The City of Healdsburg has become the first municipality in Sonoma County to launch a city-sponsored program focused on end-of-life planning and education.
The pilot program, which will be run through the Healdsburg Senior Center starting in January, aims to provide residents with “guidance, comfort, and compassion” on difficult but inevitable topics.
The Press Democrat reports services will include information sessions on grief, legal realities of death, and support from death doulas and a compassion coordinator. Council members say the initiative is a natural extension for the “aging-friendly” city, addressing a major need in the community.
The program’s launch is supported by grants from the Community Foundation of Sonoma County and Providence Hospice Foundation, with city funding being sought for future operations. Organizers hope the Healdsburg model will eventually be adopted by other cities.
