Friday, February 14, 2025
Scott’s House, located in Santa Fe, New Mexico, is a one-of-a-kind non-profit organization offering a unique social model hospice dedicated to providing free end-of-life and respite care in a home-like setting. As the only facility of its kind currently in the state, Scott’s House offers a compassionate environment for individuals nearing the end of life or in need of temporary respite care.
In this interview with Gail Rubin, Scott’s House Operations Manager Whitney Perez-Wright talks about the need for this kind of hospice option, how this non-profit social model hospice was started, the community that supports their work, how they work with patients and their families, and how to get prepared for death on hospice. They support people who choose Medical Aid in Dying (MAID) and Voluntary Stopping Eating and Drinking (VSED), and especially want to support those who have few financial or people resources to help them in their final days.
“If you think about it, it’s not that rare for people to die outside their homes, in hospitals, nursing homes and long-term care facilities,” said Perez-Wright. “Scott’s House was founded because there’s a great need for support and education at end of life. How do you have a good death and what does that even mean? There’s a really great need for true compassionate heart-centered care for the dying.”
Mission and Services
The mission of Scott’s House is to serve as a free social model hospice residence, catering to the needs of the Santa Fe community and beyond. The facility provides: Hospice Care: Residents receive compassionate end-of-life care, ensuring comfort and dignity during their final days. Respite Care: Temporary relief for caregivers is available, allowing them to rest while their loved ones are cared for in a supportive environment.
Facility Overview
Scott’s House is a spacious 3,000 square-foot residence featuring three bedrooms, designed to create a peaceful and welcoming atmosphere for residents and their families. The home is situated on Santa Fe’s east side, providing a serene setting for those in need. Watch this walk-through video tour to see what this unique hospice setting looks like.
Scott’s House Founder’s Story
The inspiration behind Scott’s House stems from the personal experiences of its founder, Glenys Carl. After her son, Scott Carl, suffered a traumatic injury that left him a quadriplegic, Glenys dedicated herself to his care until his passing in 1989. This profound journey led her to establish Scott’s House in his memory, aiming to offer compassionate care to others facing end-of-life challenges.
Community Involvement and Support
As a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, Scott’s House relies on community support and donations to continue its mission. The facility has been recognized for its contributions, including receiving the 2023 Piñon Award. Community members are encouraged to contribute through donations or volunteering to help maintain and improve the services offered. For more information about Scott’s House, including how to support their mission or apply for services, please visit their official website: https://scottshouse.org/
Bedside Singers at Scott’s House
Your Song is a group of women who volunteer by singing at bedside in the Santa Fe, New Mexico area. Your Song was started in 2006 by a group of three women who were devoted to singing at bedside to people in nursing homes, hospitals and private homes. They share the mission of the national Threshold Choir organization and have joined with them for regional and national singing retreats, gatherings and workshops. Learn more at https://singingyoursong.weebly.com/. A group came to sing to a patient the afternoon Gail Rubin visited and they shared two songs in this video.
Related
Gail Rubin, CT, is author and host of the award-winning book and television series, A Good Goodbye: Funeral Planning for Those Who Don’t Plan to Die, Hail and Farewell: Cremation Ceremonies, Templates and Tips, KICKING THE BUCKET LIST: 100 Downsizing and Organizing Things to Do Before You Die and The Before I Die Festival in a Box™.
Rubin is a Certified Thanatologist (that's a death educator) and a popular speaker who uses humor and films to get the end-of-life and funeral planning conversation started. She "knocked 'em dead" with her TEDx talk, A Good Goodbye. She provides continuing education credit classes for attorneys, doctors, nurses, social workers, hospice workers, financial planners, funeral directors and other professionals. She's a Certified Funeral Celebrant and funeral planning consultant who has been interviewed in national and local print, broadcast and online media.
Known as The Doyenne of Death®, she is the event coordinator of the Before I Die New Mexico Festival and author of a guide to holding such festivals. Her podcast is also called The Doyenne of Death®. She produces videos about the funeral business and related topics. Her YouTube Channel features hundreds of videos!
Rubin is a member of the Association for Death Education and Counseling, the International Cemetery, Cremation and Funeral Association, Toastmasters International and the National Speakers Association. Her speaking profile is available at eSpeakers.com.
Gail Rubin has been interviewed about funeral planning issues in national and local broadcast, print and online media. Outlets include The Huffington Post, Money Magazine, Kiplinger, CBS Radio News, WGN-TV, and local affiliates for NPR, PBS, FOX, ABC-TV, CBS-TV and NBC-TV. Albuquerque Business First named her as one of their 2019 Women of Influence.
Sign up for a free planning form and occasional informative newsletter at her website, AGoodGoodbye.com.