Our Response to Coronavirus
At Hospice of Santa Cruz County, our main goal is the safety and health of our patients, families, clients and staff.
We continue to track the Coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, situation and are following all guidelines provided by the California Department of Public Health, the Santa Cruz County Public Health Department, and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
Hospice & Palliative Care Services
Hospice of Santa Cruz County is prepared and ready to care for patients and their families during the COVID-19 pandemic. We continue to serve all members of our community, including those that test positive for COVID-19. Our staff are continually updated and educated on COVID-19 and infection control practices. We are working closely with referring partners and physicians and have put in place specific protocols for transitioning to hospice care during COVID-19.
We want our patients and families to feel fully supported. We’ve developed a set of COVID-19 Caregiver Guidelines for families and caregivers that are available below (available in English and Spanish). These guidelines outline important steps to follow to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
We continue to contact each patient and family to discuss how we can best support you at this time. We are always available by phone 24/7 and remain available to make visits as needed.
Community Events Update
We have transitioned most of our community events to a virtual format. Those that can’t be handled virtually have been cancelled. Please visit our Community Events page for the current schedule and to learn more about our virtual offerings. We invite you to join us and attend a virtual event that interests you.
Visiting our Offices
To ensure the health and safety of our staff and patients, all visitors will be asked screening questions about their current health, recent interactions, and travel prior to entering the office. All visitors and staff must wear a protective mask or face covering while in our offices.
Grief Support Services
We are now offering virtual grief support groups, classes and events. You can find a list of all our virtual grief support offerings in our latest Guide to Wellbeing or on our Grief Support Calendar.
We are also available for individual support which is offered by phone or via Zoom depending on your preference. We welcome your call to start the process.
Youth Grief Support
Grief counseling for youth is available virtually via Zoom. Parents/guardians are welcome to call for more information. We also accept referrals from schools. Please call (831) 430-3000 and ask for the youth grief support program.
The following resources may be helpful for parents in talking with their children about the Coronavirus and the current situation:
Eluna Network’s “Strategies for Thriving During the Covid-19 Pandemic”
Need to speak with Hospice or Grief Support Services? Call us at (831) 430-3000
Feeling stressed and overwhelmed about COVID-19?
An anonymous crisis line is available 24 hours, 7 days a week including holidays at 1-800-952-2335 or (831) 454-4170 (Santa Cruz County Mental Health Services) and/or SAMHSA’s Disaster Distress Helpline 24 hours at 1-800-985-5990 or text TALKWITHUS to 66746 (Press 2 for Spanish).