2024 Hike for Hope Registration is OpenAnnual fundraiser returns to Del Valle Regional Park, Livermore DUBLIN, CA – Hope Hospice has opened registration for its 2024 Hike for Hope, which will take place on Saturday, May 4, at Del Valle Regional Park in Livermore. Registration remains open through the event day, but interested parties are encouraged to sign up by April 5 to secure access to an Early Bird shirt pickup event, allowing them to skip the pickup line on hike day. Register at TheHikeForHope.com, or call (925) 829-8770 on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Hope Hospice is also seeking even ..read more

The holiday season is a time for joy, togetherness, and celebration, but for individuals living with dementia, it can be challenging and disorienting. Dementia affects the way a person perceives and processes information about their environment. Situations like a houseful of guests, a Christmas tree indoors, and even busy decor around the home can cause confusion for a person experiencing cognitive decline. However, with some thoughtful adaptations, it’s possible to create a more inclusive and enjoyable holiday season for both the person living with dementia and their loved ones. Simplicity i ..read more

By the Bay Health, Mission Hospice & Home Care, and Hope Hospice Merge to Become the Largest Independent Not-for-Profit Hospice Network in Northern California Newly combined organization aims to transform serious illness and end-of-life care with equitable access to high-quality, comprehensive, and integrated services across palliative, hospice, and home health care. LARKSPUR, SAN MATEO, DUBLIN, Calif., November 30, 2023 — By the Bay Health, Mission Hospice & Home Care, and Hope Hospice today announced they will merge to become the largest independent not-for-profit hospice network in ..read more

As dementia-related diseases progress, incontinence may occur. This can be from forgetting to use the bathroom when one feels the urge to urinate or have a bowel movement, not recalling the bathroom’s location, not being able to get there in time, or not being able to make the cognitive connection that tells one what the bathroom is used for. All these problems are results the of body’s declining brain function—not just memory, but also deterioration in information-processing functions, motor skills, vision, and more. Incontinence usually begins in the late-middle stage of dementia diseases ..read more

I’m the only one my husband trusts to provide care. My family is scattered all over the country — how can they help with care when they’re so far away? No one else can possibly understand what I’m going through. My siblings can’t help me care for our father, but they’re the first to criticize what I’m doing. I don’t trust anyone else to provide care for my mother — they may not do things the way I’d like; I’ll just have to fix the mistakes they make, so I might as well do it myself. I’ve often heard these statements and others like them from family caregivers. Without a doubt, one of the most ..read more

One of the most debilitating aspects of being a care partner is the feeling that you’re in this alone, that no one else is helping you. Having a support team in place is essential for the care of your loved one and critical to your own well-being. Hiring In-Home Help When I was caring for my mother several years ago, it was necessary for me to supplement her care after a hospital discharge. My mom was not happy with this plan—I was the only one she trusted.  She did not want any “strangers” coming into her home, and I must admit that I had the same concerns:  What if they’re scammer ..read more

Do you and your loved ones have an advance healthcare directive as well as the other documents necessary for managing legal and financial issues (e.g., Power of Attorney) should sudden illness, disability, or even death occur? Highlighting the urgency of this need to be prepared was an email I recently received from a gentleman who has attended Hope’s Family Caregiver Education Series. He regularly cares for his elderly parents, but this time he sought guidance about relatives who live out of state—a couple in their 40s, both of whom were diagnosed with COVID-19. The husband was not expected ..read more

2023 Hike for Hope Exceeds Goal With $153k Raised Fundraiser benefits Hope Hospice patient care and community programs DUBLIN, CA – Despite drizzly weather, nearly 850 supporters of Hope Hospice gathered at Del Valle Regional Park on May 6 for the nonprofit organization’s signature Hike for Hope. An impressive 1,174 registrants committed to the fundraiser and helped raise $153,000 for Hope, but late-spring inclement weather deterred some families from attending the hike itself. (The 2022 event had a record-breaking 1,300 registrants and $180,000 in funds raised.) Unprecedented winter storms ke ..read more

Being a caregiver for a frail or bedridden patient requires assisting the person with ambulation, positioning, and transfers. If not performed with great care, these tasks can cause you serious back and neck injuries, and potentially injure the person receiving assistance as well. Muscle strains are common in nursing and caregiving professions, but they can be avoided by taking safety precautions. Preparation Before taking action, review the patient’s plan of care and consider the task at hand. Think about what you are capable of, what assistance you might need, and to what degree the one in ..read more

Anyone who provides substantial care to another person is at high risk of burnout and stress. This is especially true for those who care for people living with dementia because of how unpredictable each day can be. Caregiving is a hard job for family care partners and professionals alike. It is imperative to take stock of one’s mental health and stress level, and to dedicate time to whatever rejuvenates you.  Self-care looks different from person to person. For some, it means getting a massage, taking a fitness class, or sitting quietly outside. For others, it’s spending time with loved ..read more