The anxiety that we are all feeling right now is appropriate. It probably doesn't help that we are all glued to the TV to see and hear the latest on the Coronavirus. With so many unanswered questions and unpredictability, its only natural to get caught up in the news cycles on cable TV or with social media posts. It's also understandable that we are experiencing stress related to work and finances in these uncertain times. My message to you is we are all in the same boat and in this together and what I am advising my family, friends and colleagues is to... just breathe. This too shall pass. While we are doing our due-diligence in washing our hands and practicing social distancing, see this as an opportunity. How often are we presented with free time to do that thing (or things) we've been putting off for years? So limit that repetitive noise and take advantage of this abundance of time! Learn a new language, ride a bike, read some of those books that have been stacking up on your shelf, start a vegetable garden, create deeper connections with your family, pull out those board games or that deck of cards. We are powerless to control this situation beyond what we can do for ourselves and our families so lets put our focus there.
At Hospice of Santa Barbara, we are doing very much the same thing; controlling what is in our power. First and foremost, we took immediate steps to help protect our staff, clients, patients, volunteers, and community members through social distancing. Those at the highest risk are among the largest demographic of people served by HSB. It's meant a pause in our face-to-face services which are so much a part of what we do. In light of this, we are making creative adjustments to serve patients and clients. We are looking at options including phone and video counseling, telehealth, virtual community support groups, live-stream support, and the creation of emotional support videos.
The support we provide to our patients, clients and their families is more important now than ever because, in addition to having to manage the emotions and complications that go with serious illness and grief, they now are faced with these added stressors. Grief doesn't step aside for other issues. It is crucial that we find meaningful ways to connect in this time of "safe distancing".
Additionally, we are anticipating the fallout from what could be a time of increased illness and death in our community because of the Virus. While we don't yet know what the impact will be, we are proactively preparing for it with our team of professionals, much as we did following the Thomas Fire and Mudslide and other local disasters. Fortunately, or unfortunately, we have learned a lot from past tragedies and are therefore well positioned to respond to any wave of loss in our community and to scale up or down accordingly. We will also address the need for community-wide support, particularly for children who are confused and frightened by the prospect of illness or death and all the unknowns that come with COVID-19. It's a lot for young minds to deal with.
But I do want to return to the silver lining here--a chance to focus on what is most important in our lives and maybe even our own personal growth. To take this gift of time to reflect on and rediscover who we are and what we value. I have a sense that we will come out the other end of this surreal time stronger as individuals, families, a community, nation and world. Let's be kind and gentle to one another and make this a time of healing and introspection. Things will get better and Hospice of Santa Barbara will be here, that I can promise, to provide emotional and practical end of life support to those who need it.
Be weIl,
David Selberg, CEO