Hospice services are readily available and accessible to most people in our community—provided they have a roof over their head and family members or others available to provide emotional and social support, as well as the personal caregiving required. However, when someone is living on the street or in other precarious circumstances, utilization of hospice is often unworkable. By providing a “home”, Solace will be the location where hospice care can be provided for those who would otherwise go without. Solace's community of social support will be there to attend to the daily personal care tasks and emotional, social, and spiritual care needs of those we serve..

Residents will receive comprehensive holistic support that nurtures bodily comfort, emotional, social, and spiritual wholeness according to each person's unique individual values, goals, and informed preferences. Care will be provided through a collaborative team effort between Solace staff and volunteers, and members of the hospice team chosen by the individual receiving care. Clinical care coordination, symptom management, medications, and durable medical equipment will be provided by hospice professionals (physicians, nurses, CNAs, social workers, etc.). Solace team members will support hospice by assisting with activities of daily living such as bathing, dressing, feeding, positioning, administering medications, etc. Solace and Hospice volunteers will provide a sense of community, compassion and dignity through companionship (reading, playing cards, writing letters, life review, etc.), music, pet, and complementary therapies such as Reiki and massage, sitting vigil, and other activities.

According to our mission, Solace's aim is to serve our community's most vulnerable people as they prepare for the end of their lives. Our primary target population includes individuals diagnosed with a terminal illness/condition who are hospice eligible, also experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity, extreme poverty, mental/emotional health issues, substance abuse disorder, and/or social isolation. In addition, we may support previously homeless people who reside in Permanent Supportive Housing, Transitional Housing, or other locations connected to Dane County's Housing First effort. We envision serving a very diverse community and accept those of all ages, races, ethnicities, faiths, sexual and gender identities, etc.

We anticipate referrals from a variety of sources including numerous health care, housing, and human services organizations from throughout Dane County. When evaluating referrals, we take a number of factors into consideration, such as specific diagnosis, current health status, and suitability for the care we provide. Once we receive a referral, our team will meet face-to-face with those seeking support to make an assessment and determine more exactly, what and how services can best be provided. If those who apply for care are not yet ready for hospice, we will also review the availability of other options for care.

We will do our best to accommodate people who have a substance use disorder by providing support in collaboration with behavioral health specialists, hospice MDs and AODA counselors.

Yes, the Solace Home will be accessible according to ADA guidelines to ensure people with disabilities have equal opportunity to participate.

So that our home is safe and secure for all involved (residents, staff, visitors, and other providers), there will be house rules that expect our residents to follow. We want to be as flexible and tolerant as possible, however, illegal, dangerous and disruptive behavior will not be tolerated. Our home will be operated under a “harm-reduction” model: legal behaviors will be allowed to the extent they do not interfere with the creation of a caring community.

Simply call (608) 843-8191.

Solace services will be offered free of charge to our residents. No one will be turned away for lack of insurance or income. An individual's medical expenses will be covered under their hospice benefit through Medicare, Medicaid, private insurance, or charitable care funds managed by the hospice. Costs for room, board, and additional support provided by Solace will be covered by funds generated through contributions from the community. Should a guest be eligible for other subsidies, we will explore on a case-by-case basis, whether some of those benefits might be used to offset room and board expenses.

We envision that the length of time a person will live in our Solace Home will range from only a few days to many months, as long as they remain enrolled in a hospice program. We also anticipate that there may be instances when a resident's symptoms stabilize to the point where they are discharged from hospice. In that case, we will work to help secure different housing, appropriate to their needs and wishes.

Yes, we will do all we can to accommodate residents' companion animals, however we do realize that this may not always be possible due to behavioral issues, allergies, etc. In cases where pets simply cannot stay in the house, we will work with local rescue groups to secure safe shelter elsewhere and to rehome animals after the death of their human companion.

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