Hospice of Santa Barbara

11/13/2025

Just as we celebrated our loved ones' lives this past Día de los Mu***os, we can celebrate the way we choose to live — with intention, clarity, and love. 💜

Advance Care Planning isn’t just about death — it’s about how we want to live now and how we want to be remembered.

If you have completed an Advance Directive recently, share how it has helped you communicate your wishes and values.

Because to prepare is to empower.

Learn about how we are helping Santa Barbara residents live with intention this season here: https://www.getitdonesb.org/about-us.

11/13/2025

Congratulations to Sharon Vineall, LCSW, Bereavement Counselor, for 14 years with Hospice of Santa Barbara!

Sharon Vineall has been a licensed clinical social worker at Hospice of Santa Barbara since 2010, providing support to patients, clients, and families through Patient Care Services and Adult Bereavement Services. She first became familiar with HSB as a medical social worker at Cottage Hospital, serving patients and families coping with end of life circumstances. She attended a presentation given by HSB pioneer Gail Rink, and knew right away that she wanted to be part of the organization. Sharon’s primary specialty areas are perinatal loss and working with parents who have lost a partner. Sharon has an advanced certification in hospice and palliative care, specialized trauma training, and training in advance care directives. Sharon believes that self care is important in her profession, and she does this through meditation, swimming, reading, and time with family.

Thank you, Sharon!

11/11/2025

Honoring those who served at the Santa Barbara 2025 Veterans Day Ceremony.

11/11/2025

Just as we celebrated our loved ones' lives this past Día de los Mu***os, we can celebrate the way we choose to live — with intention, clarity, and love.💜Advance Care Planning isn’t just about death — it’s about how we want to live now and how we want to be remembered.

🎥 In this Spanish video, Lupita Rodríguez, a radio host at Radio Bronco, shares a moving reflection on the death of her mother and the impact that advance planning had before her passing. Through her story, Lupita reminds us that illness can strike at any time, and that planning ahead is an act of love and a gift to our loved ones. https://youtu.be/tri5VzM1Alo?si=FyjyaaQetJJVqUnS

For more information on Advance Care Planning, visit us at www.getitdonesb.org

Lupita Rodríguez, locutora de Radio Bronco, comparte una emotiva reflexión sobre la muerte de su mamá y el impacto que tuvo la planificación anticipada antes...

11/11/2025

Loving Working
by Naomi Shihab Nye

Work was a shining refuge when wind sank its tooth into my mind.
Everything you love is going away,
drifting, but you could sweep this stretch of floor,
this patio or porch, gather white stones in a bucket,
rake the patch for future planting, mop the counter
with a rag. Lovely wet gray rag, squeeze it hard
it does so much. Clear the yard of blowing bits of plastic.
The glory in the doing. Breath of the doing.
Sometimes the simplest move kept fear from
fragmenting into no energy at all, or sorrow from
multiplying, or sorrow from being the only person
living in the house.

11/08/2025

How do you talk about something as hard as death?
Start with love. 🕯️💜 Here’s a simple step-by-step guide to begin:

🪑 Find a quiet, safe space where you feel grounded and open.
💬 Share a memory or personal story — maybe about someone you’ve lost, or a moment that changed your view on life.
💞 Speak with love, listen without judgment — every voice matters.
👨‍👩‍👧 Include your family
🙏 Invite spiritual or community leaders if they are part of your support system.
Visit us at https://www.getitdonesb.org/having-the-conversation for more guidance on having ACP conversations with loved ones.

11/07/2025

“The reality is that you will grieve forever. You will not ‘get over’ the loss of a loved one; you will learn to live with it.”
— Elisabeth Kübler-Ross & David Kessler, On Grief and Grieving (2005)

What are your thoughts on this quote? Can you "get over" the loss of a loved one?

11/06/2025

Death gives life meaning. When we plan for the end, we’re choosing to live with purpose — and care for the people we love. 💜 An Advance Directive is a powerful way to honor your values, your culture, and your legacy — with dignity.

Paloma Espino from Sarah House shares a profound reflection on the universal value of life. There's one universal truth in this life: we are all going to die, and time is so short. I think we would all appreciate being able to say, "I want to talk about this topic with joy, and of course we're going to cry. I'm going to miss you, and you're going to miss me."

Learn more about what Advance Care Planning can do for your loved ones at www.getitdonesb.org.

11/04/2025

Today, we celebrate Día de los Mu***os — a time to remember and honor those who came before us. 🕯️💐

Thank you to everyone who shared photos of your beautiful altars. Each one tells a story of love, loss, tradition, and resilience. They show that we carry our loved ones with us, not just in memory, but in everything we do.

💜 May their light continue to guide us.

***os

11/03/2025

💬 “I don’t need an Advance Directive... I’m not leaving anything behind.” Have you ever felt this way? You’re not alone.
💜 Advance Care Planning is not about giving up. It’s about honoring your voice, your dignity, and your story.
🗣️ ACP opens space for real conversations so we can be ready for life’s uncertainties with clarity and care.

Our team member Maritza speaks from the heart about what it means when someone says they have “nothing to leave behind” — and why your wishes are more than enough: “Many people think about material things like houses, money, or inheritances, but the reality is that there is something far more valuable we can leave behind: clarity, peace, and love for our loved ones. Planning ahead and ensuring that our wishes are known is a tremendous gift.”
Visit us at https://www.getitdonesb.org/having-the-conversation for tips on having ACP conversations with loved ones.

11/01/2025

💭 "I'll just let my kids decide for me."
We hear this often in our work at Get It Done SB and Mi Regalo — especially from elderly parents who trust their adult children deeply. But what if we shifted the conversation?

What if end-of-life planning wasn’t just about preparing for death... but about protecting our values, our loved ones, and our legacy?

🎥 In this Spanish video, Fernanda from Hospice of Santa Barbara talks to our Latino community about why some elders prefer to leave decisions to their children — and why creating an Advance Directive is actually a gift that makes those decisions clearer, kinder, and more aligned with your cultural and spiritual values. https://youtu.be/Gz3RAIGpCa4?si=yzyfAEL-avxj2qGr

Visit us at https://www.getitdonesb.org/what-is-advanced-care-planning for more information on Advance Care Planning!

En este video, Fernanda Friden de Hospice of Santa Barbara comparte la historia de cómo su padre, les dejó un legado claro sobre sus deseos al morir. Su comu...

10/31/2025

Thank you to Carpinteria Womans Club and Marybeth and Geri Carty for being champions of our Advance Care Planning initiatives and hosting workshops for their residents! In collaboration with Get It Done SB, Carpinteria Woman's Club has helped Carpinteria residents give the gift of love to family by completing an Advance Directive.

You can learn more about Carpinteria Woman's Club’s work here: https://www.carpinteriawomansclub.com/

To learn more about our Advance Care Planning services, you can visit the links below:
Get It Done SB! (English) - https://www.getitdonesb.org/
Mi Regalo (Spanish) - https://www.miregalo.org/