Community Hospice celebrates 40 years

MODESTO— Community Hospice, a nonprofit hospice provider caring for those facing a serious/life-limiting illness, has reached a milestone of 40 years, becoming the oldest and largest nonprofit hospice provider in the Central Valley.

From its small, 1979 beginnings in a church basement in Modesto, Community Hospice has grown to meet the needs of its surrounding communities, providing support and services in multiple counties, including; Stanislaus, San Joaquin, Merced, Calaveras, Mariposa, Tuolumne, and parts of Contra Costa, Sacramento, Alameda and Santa Clara.

What began as a dream and desire to celebrate and enhance the lives of friends and neighbors facing a life-limiting illness, became a reality and has continued to grow to meet the ever-changing needs of local communities.

Over the course of 40 years, Community Hospice has offered end-of-life hospice care, and has developed additional programs, including; palliative care for those facing a serious illness (not hospice), pediatric care programs, grief support services, children’s schoolbased grief support, Camp Erin of the Central Valley and community crisis response.

The organization also has the Alexander Cohen Hospice House, an inpatient hospice facility with 16 private rooms, a robust education program, Durable Medical Equipment Division, seven Hope Chest Thrift Stores and a Logistics Processing Center. Today, Community Hospice cares for more than 3,000 community residents each year through various programs.