Words like “hospice” and “palliative care” are often associated with death or decline. But at Pikes Peak Hospice & Palliative Care (PPHPC), they mean comfort and making the most of each moment—however many are left. 

From its humble beginnings in 1980, PPHPC has grown into the region’s leading provider of around-the-clock inpatient care. As the only nonprofit hospice facility in Colorado Springs, PPHPC provides care to anyone who needs it, regardless of insurance or ability to pay. Medicare fully covers hospice care, with no out-of-pocket costs.

In addition to hospice services, PPHPC also supports patients facing serious illness through palliative care—relieving pain and stress while helping families navigate important care decisions.

FEELS LIKE HOME

In June 2025, PPHPC expanded from an eight-bed unit at Penrose Hospital to a new stand-alone inpatient center with 12 private patient suites. Each room opens directly into the Lyda Hill Gardens, an outdoor sensory space.

The new center aims to recreate the warmth and familiarity of home, with the added reassurance of 24/7 care. Families can cook and share meals in a fully equipped kitchen, kids have a special play area and everyone can gather in a cozy living-room-style space with couches and TVs. There’s even space for family members to spend the night. 

“We offer hospital-level care outside the hospital setting,” said Danielle Smeed, PPHPC’s director of business development.

For Smeed, the mission of PPHPC is personal. After experiencing her grandmother’s final days, she began volunteering at PPHPC, eventually joining the staff full-time.

“Hospice made me feel so supported,” she said. “My last moments with my grandma are something I’ll hold on to forever. [Working for hospice is] a beautiful way to help others the way it helped me.”

CREATING MEANINGFUL MOMENTS

PPHPC is the only hospice in Colorado Springs to earn the Level 5 designation from the We Honor Veterans program—the highest recognition a facility can receive. 

Veterans are honored with bedside salutes and pinning ceremonies, and receive personalized support from a dedicated VA benefits liaison. There’s even a quiet reflection room where veterans can process their experiences.

To maintain Level 5 status, staff complete specialized training and take part in veteran-focused outreach programs.

Thanks to generous donations, PPHPC’s donor fund helps families create special moments during difficult times.

Smeed shared the story of a family whose loved one declined quickly. 

“The patient’s family lived out of state and wasn’t able to afford a plane ticket, but our donor fund covered the plane tickets for them,” she said. 

In another case, the fund was used to buy biscuits and gravy for a patient who used to make the meal for her family—a small gesture with a big impact.

Some of PPHPC’s most powerful moments come from honoring final wishes.

“We had a patient whose last wish was to attend his son’s wedding, so our team created a small wedding ceremony right in the Lyda Hill Gardens at our inpatient care center,” said President Dawn Darvalics, 48. “He was outside in the sunshine, surrounded by family, to experience his son’s wedding. He died the next day, and his last memory was filled with love. That’s what our work is about—life, not loss.”

Grief support at PPHPC extends beyond patients and families. 

Chaplains and bereavement counselors offer one-on-one support, and families can also participate in workshops and expressive therapies like music and movement. PPHPC has even provided grief support for families overseas. 

Each year, two public remembrance events help families honor their loved ones. The Commemorative Butterfly Release takes place each summer, while the Trees of Life ceremony lights up winter with ornaments and names read aloud.

For more information, visit Pikes PeakHospice.org or call 719-633-3400. 

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