Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to James Hall. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

James, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Is there a heartwarming story from your career that you look back on?

“Paul” had initially been set up in a hotel room for hospice care, however this care no longer suited his needs. When he arrived at Rocky Mountain Refuge for End of Life Care with a garbage bag filled with various medications, the hospice nurse and our staff were able to consolidate to a manageable plan tailored to his needs. The day before he passed, he was looking at a painting on the wall in the room when a staff member asked him what he was looking at. He responded with his final words, “I’m going to a family reunion.” From the comfort of his bed, Paul was able to pass with a sense of peace.

“Jane” lived with uterine cancer and consequent unmanaged pain for years, unable to receive the care she needed. She was in a perpetual cycle of being admitted to the hospital for intense pain, becoming medically stable, then getting discharged when she would find herself again without shelter and inevitably losing her pain medications to theft or overuse. Thus, she would return to the hospital. When she was transferred to Rocky Mountain Refuge, she was able to stay for 41 days. Rocky Mountain Refuge was able to break the hospital cycle and she was eventually able to pass away in comfort and surrounded by prayer.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

I am the Executive Director of Rocky Mountain Refuge. We are a specialized shelter that offers round the clock custodial family style care to our unhoused friends in Denver. We welcome everyone regardless of any status and are a non-sectarian social service organization.  As far as I know there are only 3 others such shelters in the US that are focused on the homeless population.

When an unhoused person needs hospice care shelters and hospice organizations are hard pressed to serve them.  As you know Hospice care is designed to be in a person’s home with family assisting.  If you are unhoused and estranged from your family, you are in a difficult spot.  Shelters are not designed to offer 24/7 family style care and Hospice organizations are not shelters.

We operate as a 24/7 extension of someone’s family. Our custodial care replaces what a family would do and examples include feeding, dressing, bathing, transferring to and from the bed, and walking.  Our hospice agency partners provide any skilled nursing or medical over site needed.

Putting training and knowledge aside, what else do you think really matters in terms of succeeding in your field?

In this sort of business, you have to have a heart for it, or as some say ‘a calling’. Often it’s not pleasant and many people do not care for hospice work.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

The structure and vision of Rocky Mountain Refuge took inspiration from the Social Model Hospice movement. We are a member of the nationwide Omega Home Network. As far as we know there are only 3 other such shelters in the US that are focused specifically on the homeless population. We are the only such shelter in Colorado. Without the Omega Network, we would have had to do a great deal more work and might not have been successful.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://rockymountainrefuge.org/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rockymountainrefuge

Image Credits
Photos courtesy of Rocky Mountain Refuge