Direct Resident Care

We believe that dying is not just a medical event, but a sacred human experience—one that deserves presence, love, and community.

Our comfort care home in Swannanoa, NC, offers a peaceful, non-medicalized, home-like environment for those who cannot, or do not wish to, die in their own homes. Here, residents are surrounded by trained volunteers and family members who collaborate with hospice teams to provide compassionate, loving care.

There is no cost for our home care. CCLD is completely dependent on donor contributions to continue offering this end-of-life service. While we provide personal support around the clock, we are not a medical facility and do not have physicians on our team. We rely on your hospice care provider to manage any medical needs, including medications and dosage.

CCLD’s mission is simple yet profound: Every day we practice ways to embrace death and support one another with loving presence.

The Heart of Bedside Care

To sit with someone who is nearing the end of life is to enter sacred ground. At CCLD, bedside care is not about fixing or doing, but about being—being present, being tender, and honoring the life that is passing. Our companions offer healing touch, song, silence, and companionship. They create space for both the mystery and the intimacy of this final life chapter.

“I do direct care because I get to witness and share in a love that often feels rare. Here, it arises with a depth and tenderness that is hard to put into words—a love that feels both safe and true. It's a love I just don't feel elsewhere.”

— Brent, Death Doula

The Sanctuary is part of the Omega Home Network, a national organization supporting compassionate community homes for those at the end of life. We share in their mission of loving care, enriched by our unique model of a large, engaged volunteer community.

Insights from Residents

Elizabeth
“When I learned that my liver was failing, I was faced with a choice: pursue a transplant with all the hospitals, medications, and risks of rejection—or simply let go. For me, the idea of spending my last days fighting in a hospital felt like no way to live. Then I found CCLD. I knew immediately that this was where I wanted to be when my final days arrived—a place that feels peaceful, human, and full of love.”

Chris
"I feel a whole lot better about this stage of my journey than I ever thought I would. I’ve had a full life—two beautiful daughters, six amazing grandkids, and a career as an artist where I finally found my voice. I feel complete. I’ve come to accept this cancer for what it is. It’s terminal, and I’m at peace with that. I’m even a little excited, to tell you the truth, to see what’s behind the veil. I guess now I get to see for myself.”

Katie
“I may not get to choose when I die, but I can choose how. I don’t want to spend my final days in pain or drag my loved ones through suffering. CCLD has helped me see that no matter what happens—even if I end up in hospice for a long time—I will be supported here. I no longer fear death. When my treatment stops working, I know I’ll be surrounded by care and compassion in this place.”

Sharon
“When I got my diagnosis a little over a year ago, I went through treatment only to learn that it hadn’t worked and my cancer had metastasized. Even then, I found myself at peace with it. I’ve been doing a lot of personal work on life and its cycles, and I’ve come to see that death is simply a part of that cycle. You don’t have to be afraid of it. Life is a time of experience, reflection, and coming to terms with what truly matters to you.”

Explore the Sanctuary for a Loved One

Voices From Our Volunteers

“There’s no dogma here, no belief system. It’s simply about this sacred part of life—death. I get to be here with these beautiful souls as they transition. It’s a powerful, sacred opportunity, and I am so grateful.”
— Christopher, Death Doula

“You don’t have to be perfect. You don’t have to get it right. You can bring your whole self here, wherever you are, and you’ll be supported in that place.”
— Deborah, Death Doula

“Where else do I go where the level of intentionality and consciousness is like it is here? Someone comes here to die, and I must meet their vibration—with all of their fear, their expansiveness, and their readiness. It makes me really ready.”
— Brent, Death Doula

“As someone becomes closer to death and is actively in that process, it’s an amazing privilege to companion them as the veil is lifted, as they walk between worlds. It truly is an astonishing gift.”
— Elizabeth, Death Doula

Each interview reminds us that how we show up at the end matters for the dying, and for the living as well.

Begin the Conversation

Every journey is unique. Whether you’re considering a visit, seeking guidance from one of our death doulas, or exploring how to become a resident, we are here to walk alongside you. Please complete this form, and a member of our care team will reach out to you with warmth and clarity.

We honor every step of this journey and will respond with compassion and care.

"For life and death are one, even as the river and the sea are one."
~ Kahlil Gibran

Direct Resident Care

We believe that dying is not just a medical event, but a sacred human experience—one that deserves presence, love, and community.

“I do direct care because I get to witness and share in a love that often feels rare. Here, it arises with a depth and tenderness that is hard to put into words—a love that feels both safe and true. It's a love I just don't feel elsewhere.” — Brent, Death Doula

The Sanctuary is part of the Omega Home Network, a national organization supporting compassionate community homes for those at the end of life. We share in their mission of loving care, enriched by our unique model of a large, engaged volunteer community.

Insights from Residents

Explore the Sanctuary for a Loved One

Voices From Our Volunteers

“There’s no dogma here, no belief system. It’s simply about this sacred part of life—death. I get to be here with these beautiful souls as they transition. It’s a powerful, sacred opportunity, and I am so grateful.” — Christopher, Death Doula

“You don’t have to be perfect. You don’t have to get it right. You can bring your whole self here, wherever you are, and you’ll be supported in that place.” — Deborah, Death Doula

“Where else do I go where the level of intentionality and consciousness is like it is here? Someone comes here to die, and I must meet their vibration—with all of their fear, their expansiveness, and their readiness. It makes me really ready.” — Brent, Death Doula

“As someone becomes closer to death and is actively in that process, it’s an amazing privilege to companion them as the veil is lifted, as they walk between worlds. It truly is an astonishing gift.” — Elizabeth, Death Doula

Each interview reminds us that how we show up at the end matters for the dying, and for the living as well.

Begin the Conversation

Every journey is unique. Whether you’re considering a visit, seeking guidance from one of our death doulas, or exploring how to become a resident, we are here to walk alongside you. Please complete this form, and a member of our care team will reach out to you with warmth and clarity.

We honor every step of this journey and will respond with compassion and care.

“I do direct care because I get to witness and share in a love that often feels rare. Here, it arises with a depth and tenderness that is hard to put into words—a love that feels both safe and true. It's a love I just don't feel elsewhere.”

— Brent, Death Doula

“There’s no dogma here, no belief system. It’s simply about this sacred part of life—death. I get to be here with these beautiful souls as they transition. It’s a powerful, sacred opportunity, and I am so grateful.”
— Christopher, Death Doula

“You don’t have to be perfect. You don’t have to get it right. You can bring your whole self here, wherever you are, and you’ll be supported in that place.”
— Deborah, Death Doula

“Where else do I go where the level of intentionality and consciousness is like it is here? Someone comes here to die, and I must meet their vibration—with all of their fear, their expansiveness, and their readiness. It makes me really ready.”
— Brent, Death Doula

“As someone becomes closer to death and is actively in that process, it’s an amazing privilege to companion them as the veil is lifted, as they walk between worlds. It truly is an astonishing gift.”
— Elizabeth, Death Doula