Please join me as we travel through a day in the life of a hospice music therapist.
Our first visit of the day is with a patient living at home. For over 30 years, this individual and her child performed together on dueling pianos. They held a high caliber ...
On February 18, 2019, Hospice East Bay Volunteer Bob Ellis was interviewed by Stephen Burchik for the CCC-TV program "Veterans' Voices." This is an edited transcript of that interview.
Tell us about your military service.
I ...
In February of 2019, the wife of one of our patients addressed the staff at Hospice East Bay to express her gratitude for the care we provided to her husband of over 60 years. This is what she said that day:
...
Hospice East Bay’s Bridge program supports children and teens through art, play, talk and peer support. At the end of each year, we invite all the parents, guardians, children, and volunteers from the Bridge to gather for group activities, to acknowledge the ...
It was another successful year for Hospice East Bay’s Giving Tree project! At the holidays, the Giving Tree project amplifies the kindness that Hospice East Bay staff and volunteers spread every day in patient homes and facilities. During the month of November, our ...
Hospice East Bay has begun a new grief support group for millenial adults that features hiking through the Bay Area’s many beautiful parks.
Young adults face unique stressors. According to the American Psychological Association, adults aged 18-30 are ...
We are very pleased to welcome Marlo Johnston as our new Vice President of Human Resources, and Dr. Russ Granich, our new Chief Medical Officer. We are excited about the new energy and ideas they will bring to Hospice East Bay. Meshia Darling, Nurse Practitioner, ...
Our own Spiritual Care Counselor, Bette Birnbaum, submitted the following poem to the National Hospice & Palliative Care Organization creative arts contest and won! We are so proud and honored that’s she’s part of our ...
By Bess Chosak, Hospice East Bay Volunteer
My first glimpse of my newly assigned patient was of a small bundle of a lady—a crown of snow white hair peeking out from a soft grey blanket wrapped around her as she snuggled into a corner of her sofa. I ...
As a community-based hospice, we rely on the generosity of our donors to help provide the services that set us apart from other hospice organizations. We are fortunate to have many community organizations and companies support us through events and ...
Forty volunteers were honored with awards for their 5, 10, 15 and 20 years of hospice service at our agency’s annual appreciation gathering in April 2016.
Over 250 attendees gathered to enjoy wine, a delicious dinner and a program highlighting all Hospice ...
This year, we would like to share our gratitude for Winifred Louise Varco Haagensen, known to friends as “Win.” In 1986, Hospice East Bay (then called Hospice and Palliative Care of Contra Costa County) cared for Win’s husband, Ed Haagensen. She was so grateful for ...
In biology class, we learn how plants grow. A green plant uses sunlight to turn water and carbon dioxide into sugars that the plant uses as energy. We call this process photosynthesis, and it doesn’t happen without help. It needs a catalyst, something that helps to ...
Here at Hospice East Bay we utilize national and state benchmarks to measure our patient and family satisfaction. The Community Health Accreditation Program (CHAP), a federally-approved independent organization monitors our quality of care and outcomes. CHAP ...
November is a time when families gather to celebrate and reflect upon what they are thankful for; it is also National Hospice Month.
At Hospice East Bay, we reflect on how thankful we are for the patients and families we are honored to serve, our ...
Hospice East Bay is excited to announce a 3-year grant from the Thomas J. Long Foundation enabling us to fund projects that benefit caregivers, patients, and regional non-profit hospice agencies.
Respite for caregiving family members provides a much-needed, ...
Our Bereavement Department is committed to providing bereavement services, not only to the families of our patients but to our entire community. We offer traditional group & individual counseling as well as innovative programs for children, teens and adults ...
Hospice East Bay is fortunate to partner with six organizations that assist adults with disabilities to gain life and work skills. Every week participants from ARC Inroads, George Miller Center, On Track, RES for Success, Toolworks and Futures Explored volunteer at ...
As a community-based hospice, we rely on the generosity of our donors to help provide the services that set us apart from other hospice organizations. We are blessed to have many community organizations and companies support us through events and ...
Yes, 2015 was another successful year for the organization, and we look forward to an even stronger 2016! We continue to be known for the top quality hospice and palliative care we provide.
Our 2015 Celebration of Care honored long-time volunteer and ...
Hospice East Bay is fortunate to have numerous community groups that believe in our mission and are passionate about raising funds on our behalf. One such group is the Friends of Hospice Rossmoor, led by the dynamic Trish Dickson. Every year, her organization is ...
Residents returned to the Event Center in a festive mood for the Second Annual Art & Wine gathering on October 5th. Attendees enjoyed the eclectic collection of art, photography, ceramics, sculpture, jewelry, hand-painted silk scarves, while sampling an ...
We’d like to share a letter from one of our patient family members which we recently received.
Dear Hospice East Bay,
We would like to take the time to formally express our gratitude for John Marksbury, RN, who cared for our father, ...
As a community-based hospice we rely on the generosity of our donors to help provide the services that set us apart from other hospice organizations. We are blessed to have many community organizations and companies support us through events and ...
November is not only National Hospice Month, but also the month we reflect on things we are thankful for. As a not-for-profit, we rely on the generosity of our donors and volunteers. We are fortunate to have many community groups that give their time and share ...
Over 250 attendees celebrated “A Night in Paris” on Saturday, May 16 at the Diablo Country Club, and helped to raise $180,000 in net proceeds for Hospice East Bay’s programs and services.
The Parisian-themed evening at Diablo Country Club included French ...
On a warm evening in April, hundreds of individuals gathered for the Appreciation Dinner in tribute to our volunteers who contributed over 45,000 hours in 2014 for Hospice East Bay. These hours were generously provided to our Thrift Shoppes, Tree of Lights and ...
As a community-based hospice we rely on the generosity of our donors to provide the services that set us apart from other hospice organizations. We are blessed to have many community organizations and companies support us through events and sponsorships ...
Spring symbolizes new beginnings and here at Hospice East Bay we are experiencing a fresh look. Our Pleasant Hill office is under construction as we make room for our growing staff needs. We have remodeled the old warehouse in the back of the building with ...
Due to a phenomenal year of growth, our Bridge Program is moving to a new location. The Bridge, Hospice East Bay’s bereavement support program for children and teens, was launched in 2012. Since then, attendance has more than doubled.
There are many ...
Noemi Mitzel is one of Hospice East Bay’s dedicated team of medical social workers. She believes that her first responsibility is to support her patients and their family’s wishes. She stays aware of any special concerns a family may have, be they financial, ...
As a community-based hospice, we rely on the generosity of our donors to provide the services that set us apart from other hospice organizations. We are blessed to have many community organizations and companies support us through events and ...
In June, one of our steadfast supporters, Theresa (Teri) Caygill, became a patient of Hospice East Bay. Like many people in our care, she received support from a number of our staff, including a case manager, social worker, chaplain, and home health aide. ...
Slim is 1600 pounds, has a blond mane and is an unlikely candidate to be a hospice volunteer. He stands in the hot sun, nuzzling hospice patient Lori Michaels, as she wipes away tears from her eyes. Visiting a horse was her dying wish, and today that wish is ...
Through volunteering for Hospice East Bay, I have had the honor of meeting many WWII veterans of the Army, Navy and Air Force. They all told stories that would be worthy of movie scripts, though they are decidedly matter-of-fact and humble about their ...
Every year, Hospice East Bay has the honor of celebrating over 300 volunteers who support our agency. This years' dinner was held in the Pleasant Hill Senior Center and was emceed by Christopher Joyce, Vice President of Human Resources. President and CEO ...
We are deeply saddened by the unexpected passing of Belle, our dear and devoted Pet Pal, who passed away on Saturday, April 26th from a toxic reaction to macadamia nuts. Belle, a two and a half year old miniature Australian Shepherd, was a faithful, loving and ...
Two years ago, Betty Wass found that she could no longer provide care for her husband, Mohamed El Wakil, at home. After much consideration he was admitted to a local board and care facility.
Due to Mohamed's declining health and mobility, the simple task of ...
Valentine Flowers
For the second year in a row, the Clayton Valley Garden Club delivered beautiful plants to our Pleasant Hill office to be delivered to our patients. This year our nurses, social workers, spiritual care counselors and ...
Spring symbolizes new life and new beginnings, and at Hospice East Bay we are introducing a fresh look. We have undergone a rebranding process that has resulted in a new logo and an updated website. This is an exciting time at our agency as we are averaging ...
Bill Burke, a Hospice East Bay patient, is living life to the fullest despite his terminal diagnosis. When Bill Burke's doctor first recommended that he begin using hospice services, Bill was reluctant—he still has a lot of living to do and saw hospice as ...
Pleasant Hill, CA - Every few weeks, during the fall and winter months, we receive large bags stuffed full of quilts. These quilts have been lovingly made by the Scrappy Quilters, a group that has been meeting regularly since 1993 at the Mt. Diablo ...
Pleasant Hill, CA - One day in 1975, three women met for lunch. Evelyn Radford, (aka “Peggy”) was a historian and instructor at Diablo Valley College who remembered and sought to apply the slogan, “If you want it done right, you just have to do ...
Dottie Boyd learned about Hospice East Bay long before she needed our help. She and her late husband Charlie were longtime donors and good friends of Hospice East Bay over the years. In 2000, they notified us that we are a beneficiary of their estate ...
When Rabbi Charles (Chuck) Mintz became seriously ill, his wife Adele felt hesitant about leaving him alone for any length of time. She wanted to be there in case he needed her. “Then, on the very first day that Chuck was admitted to Hospice East Bay, ...
Millie Day was quite surprised to find out that she has been one of Hospice East Bay’s most generous supporters for more than twenty years. She lives a comfortable life of modest means, but has nevertheless created a legacy of generosity during her lifetime ...
One of the first things you notice about Anne Steinmann and Stan Lowenberg is how comfortable they are in each others’ company. When you get to know them, you realize it makes perfect sense, because it’s apparent that they share core a philosophy: caring for ...
Alamo, CA - The seemingly impossible was made possible by Hospice East Bay staff this past April. Lorice French, a Bruns House patient, and her family were “transported” through technology 800 miles to Chandler, Arizona where her dear ...
In February, volunteer Joyce Olkiewicz had the pleasure of escorting a patient’s family from Buchanan Air Field to Ygnacio Valley Care Center where they could visit with their loved one. This wonderful family was granted a trip on Angel Flight West with the help ...
On one home visit to her patient George’s home in early January, Hospice East Bay Social Worker Kim Mantch was alarmed to find George’s daughter Lorraine in an emotional state. Lorraine told Kim that when her father had become too weak to care for his ...
Page 1 of 2
