Casa de la Luz provides a complete program of hospice services.  We specialize in home hospice care and offer a unique Inpatient Unit and Tucson's only hospice residential home -- Kanmar Place.

Our goal at Casa de la Luz Hospice is to allow those facing terminal illness to remain in their own homes.  While most patients prefer to stay in their own homes, we also care for many in nursing homes or assisted living facilities, as well as at our free-standing Inpatient Unit or at our residential hospice home, Kanmar Place. Because we have the flexibility of providing care in any setting, adjustments in arrangements can be made throughout the course of each patient's illness, if needed.

People are often surprised at the level of in-home care they receive from Casa de la Luz Hospice:

	Physician and nursing care;
	Unmatched expertise in pain and symptom management;
	24-hour availability;
	All medications, equipment, and disposable supplies pertaining to the illness;
	Extensive counseling services;
	Crisis care and respite care on an around-the-clock basis, when necessary and if preferred over an inpatient admission;
	Volunteer services including companionship, friendly visiting, and running of errands;
	Bereavement care, which includes counseling for family members for at least one year following the patient's death.

Kanmar Place

"Thank you for your  conscientious care of Mom over the last five months of her life.  We will always be grateful you were there when Mom was ready to go Home."

Susan, beloved daughter of a former Kanmar place resident

Kanmar Place, Tucson's first and only residential hospice home, provides specialized care to individuals who are facing a life-limiting illness.  An environment of compassion and caring is created, where a resident may live with dignity and self-worth.  Kanmar's team offers physical, emotional, and spiritual support to the resident and their family.  Superior care is provided to residents by trained hospice caregivers, nurses, physicians, and volunteers to make daily life as comfortable as possible.

Dr. Ira Byock,
author of Dying Well

People approaching the end of life have taught us that pain is rarely purely physical, nor is it best treated by medications alone. For many persons, suffering is caused by a combination of physical pain and discomfort, and spiritual and emotional distress.

A holistic approach to care recognizes that pain and suffering are best relieved when the whole person - body, mind, and spirit - is considered. Therefore, Casa de la Luz Hospice is pleased to offer an array of gentle, non-invasive complementary therapies of benefit to the whole person.

Complementary therapies are provided by trained Casa volunteers and some professional Casa staff. They are available to both patients and their caregivers.

Meditation and Guided Imagery promote peace and relaxation by quieting the mind and calling upon our deepest inner resources. At your request, the hospice spiritual counselor or social worker can assist you with meditation instruction and guided imagery.

Energy Therapies follow the ancient spiritual tradition of the "laying on of hands" to cleanse, balance, and restore harmony to the human energy field. Casa offers the energy therapies of Reiki and Healing Touch. In receiving either modality, a person may be fully clothed, and seated or lying down. These techniques often bring a sense of deep relaxation and peace.

Massage Therapy can provide great comfort to the physical body, relieving backaches, headaches, general muscle strain, and fatigue. Other therapeutic effects are increased relaxation, sleep promotion, and decreased stress and anxiety. Massage meets the universal human need for touch, offering a powerful means of communicating presence, comfort, and love. If it is not appropriate for the whole body to be massaged the hands, feet, back, head, neck, and shoulders may still be treated to this gift of touch.

Therapeutic Music transcends the world of form, uplifting our spirits to a place of peace. Music can evoke pleasant memories and associations, decrease stress, and promote rest and sleep. Several musicians, including a Native American Flute player, offer therapeutic music to patients and loved ones. Our spiritual counselors also enjoy offering spiritually uplifting music.

Therapeutic Animal Visitation is a regular activity at Kanmar Place and private pet visits can be arranged at your home on request. The unconditional love, delightful characters and antics of pets bring joy to those whose lives they touch. Pets elicit love, laughter, and compassion, as well as conversation and play. They are a cure for loneliness and isolation. Research shows that simply petting a dog can induce calm, reducing blood pressure and heart rate.

"One afternoon I came across a grieving visitor sitting outside alone.  My dog, Scout eased her way towards the woman and faced her directly. The visitor looked at Scout, put her arms around her neck and began to sob.  As her ride arrived, the woman thanked Scout for her kindness: 'You wonderful, wonderful dog! Thank you!'"

Kelly, a Casa nurse offering
Therapeutic Animal Visitation

As a person adjusts to their loss, counseling and support services can be a guide through some of the challenges of grieving. Grief support and counseling are provided at Casa de la Luz Hospice by professionals. Self-help groups are available for participants to support one another.

Casa de la Luz Hospice bereavement groups provide grief support to the community, regardless of whether their loved one was cared for by our hospice or not.

All groups are open to the public and free of charge, however, donations to the Casa de la Luz Foundation will be gratefully accepted.