Counter-clockwise from bottom left : Michelle Wulfestieg , executive director of Southern California Hospice Foundation , after the nonprofit purchased the house that would become The Heavenly Home ; a garden stone in memory of Megan Wymer ; Wulfestieg with Ben Drutman , president of Newport Beach-based Simon Scholars , whose founder , Ronald Simon , donated to Heavenly Home
head injury affected her ability to filter — was very inquisitive and wanted to know everything about their lives .
“ They were a wonderful team ,” Kraus says . “ … The staff member that was leaving after her day shift sat down and met with the night shift person and went through everything about Megan ’ s day . … What I never had experienced in a group home [ before ] was this true continuity of care . … [ And ] Megan liked to tell jokes , so they ’ d sit and laugh . … They were fabulous . I can ’ t say enough about them .”
In the past year , The Heavenly Home has cared for 15 residents with several different hospice providers . The house has enough space for six residents at any one time . Staff members accommodate any special food requests , allowing residents to eat whatever they want . The peaceful backyard features a water fountain , a rose garden , an extensive patio , benches and even a playhouse for children or grandchildren who come to visit .
“ Every resident ’ s room has outdoor access wide enough to wheel a hospital bed outside ,” says Michelle Wulfestieg , executive director of the Southern California Hospice Foundation , which operates the home . “… We felt that was important to be able to have sunshine therapy and be able to go outside . One of the residents we have now is completely bed bound , but he loves the outdoors and he wheels out in his hospital bed all the time .”
Wulfestieg , who has been through her own health challenges , sees this work as her calling . A two-time stroke survivor , Wulfestieg was in a deep coma and not expected to survive . When she finally awoke , she had to relearn how to walk and do everyday tasks . And she remains paralyzed on her right side from radiation in attempts to treat a rare brain lesion as a child . But now , she has the chance to help others and bring them moments of hope and happiness .
“ For me , it ’ s so uplifting ,” she says . “ It ’ s actually the opposite of what you would expect , because I feel like I ’ m able to bring so much joy to families and patients . And , actually , when families come to our facility , I would say nearly every single family who walks in … starts crying because their loved one is going to a place that ’ s so wonderful and so beautiful and they ’ re going to receive the best care possible . It ’ s just overwhelming . …
“ I feel like dying is a part of life and it ’ s something we ’ re all going to face at some point . But what I ’ ve learned in my 20 years [ working ] in hospice — and especially since opening The Heavenly Home — is people are still alive even while they ’ re dying . … You ’ re still able to bring them moments of joy and comfort and peace and happiness , and so we love to party at The Heavenly Home . … I feel like every moment needs to be celebrated .”
The home has brought in Elvis impersonators , a weekly massage therapist and volunteers who play music for the residents or offer pet therapy . “ We ’ ve had miniature ponies trot through the house with little Build-A- Bear shoes on their hooves ,” Wulfestieg says . “… It ’ s really just about living . Any birthday , we celebrate — we have huge parties for birthdays [ or ] any special occasion .”
BUILDING A HOME It ’ s been a long journey to open the home and reach this point . The Southern California Hospice Foundation , which started in 2002 , always had the goal of opening a low-cost home for those in hospice . Additionally , the foundation raises awareness of palliative care and hospice options for adults and children while also serving the nonmedical needs of terminally ill patients and their family : providing bereavement support , offering transportation to doctor ’ s appointments and granting wishes , such as a child getting to meet their Hollywood hero before they die .
When Wulfestieg , a Newport Beach resident , was hired as the organization ’ s executive director in 2010 , she would speak at events and always mention the group ’ s desire to build a home for the terminally ill . One day ,
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