Hospice and palliative care are essential services for anyone who is entering the last phase of their life. Many senior caregivers may rightly wonder which hospice and palliative care facilities, companies, and organizations are worth researching and what to consider when looking.
This article will review what makes hospice and palliative care good and list some of California’s highly-rated senior care facilities.
What To Consider When Researching Hospice and Palliative Care Facilities
There are many things to consider when researching hospice and palliative care facilities. Thankfully, the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) has a hospice questionnaire people can cross-reference when considering hospice and palliative care options.
A few of the notable questions featured in the NHPCO’s questionnaire are:
- Is the facility for-profit or not-for-profit?
- How many years has it operated?
- Is both palliative and hospice care available?
- Is there an inpatient unit as well as home care?
- Is it Medicare-certified?
To develop this list, I used the above comparison points to determine if the hospice and palliative care facilities were worth considering. (Note that not all providers check all the “boxes.” I didn’t eliminate these providers because I acknowledge a website can only tell you so much. I recommend calling the providers listed to get all the details.) In addition, I only researched places that received a rating between 4-5 stars on Google and checked to see if each provider also appeared on the NHPCO’s provider list. Note that these hospice and palliative care facilities are not rated in any particular order. As always, with lists such as this, I encourage you and your loved one to do unique online research and to ask a trusted doctor, and possibly a social worker, for their thoughts on hospice and palliative care facilities in your area, too. (Another helpful decision-making tool is Medicare.gov’s provider comparison service.)
Top Hospice And Palliative Care Facilities in California
1. Bristol Hospice – Modesto
Bristol Hospice has multiple locations throughout California as well as other states. The Modesto location (a location that got a favorable rating—one five-star review—on Google) serves three areas in California. It has a state license, is Medicare-certified, and is accredited through the Community Health Accreditation Partner (CHAP). CHAP is a nonprofit, independent accrediting organization that “provides guidelines and conducts unscheduled, in-person visits to ensure Compassus meet the industry’s highest quality standards.” It’s also part of the We Honor Veterans campaign. The NHPCO, in collaboration with the Department of Veterans Affairs, developed the “We Honor Veterans” campaign. I could not determine if Bristol Hospice is for or not for profit, and it does not appear to offer palliative care. The hospice’s website’s wording makes me think that Bristol’s care is home-based. In addition to providing standard hospice care (a patient receives help from a nurse, hospice physician, social workers, etc.), Bristol Hospice also offers a few unique programs:
- Bright Moments: a Dementia care program
- Sweet Dreams: A program dedicated to maintaining a patient’s bedtime rituals to create a soothing environment for quality sleep.
2. Hinds Hospice
It appears that Hinds Hospice serves individuals in their homes and also has a “free-standing hospice” that provides inpatient services (the standalone location is called Hinds Hospice Home). Both serve three areas in the state (Fresno, Madera, and Merced). According to Hinds Hospice’s website, it started operating in 1981. This hospice also is not for profit, is accredited by a joint commission, and is licensed in the state. It also is Medicare-certified and is part of the We Honor Veterans program.
I could not determine if Hinds Hospice provides palliative care. However, it does offer a unique range of services and programs, including:
- The Center for Grief & Healing
- Angel Babies Perinatal Hospice and Bereavement Program
- Pediatric Program
- Thrift stores
- Training for physicians and medical professionals
- Multicultural outreach
- Global outreach
- Prison hospice
3. Antelope Valley Hospice Care
Antelope Valley Hospice Care is located in Lancaster and serves four cities in the state. This hospice is Medicare-certified and is accredited by a joint commission. It appears that this hospice serves patients in their homes and, similar to other places, offers 24/7 care. In addition to other standard services, Antelope Valley also offers palliative care. Although I could not determine when Antelope Valley Hospice Care was founded, I discovered that its enumeration date is December 11, 2014. Unfortunately, I also could not determine if this hospice is for or not for profit.
4. Torrance Memorial Home Health & Hospice
Torrance Memorial Home Health & Hospice serves Los Angeles. It’s state-licensed, Medicare-certified, and accredited by a joint commission. It was founded in 1983 and has “received top honors in nursing excellence, receiving the distinction of Magnet Status.” This hospice provides “general inpatient care at Torrance Memorial Medical Center for acute episodes,” “continuous care at home for short-term crisis management,” regular nurse visits, and more. It also has a palliative care program. I could not determine if Torrance Memorial is for or not for profit.
5. Sutter Care at Home, Hospice of the Valley
Sutter Care has multiple locations in California. However, the San Jose location received favorable ratings on Google (a cumulative 4.5 with 10 listed ratings). Sutter Care at Home (which is part of the larger organization Sutter Health) has operated since 1906. It states it is “one of the region’s largest not-for-profit, community-based home care providers.” This hospice is state-licensed and Medicare-certified. Sutter is part of the We Honor Veterans program, and it appears that most of this hospice’s care occurs in a patient’s home. In addition to providing standard hospice care services, it also provides palliative care.
6. Mission Hospice & Home Care Inc.
Mission Hospice & Home Care Inc. serves two areas in the state. It’s state-licensed, Medicare-certified, and accredited by a joint commission. The hospice’s website notes it’s a “local, independent nonprofit organization” founded in 1979. It provides patients care in their homes, “in assisted living, board and care, skilled nursing facilities, and elsewhere.” Mission Hospice & Home Care also has a hospice house called Mission House. In addition to traditional hospice care, Mission Hospice also provides palliative care and is part of various programs and organizations, such as:
- California Hospice Network Founding Member
- We Honor Veterans program
- The National Partnership for Healthcare and Hospice Innovation (NPHI Member)
7. Sonata Hospice
Sonata Hospice, founded in 2012, serves two areas in California and one location in Nevada. It’s also state-licensed and accredited by a joint commission. Sonata’s site states that patients can use Medicare, MediCal, or private insurance to pay for care. Patients can receive care in their home, nursing home, assisted living, or a hospital. Although this hospice doesn’t specifically say it provides palliative care, it does state that as part of care, its patients receive care from “board-certified hospice and palliative care physician services.” Sonata also promotes that its patients and their families get various levels of care depending on their illness. This includes:
- Routine level of care (general hospice care)
- Hospice general inpatient care (for “patients experiencing acute or severe pain or symptoms that cannot be managed in the home”).
- Continuous care
- Respite care
It also provides music therapy.
8. Hospice of the North Coast
Hospice of the North Coast serves one area in the state. It’s state-licensed, Medicare-certified, accredited by a joint commission, and was founded in 1980. The organization also is not for profit. In addition to providing care to people residing in North County San Diego, Hospice of the North Coast also has an inpatient hospice house called Pacifica House. (Although the hospice’s website does not directly say its care is provided “in home,” this is what I assume considering the information I read.) In addition to providing standard hospice care, Hospice of the North Coast provides palliative care, as well as several unique services, including:
- Music therapy
- Aromatherapy
- Pet therapy
- Reflexology
- Reiki
9. Hope Hospice
Hope Hospice services two areas in the state. It’s state-licensed, Medicare-certified, and joint commission accredited. The organization is nonprofit and has operated since 1980. In addition to standard hospice care, Hope Hospice provides specialized care, such as dementia support and advanced illness care. I could not determine if this organization provides palliative care. After reading through Hope Hospice’s Q&A, it appears this hospice provides care for people where they live and not at a standalone facility.
10. OC Hospice
OC Hospice serves one area in the state and is state-licensed, Medicare-certified, and accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Health Care (ACHC). In addition to providing general hospice care, OC Hospice also provides palliative care. It’s also part of the We Honor Veterans program. It appears that OC Hospice provides care to patients where they live, but it’s unclear if it is for or not for profit (its LinkedIn page notes it is “privately held”). Founded in 2013, OC Hospice also promotes its various specialized services, including its staff’s ability to speak different languages and its “Special Dedication,” which the staff provides after a patient has passed.