice of Santa Barbara is proud its counselors are able to utilize EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) - a short-term treatment modality utilizing eye movement to process trauma. This therapy has proven especially effective for veterans with PTSD. 

Trauma gets stored in a part of the brain (the hippocampus) with all the original raw and vivid imagery sensations and thoughts. During EMDR, this material gets re-processed and stored in to different "files" of the brain, allowing the client to become more objective about the trauma. Clients come to a place of being able to remember the trauma without being flooded by painful and disturbing images and sensations. This technique is completely non-invasive and involves something called dual stimulation using bilateral eye movements, tones or taps. During the reprocessing phases the client recalls past memories, present triggers, or anticipated future experiences while simultaneously focusing on a set of external stimulus. During that time, clients generally experience the emergence of insight, changes in memories, or new more positive associations.

Several Hospice of Santa Barbara counselors have been trained and certified in EMDR and are using it with their clients with great effectiveness. Clients often report feeling comforted and relieved in a way that talk therapy alone is unable to do.