VITAS Healthcare has launched its hospice house in Santa Ana, its first such facility in California, US.

It is the only freestanding inpatient hospice facility in Orange County.

The facility aims to provide comfort-focused care for individuals nearing the end of life and is projected to serve more than 300 seriously ill patients each year.

It offers end-of-life care with a clinical team of experts available to support patients with complex treatments.

The hospice house comprises six private rooms with amenities such as flat-screen TVs, a shared family room, a kitchen, and an outdoor area.

Provision of overnight accommodation for visitors is also available.

The VITAS hospice house facilities are claimed to provide round-the-clock care for patients, whose symptoms become too severe to manage at home.

An interdisciplinary VITAS team, including physicians, nurses, social workers, chaplains, volunteers, and bereavement experts, caters to the medical, emotional, social, and spiritual requirements of patients and their families.

The organisation has been providing hospice services in California for nearly 30 years and cares for patients in various settings, including nursing centres, assisted living communities, and private residences.

VITAS senior general manager Jennifer Melad said: "The VITAS Hospice House offers a much-needed alternative to hospital-based end-of-life care, which can be expensive and often lacks the personal touch that patients and their families need during this difficult time.

“It is a game-changer in end-of-life care options for Orange County.

“We are dedicated to delivering quality, compassionate, and individualised care to patients and their families.

“Everyone deserves to die with dignity and respect, and this new inpatient facility is evidence of VITAS’ commitment to that goal."