When Valinda Gillis of Vallejo needed care and support for her 97-year-old mother and 74-year-old sister who were both nearing the end of their lives at the same time, the Kaiser Permanente Vallejo hospice program was there to help.
Gillis’ mother, Merle Betz, had dementia and her sister, Lynetta Robinson, 74, was developmentally disabled, unable to get out of bed, and suffered from cirrhosis of the liver. Both lived together at their home in Benicia.
“We had four different care givers from the Vallejo hospice program,” she said. “They were reassuring, kind, and caring.”
The hospice team began caring for them late last year, providing 24-hour telephone and in-home support, Gillis said. Gillis’ sister died on Dec. 18, and her mom died three days later.
“My mother took care of my sister all her life, so when my sister died, I think my mother, even though she had dementia, knew she could let go, and then she died, too,” said Gillis.
Hospice is care provided to a person who is terminally ill and in the last stages of life. It seeks to reduce suffering and pain, care for emotional needs, and provide comfort to enhance quality of life.
The Vallejo hospice program was recently recognized as one of the best in the United States after receiving a 5-star rating from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
We had lots of people who came to help us, and you couldn’t ask for a better organization. I just felt like they were a step above anything else.Valinda Gillis, family member of hospice patients
The program is also one of only 9 hospices in California to receive a 5-star rating, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Currently, there are 2,889 hospices in the state.
“Our incredible culture of caring is really what sets us apart at Kaiser Permanente Vallejo,” said Corey Schwartz, MD, hospice physician and medical director for the Kaiser Permanente Vallejo hospice program. “When people call, they know their needs are going to be met immediately. We have 24/7 availability with our nurses and physicians, including nurses who come to the home. That’s huge for people who are at home really sick and often times are very scared. To have that availability is just tremendous to families.”
The ratings for hospice programs are based on the family caregiver experience survey. The survey measures categories of care based on information from family caregivers, such as communication, getting timely help, treating the patient with respect, emotional and spiritual support, help for pain and symptoms, and training families to care for patients. In addition, the survey also asks how the family caregiver would rate the hospice and their willingness to recommend the hospice to others.
Dedication sets program apart
The Kaiser Permanente Vallejo hospice program began in 1990 and is made up of a team of physicians, nurses, social workers, home health aides, volunteers, spiritual counselors, and others. Last year, Kaiser Permanente in Vallejo cared for more than 1,100 hospice patients.
In addition to Kaiser Permanente Vallejo, there are 6 other Kaiser Permanente Northern California hospice agencies in Martinez, Oakland, Hayward, San Francisco, and the South Bay.
David Ainsworth, RN, Kaiser Permanente Northern California regional service director for hospice services, said staff engagement and dedication is what sets Vallejo’s program apart.
“It’s a very strong team. Our front-line staff are very engaged with the patients,” he said. “This is more than a job for people. Hospice work is a calling.”
Gillis was happy with the care she and her family received.
“We had lots of people who came to help us, and you couldn’t ask for a better organization,” Gillis said. “I just felt like they were a step above anything else.”
