2024 Report to the Community
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    • Hospice Patient Demographics
    • Palliative Care Demographics
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  • Leadership
    • 2024 Community Hospice & Health Services Board of Directors
    • 2024 Community Hospice & Health Services Foundation Board of Directors
    • 2024 Friends of Community Hospice & Health Services Executive Committee
    • 2024 Community Hospice & Health Services Advisory Council
  • DONORS

Clinical

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Community Hospice & Health Services (CHHS) has been privileged to come alongside our friends and neighbors who turn to us during their time of greatest need for the past 45 years. Our community-based palliative and hospice care programs offer medical, physical, spiritual and emotional support crucial to patients and families facing serious advance and terminal illness. We encourage and support those we serve to make decisions that are best for them at their current life juncture. Through quality delivered care, symptom management expertise and education, many patients can maintain independence and participate in meaningful life experiences. We provide care 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and are just a phone call away.​

"You were there, every step of our journey."
– A Grateful Family

Hospice Care

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Those who have turned to CHHS to care for their terminally ill loved ones can share that our care is not focused solely on dying. CHHS is committed to delivering high quality care and comfort by addressing symptom management issues and support for the wishes of the patient, family and caregivers.
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Care and support services are provided 24/7 and include physical, spiritual and emotional support for our patients and their caregivers. Services are provided wherever one calls home, including private residences, independent and assisted living facilities, hospitals, nursing homes and at the Alexander Cohen Hospice House inpatient and respite care facility. Regardless of the setting, CHHS staff apply their expertise to the care of both our patients and their families/caregivers.

Services are provided by an interdisciplinary team which includes our Medical Director, Attending Physicians, Nurse Practitioners, Registered Nurses, Licensed Vocational Nurses, Social Workers, Chaplains, Hospice Aides, Volunteers and Bereavement Specialists.

In 2024, we cared for a total of 1,696 hospice patients, admitting 1,534 new adult and pediatric patients into the hospice program. We are grateful for the trust and assurance that our community members and healthcare partners place in our staff to provide compassionate and quality care for their most vulnerable patients, families and caregivers. We are grateful for the opportunity to care for our community members and look forward to serving those in years to come.

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"The lessons of life seem difficult to learn, but it is the lessons of death that are difficult to accept. Through the support and care Community Hospice & Health Services provided,
​accepting the transition was made easier. Thank you for existing".
 
– A Grateful Hospice Family

Palliative Care

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The CHHS Palliative Care Program focuses on providing compassionate care to patients of all ages facing chronic or serious illnesses through case management services, clinical oversight, and assistance accessing community support services.

Our dedicated team helps patients, caregivers and families navigate challenges and overcome barriers within the healthcare system.  We advocate for our patients while they continue to seek curative and life-prolonging treatments. Support services are provided wherever the patient call home. In collaboration and partnership with the patient’s primary care provider and health care specialists, the team develops individualized care plans to address health concerns and assist with access to community support services.

In 2024, we saw an increase in services needed throughout our service area. Our palliative care team cared for a total of 163 patients, admitting 89 new patients into the palliative program. These numbers reflect both our adult and pediatric palliative care patients.

The Palliative Care Program has also benefitted from partnering with Basket of Hope, a food program sponsored by the Friends of Community Hospice & Health Services, Salvation Army and Trinity United Presbyterian Church. Through this program we have been able to refer 70 families to receive food monthly. This program has been instrumental in supporting our under-resourced patients and families experiencing food insecurity. In 2024, 383 Baskets of Hope were distributed to our patient families. We have also enjoyed partnering with the Legacy Health Endowment Patient Centered Care Program which provided social work, nursing services and food to many patients who would otherwise not have such coverage. Our clinical team made visits to those in the program who benefitted from additional community resources and clinical oversight.

Additionally, several of our patient families received an extra special Christmas celebration because of the Adopt-A Family Program organized by our Volunteer Department. We are grateful for our generous community donors who provided gifts and holiday cheer to so many in need.


​Alexander Cohen Hospice House

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The Alexander Cohen Hospice House (ACHH), also referred to as the Hospice House, is a one-of-a-kind inpatient hospice facility located in Hughson, California. The Hospice House delivers comprehensive 24-hour nursing care and includes 16 private inpatient rooms, a family suite with designated pediatric room, private patios, family kitchen, chapel and spacious gathering space with all the amenities of home.

For nearly 20 years, ACHH has provided compassionate and quality care for patients and families in our community. Our dedicated patient care team consists of both Registered and Licensed Vocational Nurses, Medical Social Workers, Chaplains, Hospice Aides and volunteers. The leadership team supporting and overseeing patient care consists of a knowledgeable Medical Director, Chief Clinical Officer and Hospice House Administrator.

ACHH predominantly provides two levels of hospice care for our patients. General Inpatient Care (GIP) is the highest level of hospice care where staff utilize their expertise in symptom management to alleviate symptoms not controlled in the home environment. Respite is the level of care which allows the caregiver up to five days of a much-needed rest from the caregiving of their hospice loved one. 
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In 2024, we had the honor of providing care for 479 patients and their families at the Hospice House.


Cardiovascular Speciality Program

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We are proud to offer a Cardiovascular Specialty Program for hospice patients facing advanced cardiovascular illness. This is one more reason CHHS is often the preferred hospice and support services provider in our community. Cardiovascular disease burden among hospice patients is high. Many patients have terminal diagnoses which are non-cardiac related but also suffer from significant cardiovascular disorders. Some patients develop cardiac issues as their disease progresses. Patients with major cardiac problems may feel insecure when transferring from cardiology care to hospice care. The Cardiovascular Specialty Program allows CHHS to provide high quality cardiovascular care for our hospice patients with excellent patient and family satisfaction. In 2024, a total of 111 hospice patients, including 40 new patients, received care through the Cardiovascular Specialty Program.  

Dr. Peter Lai, CHHS Medical Director, oversees all patients enrolled in the Cardiovascular Specialty Program. Dr. Lai is a well-regarded Board-certified Cardiologist in our community who has more than 35 years of clinical experience. Trained at the Mayo Clinic and the University of Michigan, Dr. Lai also has an extensive research background with dozens of publications in the field of cardiology. Dr. Lai served as the Chief of Cardiology at both Memorial Medical Center and Sutter Gould Medical Foundation prior to joining CHHS in 2021. 


Hospice Family Bereavement Support

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As we reflect on the past year, it is with deep gratitude and compassion that we share the progress and impact of our grief support services. At CHHS we understand that grief is a personal journey, and it is our privilege to walk alongside individuals and families as they navigate the complex emotions of loss. 

Our grief support program is designed to help individuals cope with the emotional, physical, and spiritual effects of loss. Whether through individual counseling, group support or educational resources, we are committed to providing a safe space for expression, healing and growth. Our services are available to the families of our patients, ensuring that no one navigates their grief alone. This past year we supported 915 newly grieving hospice family members.

Throughout the year, we provided a variety of grief support services to meet the diverse needs of those we serve. Our Grief Support Specialists provided 953 one-on-one sessions for individuals to explore their feelings in a confidential and empathetic environment.

We hosted two in person, six-week Loss of Spouse support groups offered in Hughson and Modesto, providing a space for individuals to connect with others who are experiencing similar feelings of loss.  These groups fostered shared healing and provided invaluable peer support.

We partnered with our community to provide grief education and support to those in the community who may not have had access to our hospice services. These partnerships allowed us to reach new audiences and raise awareness about the importance of grief support. Topics presented included Understanding Grief and Loss, and Grief and Gratitude During the Holiday Season. 

At our annual Coping with the Holidays, Carol Cassady shared the impact grief has on our lives during the holiday season, helping participants explore ideas to find meaning in the midst of loss, the idea of permission to change traditions and how to celebrate with friends and family. We were honored to host our 19th Annual Family Tree Decorating Ceremonies, bringing 235 family members together to memorialize their loved one we had the honor of serving this past year.
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We are honored to have been part of your journey.

"Thank you for your kind words of sympathy. The card I received from our
​hospice team was a beautiful expression of caring."

– A Grateful Family

Children's Grief Support Services

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Today, more than ever, children are witnesses to a world filled with tragedy and loss. Young people can and do experience the death of parents, grandparents, siblings, friends, teachers, and others. The Children's Grief Support department provides guidance and resources  to help bereaved children, and their families make sense of this life-altering change.

“The Childhood Bereavement Estimation Model (CBEM) estimates that 6 million children in the U.S. will experience the death of a parent or sibling before they turn 18. This number increases to 14.7 million by age 25.”

Children grieve very differently than adults and often experience feelings of isolation, confusion and despair. You may not always see children’s grief displayed outwardly. Internally, children may feel and react to emotions that are difficult to express. They might not have the words or understanding of what they feel to communicate or process their experience. Community Hospice & Health Services is honored to partner with various school districts throughout Stanislaus and San Joaquin counties to bring support to children and youth. 

In 2024, our Children’s Grief Support staff supported a total of 243 children providing 1,283 support sessions. Individual and group support was provided to children in 49 area schools throughout Stanislaus and San Joaquin counties who ranged in age from 6 – 17 years old.


Crisis Response Team
When a death unexpectedly occurs in a workplace or school that affects the staff, faculty and students, we are available to be called out to provide grief support to children and adults alike. This past year we continued to see a demand for assistance from our community for crisis events. In 2024, our Crisis Response Team responded to a total of 4 crisis calls for sudden, unexpected death circumstances, supporting 62 children and 59 adults.


Youth Grief Camp

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Camp Wokini, CHHS Youth Grief Camp, provides a unique opportunity for youth who have had a death loss of a loved one. Children and teens ages 6 to 17 attend a three-day, overnight camp experience that provides traditional camp activities, grief education, emotional support, and healing. Camp Wokini gives youth in our community an opportunity to learn tools to cope with their grief, meet and bond with their peers who are also grieving and can relate to their experience, and memorialize the person they lost. Led by bereavement professionals and caring volunteers, camp provides a safe environment to explore grief feelings, learn coping skills, and make new friends.
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  • In 2024, 55 brave campers joined us May 31 to June 2, 2024
  • 56% of campers had lost a significant caregiver
  • 73% of the losses were sudden

We are excited to kick off our 12th year of grief camp. Camp Wokini, which means Hope & New Beginnings, will be held June 6-8, 2025, at Camp Sylvester in Pinecrest, California. To learn more or to apply to be a camper or volunteer, visit hospiceheart.org.

“Camp helped me by giving me a place to talk to others about my loss,
because I never really had a place to do that. I made good friends and knowing that
​they are going through similar things made the bonds that much stronger.” 
— A Camper, Age 15

Hope Counseling

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Hope Counseling, a mental health program offered by CHHS, provides compassionate and high-quality care and therapeutic support for children, teens, individuals, and couples who are experiencing barriers that may impede their ability to live life fully.

​Counseling, also known as talk therapy, can have many benefits, including:
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  • Self-understanding: Counseling can help people understand themselves and others better, and explore their feelings, beliefs, and behaviors. 
  • Goal setting: Counseling can help people set and achieve personal goals. 
  • Emotional release: Counseling can provide an emotional release and a sense of being heard and understood. 
  • Improved communication: Counseling can help people improve their communication skills. 
  • Better relationships: Counseling can help people improve their relationships. 
  • Stress management: Counseling can help people manage stress and anxiety. 
  • Resilience: Counseling can help people build resilience. 
  • Treatment of mental illness: Counseling can help treat mental illness, such as depression, anxiety, and eating disorders. 
  • Learning about conditions: Counseling can help people learn more about conditions that affect them, such as depression, anxiety, and eating disorders, so they can better understand treatment options. 
  • Navigating difficult life situations: Counseling can help people navigate difficult life situations, such as the death of a loved one, divorce, natural disasters, school stress, and the loss of a job.

Our skilled and dedicated clinicians are Licensed Clinical Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists and Associate Social Workers who are paneled with several major insurances. Additionally, through a Community Impact grant award from Sutter Health Foundation, Hope Counseling was able to offer a discounted rate for uninsured and underinsured clients. Counseling is offered to clients through in-person, telephone and virtual platforms.

In 2024, Hope Counseling served a total of 158 clients, 114 were new clients, and provided a total of 1,118 sessions. Clients are empowered and provided resources to develop strength and resiliency. The most common diagnosis we saw clients for this past year were:
  • Generalized Anxiety Disorder
  • Adjustment Disorder
  • Prolonged Grief Disorder
  • Depression
  • ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder)
  • PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder)
Our expansion of therapeutic services supports those in need of guidance, improved well-being, healing and hope. To learn more or to schedule an appointment call 209.578.6373 or visit hospiceheart.org.


​Quality Assurance

Hospice Compare data is information collected and publicly displayed by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on their "Hospice Compare" website. This information allows patients and families to compare the quality of care provided by different hospice providers based on various quality measures like pain management, patient preference assessment, and timely care initiation, helping them make informed decisions about hospice care. Hospice Compare data is updated every three months at medicare.gov.
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Click here for the complete Comparison Charts.

Clinical Education

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The Clinical Education department had a productive year in 2024, with the continued expansion of our Learning Management System (LMS). LMS has significantly enhanced our ability to deliver educational materials to our staff and improve the onboarding process for new hires. Through the use of the LMS, we have been able to streamline training, allowing for better access to resources and a more efficient learning experience for all involved.
 
In 2024, we proudly hosted over 100 college students who participated in clinical ride-a longs and worked with our staff at ACHH. Students came from diverse disciplines, including Registered Nurses (RNs), Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVNs), and Home Health Aides. Our partnership with California State University, Stanislaus, continues to thrive as a cornerstone of our educational initiatives. Several students from the university successfully completed their learning requirements with CHHS as part of their Master's degree in Social Work program and Bachelor’s degree in Registered Nursing program. The university now requires their Bachelor’s level students to learn about hospice and palliative care, resulting in more exposure to these critical areas. This requirement has led to students spending more time with nursing staff, gaining a more rounded foundation for holistic care. We are grateful for our well-educated and dedicated clinical staff, who play a vital role in creating a supportive and enriching learning environment for these students.
 
We are thrilled to be cultivating new relationships with other local schools and universities, further expanding opportunities for students to gain real-world experience and enhance their learning through CHHS. These partnerships are not only instrumental in providing educational opportunities but also in helping to strengthen and grow the local healthcare workforce, which is crucial to meeting the needs of our community.
 
In addition to our hands-on learning opportunities, we hosted several educational events throughout the year. One key series, "Coffee & Conversations," focused on our core services, hospice, palliative care, bereavement and mental health support. We were also pleased to welcome back "Partners in Caring" where we highlighted the significance of spiritual care for our patient families and community, emphasizing its importance as an integral and invaluable part of the care we provide. These efforts reflect our commitment to not only enhancing clinical knowledge but also promoting holistic care approaches.
 
Furthermore, in 2024 we have continued our partnership with Memorial Medical Center to provide both in-person and online education on "Caring for the Caregiver." This program has been instrumental in offering valuable support and resources for those who care for patients, recognizing the importance of caregiver well-being as part of our commitment to comprehensive care. We look forward to building upon these efforts in the coming year, further enriching the educational experiences of our staff and students and expanding our impact on the healthcare workforce in our region.
 
Our in-house library is open to the public, ensuring that valuable educational resources are accessible to all. The library is regularly updated and serves as a key resource for both our staff and the community. The library is open Monday – Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Speakers Bureau

Community Hospice & Health Services provides experienced speakers on a number of topics related to palliative care, hospice, grief and loss, and mental health care. Our speakers are available to come to your organization or office to provide education and resources. To learn more or schedule an inservice please contact our Director of Public Relations at 209.578.6300, [email protected] or visit hospiceheart.org. 

Volunteers Make the World A Brighter Place

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We are filled with gratitude for the dedication and compassion shown by our incredible volunteers. Volunteers play a critical role in supporting our patients and families and we celebrate the significant impact their service has made within our hospice community. 

Their selflessness and care provide not only practical assistance but also emotional comfort to those we serve. They also provide invaluable support in our office, board leadership, fundraising, bereavement support, community education and marketing, retail operations and Camp Wokini.

In the past year, 336 dedicated volunteers have made a profound impact, contributing their time, energy, and compassion to support both our patients and families. They contributed 14,976 hours in support of the mission of CHHS, saving the organization $537,358.93.

Our volunteers provide essential services that enhance the care we offer. Volunteers spent hours visiting patients, offering companionship, reading books, playing music, or simply providing a comforting presence. Their 1,602 visits helped reduce feelings of loneliness and isolation, ensuring that our patients felt valued and cared for in their final days.  

Volunteers played a key role in our community outreach. Through their involvement in 34 community events, they helped increase awareness about the services and mission of CHHS.

Our volunteers are the heart of CHHS, and we recognize their hard work and dedication. This past year we celebrated their contributions at our annual Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon and Award Ceremony. We invited our volunteers to join us for a Tea…Rific Time. We had the special joy of recognizing six individuals for their outstanding service. The volunteers who were recipients of the Mary Jean Coeur-Barron Volunteer of the year for their outstanding service and spirit of excellence were the following:


Community Hospice & Health Services: Kay Haley
Friends of Community Hospice & Health Services: Kathryn Martinelli
Camp Wokini:  Beth and Galen Haile
Hope Chest Thrift Stores:  Jeraldine and Ralph Goeken
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We want to extend our deepest gratitude to all our volunteers. Your selfless dedication and kindness make a world of difference to those facing the end of life and to their families. Your contributions allow us to continue our mission of providing compassionate, high-quality care. We are truly blessed to have you as part of our family.

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We welcome your time and talent! 

There are many opportunities to lend a helping hand at Community Hospice & Health Services. Some areas of opportunity and service include:
  • Patient and family visitors
  • Board leadership
  • Fundraising
  • Community education and marketing
  • Bereavement support
  • Camp Wokini
  • Retail operations
  • General office duties
  • And more...

For more information about volunteer opportunities, visit hospiceheart.org.


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    • 2024 Community Hospice & Health Services Board of Directors
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