October 06, 2025

Ep. 521 Caring House: A Residence for Hospice Care with David Zartman and Joanna Franco

1 hour

My two guests this week are administrators of Caring House, a non-profit residence for hospice patients in Torrance, California. David Zartman is the Executive Director of Caring House having previously been a successful entrepreneur. Joanna Franco is the Director of Operations with many years of experience as both a caregiver and a residential care coordinator and manager. They discuss the history of Caring House and how residences like this are essential for communities that want to fully support end-of-life care for their people. Learn more at the Caring House website:

yourcaringhouse.org

Watch on YouTube

Listen here:

This episode includes:

The history of Caring House

The long journey of establishing an Omega Home as a residence for hospice patients

What services are provided by Caring House and similar homes

Who qualifies to reside there

The benefits of “death in community” where several patients and families are experiencing the end of life in the same facility at the same time

How staff processes grief after the death of a patient

Rituals and traditions followed after a patient death

How care is paid for at Caring House

Links mentioned in this episode:

Kickstarter campaign for Wild and Holy

Latest post on Substack: The Weight No One Sees: Hidden Grief and Guilt in Healers

What Really Matters Podcast

Coffee Tasting Fundraiser for Caring House

Previous episode about Omega Homes

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NEW Gift Guides for Caregivers, People Receiving Care, and People Who are Grieving

Get my two newest books!! Stories from the Dark Night and The Tao of Death

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Conversations on Death with ChatGPT – Audiobook here; Print Book here

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