Years ago, birth and death were common experiences in the family home. Today these experiences occur mostly in hospitals, where family members often become mere guests, and patients have little control over their own care. Research shows that most people would prefer, if possible, to spend their last days at home, free of pain and surrounded by the people and things they love. Fortunately, today there is a choice that provides compassionate care and emotional benefits that aren't possible in a traditional health care setting: hospice.
The Sutter VNA & Hospice Team of Hospice Clinical Managers:
Betsy Gornet (Cheif Hospice Executive), Karen Meltzer, R.N. (Emeryville & San Leandro), Sheryl Kooyer, R.N. (Roseville & Sacramento), Windi Heaton, R.N. (Concord), Pam Carroll, R.N. (Santa Rosa), Deb Ray, R.N. (San Francisco & San Mateo).

What is Hospice?  | 
What Makes Hospice Special?  |  Myths About Hospice Care  | 
When is it Time to Call Hospice?  | 
Who is Eligible for Hospice?  | 
Who Pays for Hospice Care?  | 
How to Arrange for Care

What is Hospice?

Hospice care responds to the unique physical, mental, social and emotional needs of terminally ill patients and their families. Hospice focuses on care, not cure. Hospice care is palliative, allowing patients to spend their remaining days in comfort and dignity in the familiar surroundings of their home, focusing on living. Hospice focuses on promoting comfort and self-determination, enabling patients to participate in making decisions about care at the end of their lives. Families are closely involved in decision-making, and hospice provides counseling, education, short-term respite care, and bereavement support for those close to the patient.

• Hospice is a special way of caring for people with terminal illnesses and their families.
• Hospice strives to meet not just patients' medical needs, but their emotional, social, and spiritual needs as well—and the needs of their families.
• The hospice team includes your physician, specialty-trained nurses, the hospice medical director, social workers, chaplains, grief counselors, home health aides, and volunteers.
• In hospice, the emphasis is on pain control and symptom management, enabling patients to live out their lives with dignity, surrounded by the people and things they love, in the comfort of their own home.
• Hospice involves patients and their families in decision making about how and where patients want to spend the remainder of their lives.

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What Makes Hospice Special?

Hospice concentrates on care—not cure. The patient's physical and emotional comfort is the most important goal of the hospice team. Patients are encouraged to maintain their quality of life, and to be as active and to do as much as possible for themselves, for as long as they are able.

• Hospice treats the whole family. When someone has a terminal illness, his or her loved ones feel pain too. Hospice can provide relief to exhausted and emotionally stressed caregivers.
• Whenever possible, care is provided in the comfortable surroundings of home. Being at home with the people one cherishes is truly the best gift you can give to a loved one.
• Hospice staff visit regularly and are accessible to answer questions and provide support.
• Hospice helps prepare family and friends for the loss of a loved one, and helps them deal with their grief through counseling and bereavement support groups.

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Myths About Hospice Care

There are some common misperceptions about hospice care. Click here to read some hospice myths and facts.

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When is it Time to Call Hospice?

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Who is Eligible for Hospice?

If a patient lives in Alameda, Contra Costa, El Dorado, Placer, Sacramento, San Francisco, San Joaquin, San Mateo, Solano, Sonoma, or Yolo counties, has life expectancy of six months or less, and agrees to the hospice concept of care, they are eligible to receive hospice services from Sutter VNA & Hospice. If a patient outlives his or her six month prognosis, hospice care may be recertified for unlimited 60-day periods. Patients who stabilize may also come on and off hospice care as per their doctor's assessment. Our hospice team works closely with the patient's physician. Once the physician authorizes care, hospice services begin.

Sutter VNA & Hospice does not discriminate based on race, color, creed, sex, national origin, disability, sexual preference, or age.
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Who Pays for Hospice Care?

Your physician authorizes hospice care. Medicare, Medi-Cal and most private insurance plans cover hospice services, provided certain medical and eligibility requirements are met. Hospice staff will work with your insurance company to coordinate benefits.

If you are uninsured, or if you believe your insurance and/or income will not cover the cost of your care, of if there is a change in your insurance, you may qualify for financial assistance. Sutter VNA & Hospice has a financial assistance policy for low-income uninsured patients who may not be able to pay for services. For information about our charity care policy that provides for full or partial assistance, please contact the local office providing your care.

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How to Arrange for Care

You, your family, or your doctor can call us when hospice services are needed. We will coordinate your care with your physician, who supervises the services you receive.

For hospice care call: 1-866-652-9178

For general information, call 1-800-698-1273, or contact a Sutter VNA & Hospice office near you.


Local Sutter VNA & Hospice offices.

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