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Vision

Empowering individuals living with serious illness, and their loved ones, to live life’s most precious moments well and die with dignity according to their goals and wishes.

Providing multiple end of life services which are complementary to medical and hospice care.

Offering compassionate care, listening and guidance to address emotional, physical and practical needs as well as provide extensive resources.

About Carola

Graduating as a Nurse in 1989, Carola Stepper worked as a hospital, Home Health and Hospice Nurse for 15 years. She found the most fulfillment in working for Hospice.

In 2001 she graduated with a Master’s in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (MAcOM) and became a Licensed Acupuncturist (LAc). Initially she worked at the Celilo Cancer Center at Mid-Columbia Medical Center in The Dalles, OR. Later, she founded and operated an Acupuncture company with a team of employees in the Columbia Gorge with three clinics at its peak and sold it after 15 years.

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After the sale, she reflected on her past career and realized that caring for people with life limiting illnesses provided deep meaning for her. She consciously chose to dedicate her life to this work. Additionally, she had lost multiple dear friends and her father and those experiences shaped her.

She re-entered the Nursing profession and worked as a Registered Nurse Case Manager for Hospice. The hiring process included a background check and a drug screen.

Subsequently she decided to start Gorge End of Life Services. She pursued additional certifications with the goal to offer multiple end of life services, which are complementary to medical and hospice care.

She is COVID vaccinated and boosted and will wear a mask in client’s homes.

In her private life she enjoys spending time with her partner and friends, hiking, mountain biking, skiing, SUP (Stand Up Paddleboarding), Six Person Outrigger Canoe paddling, dancing and camping.

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Registered Nurse (RN), OR and WA, Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse (CHPN)

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Licensed Acupuncturist (LAc), OR and WA – Certified Provider of Hospice and Palliative Care Acupuncture
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Respecting Choices® certified Advance Care Planning Facilitator (Advanced Steps)
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End of Life Doula – NEDA proficient (National End of Life Doula Alliance)
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Advanced Grief Recovery Method Specialist certified by the Grief Recovery Institute

Hope the Bear

My name is Hope the Bear and I am Carola’s Co-worker/Bear.

Carola has an affinity for stuffed animals and the joy and smiles they bring especially to adults when they are simply held or even animated. While working as a Hospice Nurse she brought me along and I brought smiles to hospice patients and they wanted to see me again.

I will come along when she makes home visits. I don’t mind if you don’t want to interact with me or if you want to squeeze me or talk to me, I am easy going! I have a twin bear brother, as we are getting washed if we are touched by a client!

Inclusion

All Are Welcome

Carola Stepper honors the individual’s and their loved one’s personal, cultural, spiritual and religious values, regardless of their race, color, ethnicity, nationality, language, citizenship, age, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, ability, disability, education, professional experience, religion, political opinion, marital, socioeconomic or Veteran status.

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She is bilingual (German) and bi-cultural. She has personal and professional experience with LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and Queer or Questioning) BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and people of color) and people with health conditions or impairments. She has worked with Veterans and people who were dealing with financial hardships.

She has taken DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) training and is aware of the concept of Cultural Humility. She will do her best to continue to self reflect, learn from others and be sensitive and aware. She respects and supports her clients’ religious or spiritual beliefs, whatever they might be. Her approach is non-denominational.

We want to say thank you.

Gorge End of Life Services was created working full-time for many months. I could not have done it alone!

I am very grateful for the support and input I have received during this journey from my partner, family, girlfriends who “walked and talked” with me, women’s circle, friends who edited or gave feedback, medical professional friends, SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives) mentors, End of Life Doula mentors from The Peaceful Presence Project, Designers, CPA from Middle Mountain Tax Services, accountants from Number Gurus, Paloma Ayala for photography, Jesse Larvick for videography, the team at Salt + Sage Web Studio, Focusmate.com for keeping me on task and many more!

I also wanted to thank the local Chambers of Commerce which I joined, as they are very helpful in getting the word out: The Dalles Area Chamber of Commerce, Hood River County Chamber of Commerce, Mt Adams Chamber of Commerce,Skamania County Chamber of Commerce

In Gratitude,

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