What does Rocky Mountain Refuge do?
Our mission is to offer a dignified alternative to dying alone on the street for those with terminal illness.
For those without a home, we provide a comfortable place to live during their last days. Our staff and volunteers offer basic care like help with laundry, cleaning, and companionship. Our hospice agency partners provide skilled nursing & physician services, and medical equipment.
How does someone become a resident?
Each resident will be referred to us by a hospice agency with whom we have a memorandum of understanding. If someone needs it, we can connect them with a hospice agency.
Why is Rocky Mountain Refuge Needed?
People with terminal illness but no home have very few options. Emergency rooms or ICUs, often a last resort for people on the street, are the most expensive and least effective setting possible.
Aren't there hospices?
Today, most agencies deliver hospice care in your home. That works well - if you have one.
We are members of Omega Home Network, a national membership organization that promotes the development and expansion of community homes for dying people.
You can read more about "social model" facilities like ours here: Social Model Hospice Homes May Revolutionize End-of-Life Care in the U.S.
What about homeless shelters?
Emergency shelters meet immediate, short-term needs. Hospice patients need care for days, weeks, or months, with privacy and stability that shelters can't offer.
Some organizations have excellent longer-term programs (like The Crossing with Denver Rescue Mission) to help people develop life skills and relation ships needed for self-sufficiency, but that doesn't address end-of-life care, either.
We are working closely with major organizations serving unhoused people in the Denver area, and they have expressed strong support for what we are doing.
Why the name change?
We wanted a name that more clearly describes our organization and what we do!
We hope you agree that "Rocky Mountain Refuge for End of Life Care" connects clearly with our mission statement.
Is Rocky Mountain Refuge a religious organization?
No, we are a social service non-profit.
We offer shelter for end-of-life care regardless of a person's race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status.
How can I help?
If you:
- have more questions,
- are interested in volunteering,
- are a good networking contact,
- know someone we should get to know, or
- happen to be on a charitable foundation,
- please get in touch!
Below is an information sheet you can download.