Anchor Health, Santa Rosa, CA (2026)

04/13/2026

What if relief did not come from another medication?

Virtual reality is helping hospice patients manage pain, reconnect with meaningful experiences, and find moments of peace in ways we could not offer before.

Here’s what that looks like in practice:

▫️Pain relief without more medication

Immersive environments can reduce perceived pain, anxiety, and distress by shifting attention and calming the nervous system.

▫️Experiences that illness has taken off the
table

Patients can stand on a beach, walk through a favorite city, or revisit meaningful places. Not as a distraction, but as a way to reconnect with moments that matter.

▫️A meaningful difference for pediatric patients

For children, VR creates space for play, joy, and escape. It gives them the chance to feel like kids again, even in the hardest moments.

This is not about technology for the sake of it.

It is about dignity. Comfort. Human experience.

And it is changing what end of life care can feel like.

Reach to discover how this is being used in hospice and what it means for patients and families.

04/08/2026

If you’re asking this question, here’s what you really need to know.

✒️ How do you talk to a parent about hospice care?

Most families delay this conversation until a crisis. By then, decisions feel rushed and overwhelming.

✓ Start earlier. Keep it simple.

✓ Do not lead with hospice. Start with what matters to them.

✓ Ask:
What is most important to you right now?
What are you hoping for in the next few months?
What are you most worried about?

✓ Listen carefully. You are not trying to convince them. You are trying to understand what matters to them.

✓ Then introduce support in a way that feels safe.

There is care that focuses on comfort, quality of life, and support at home.

You can receive support alongside treatment in many cases.

This is about adding help, not taking options away.

The biggest barrier we see is fear. Fear of losing control and being a burden. Fear that this means giving up.

It does not.

When these conversations happen earlier, families feel more supported, more prepared, and less alone.

If you are navigating this right now, you do not have to figure it out on your own.

Contact Anchor Health Hospice and Palliative Care.

We will help you understand your options and guide you through the conversation.

04/06/2026

⚓ Anchor Health East Bay recently hosted its first in-person Day of Remembrance, bringing together families, friends, and team members to honor loved ones who have passed.

In a shared space of reflection and connection, the focus was simple.

Remembering, honoring, and being present.

Supporting families does not end with care. It continues in moments like these.

Thank you to everyone who joined us. 💙

04/04/2026

Caregiver burnout is real. And it often shows up quietly.

Days fill with appointments, medications, and constant decisions. Emotions stay just under the surface. There is always something that needs attention.

At some point, exhaustion sets in a way that sleep does not fix.

If you are caring for someone you love and feel overwhelmed, stretched thin, or running on empty, there is nothing wrong with you. It means a lot is being carried.

Burnout can look like constant fatigue, short patience, trouble sleeping, or guilt for needing a break.

Many caregivers keep pushing through because asking for help feels hard.

But this was never meant to be done alone.

Hospice and palliative care are here to support caregivers as much as the patient.

That means guidance, coordination, and a team that helps carry the weight so everything does not fall on one person.

When support is in place, things begin to shift. There is more clarity, more steadiness, and more space to just be present.

If this feels familiar, it may be time for more support.

Contact Anchor Health Hospice and Palliative Care. We are here to help, every step of the way.

04/02/2026

Care at Anchor Health goes beyond the clinical. It shows up in the moments that make people feel seen, supported, and valued.

This Easter, we are sharing a little joy with our community and celebrating renewal, hope, and connection.

Wishing you and your loved ones a wonderful Easter 💐🐰

04/01/2026

Parents often don’t hear about pediatric hospice care until they’re already overwhelmed.

And by then?

They’ve been navigating everything alone for far too long.

Here’s what more families deserve to know… especially in California:

Hospice care for children can begin when there is a terminal illness.

It’s not about giving up treatment. It’s about adding support.

Through programs like Medi-Cal, and other insurance carriers, many children can receive both curative care and hospice care at the same time under their concurrent care benefit..

That means:

✔️ Pain and symptom management

✔️ Emotional support for the entire family

✔️ Guidance through complex medical decisions

✔️ Care that meets you where you are—at home,
in hospital, or in clinic

And yet… most families aren’t told this early enough.

We see it all the time.

▫️ Parents carrying the weight of decisions without the full picture.

▫️ Siblings trying to make sense of what’s happening.

▫️ Moments that could feel supported, but don’t.

Accessing pediatric hospice care in California usually starts with a referral.

But families can also ask. And they should.

Because the earlier support begins, the more it changes everything that follows.

If you’re a provider: introduce hospice care sooner.

If you’re a family: you don’t have to wait to ask.

We’re here to help navigate it with you, not after the fact.

03/30/2026

Hospice care is often misunderstood.
Many families assume it is only for the final days of life or that it is financially out of reach.

In reality, hospice is covered by Medicare, Medi-Cal, and most commercial insurance plans.

That coverage includes far more than many people realize.

It supports a full team focused on comfort, dignity, and quality of life.

Nurses, social workers, chaplains, music therapists, volunteers, and grief support are often all part of the care.

Here are a few things people are often surprised to learn.

▫️Most hospice care happens wherever a patient calls home. For many families, that means receiving care in their own living room, surrounded by the people and memories that matter most.

▫️Hospice coverage often includes medications related to the hospice diagnosis, as well as medical supplies and equipment such as hospital beds, oxygen, or wheelchairs. This support helps families focus on time together rather than logistics.

▫️Hospice care also supports the entire family. Social workers, chaplains, and grief counselors help loved ones navigate emotional, spiritual, and practical questions during care and in the months that follow.

▫️Another important principle of hospice is this: care is based on need, not the ability to pay.
While hospice care is a covered benefit under many insurance plans, community support and philanthropy help ensure that compassionate care remains available to every patient and family who needs it.

At Anchor Health Hospice and Palliative Care, that mission guides everything we do.

Our team is dedicated to providing comfort, dignity, and meaningful support to patients and their loved ones during one of life’s most important chapters.

If you have questions about hospice or palliative care for yourself or a loved one, please reach out.

Our team is here to help.

03/23/2026

There’s something special about celebrating the people who make care more human.

A heartfelt congratulations to Kendra Littleton on attaining her certificate at Bridgewood Post-Acute within the Spyglass Healthcare family. Achievements like this don’t just reflect hard work. They reflect compassion, commitment, and the kind of dedication that changes lives.

We love seeing our sister building recognized and the incredible professionals who continue to grow within it.

Moments like these are a reminder of how connected our healthcare community truly is. The relationships, the shared purpose, and the impact that extends far beyond one organization.

Thank you to Krystal Phillips for sharing this beautiful milestone and for continuing to shine a light on excellence in care.

03/21/2026

When is the right time to start hospice care?
This is one of the most common questions families ask.

Many people believe hospice is only for the final days of life.

In reality, starting earlier often provides the most support for both patients and their loved ones.

Here are a few signs that may indicate it is time to begin the conversation.

▫️Frequent hospital or emergency room visits can signal that an illness is becoming harder to manage. Hospice helps bring care to the patient rather than requiring repeated trips to the hospital.

▫️ Increasing weakness, fatigue, or spending more time resting can also mean additional support would help maintain comfort and dignity.

▫️Families may also notice that treatments are no longer improving quality of life and the focus begins to shift toward comfort and meaningful time together.

Hospice surrounds patients and families with a compassionate team that may include nurses, social workers, chaplains, therapists, and volunteers.

Starting hospice earlier often means more guidance, more support, and more time focused on what matters most.

If you are wondering whether hospice care may be appropriate for a loved one, the team at Anchor Health Hospice and Palliative Care is here to help guide the conversation.

03/20/2026

⚓ Most people don’t realize this about pediatric hospice care.

It’s not the same as adult hospice.

It requires deep collaboration between hospitals, specialists, and community care teams to support not just the child… but the entire family.

That’s why partnerships matter.

Anchor Health works alongside the pediatric teams at UCSF Benioff Children's Hospitals to extend care beyond the hospital and into the home.

So families are not left to navigate this alone.

For many families, this means having more time to sit beside their child… not just advocate for them.

One of the most misunderstood parts of pediatric hospice is this:

In some cases, children can continue certain treatments while also receiving hospice support.

It’s called concurrent care, and it allows families to focus on comfort, quality of life, and meaningful time together. Because care at this stage is never just medical.

It’s emotional. It’s practical. It’s deeply
human.

If you want to better understand what support can look like for a child and their family, we’re here to help.

03/19/2026

🎉 Big news and a well-deserved promotion to celebrate.

Please join us in congratulating Desirae Leyba on her new role as Executive Director in San Diego at Anchor Health Hospice and Palliative Care.

Hospice care is built on presence, compassion, and honoring each person’s journey.

Leaders like Desirae help ensure that mission shows up every day for patients and families who need support, dignity, and understanding during life’s most tender moments.

We are proud to have Desirae stepping into this leadership role and continuing to guide teams who are deeply committed to compassionate care.

Congratulations, Desirae.

We’re grateful for your leadership and the impact you are making in the community.

03/14/2026

🥧 Math lovers get their day. Pie lovers get dessert!

Today Anchor Health is celebrating Pi Day the best way we know how. ....With pie. 😋

Here are three pies Americans consistently rank at the top of the list and simple classic ways to make them.

🥧 Apple Pie
A timeless favorite! Tart apples, warm cinnamon, flaky crust.
Basic recipe idea:
Toss sliced Granny Smith apples with sugar, cinnamon, a squeeze of lemon, and a bit of flour. Pour into a prepared pie crust, top with a second crust, vent, and bake at 375°F for about 50 minutes until golden and bubbling.

🥧 Pumpkin Pie
Creamy, spiced, and a comfort classic.
Basic recipe idea:
Whisk together pumpkin purée, eggs, sweetened condensed milk, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves. Pour into an unbaked pie shell and bake at 425°F for 15 minutes, then reduce to 350°F for about 35 to 40 minutes until set.

🥧 Pecan Pie
Sweet, rich, and perfectly indulgent.
Basic recipe idea:
Mix corn syrup, brown sugar, eggs, melted butter, and vanilla. Stir in pecans and pour into a pie crust. Bake at 350°F for 50 to 60 minutes until the center is just set.

There is something about pie that brings people together. Around a table. In the kitchen. In conversation. Sometimes the simplest traditions create the warmest memories.

🗣️ In the spirit of community, tell us your favorite pie.

Are you team fruit, chocolate, cream, or something unexpected?

Anchor Health

04/13/2026

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03/14/2026

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