My son passed away in Apr of 2023. I attended several meetings at the hospice in San Luis Obispo. I appreciate that this org is there for me. I know I have alot of grief that can sneak up and grab me at anytime so even when I'm not at a group for awhile I always have the invitation in my mind that I am welcome to come and get comfort. Thank you so much.
Losing my mom and dad they have helped with the hospice support group on Tuesday nights. Thankful for this group.
I've been involved in nonprofits for 50-plus years, including researching hospices and palliative care for 15 years, volunteering (in various capacities) in 3 States and Washington, DC, serving as an advisor on a Templeton-funded pilot study led by palliative care pioneer Christina Puchalski, MD, and writing a book, Hospice Voices: Lessons for Living at the End of Life. Based on my experience, SLO Hospice is one of the finest nonprofits I've ever encountered; in any field.
- Eric Lindner, Pismo Beach, CA
When my Father committed suicide, I was devastated and needed counseling desperately. I was also unemployed with no income. I contacted Hospice SLO County and was offed free sessions with a counselor via telephone. In addition, they offered, and I joined their online grief therapy group. They really helped to get me through a terrible experience. As a result, I have gone through their training and hope to volunteer with their Pet Peace of Mind program.
It's an honor to associate with Hospice SLO County because of the special local service we provide our community. We have been serving for generations and our commitment is steadfast. I love working as a volunteer and as an end-of-life doula. As we near the end of the year, attending our annual Light of a Life ceremonies across the county to honor our loved ones, pets and all, during the holiday season brings healing to so many of us. It appreciate the immense dedication of our continued staff and community to show up for those grieving and adjusting to a change in their life.
As community partners, our agencies often refer back and forth with our specialties and abilities to support caregivers and members in our community. Shannon, Kim and their team are effective in their use of resources, creativity and expertise. They are reliable and a joy to work with on community projects and in helping families and individuals. I am grateful for Hospice of SLO County!
As a geriatric social worker, I’ve worked professionally with Hospice of SLO County for over a decade. I’ve had numerous clients benefit immensely from their services-from clients who took great solace from their grief counseling, to those who attend support groups, many who have received case management and in-home respite, I’ve even referred some to their extensive grief book library! I don’t know where I’d be without having HSLO as a pillar of support in our community-which is why I’m proud to serve on its Board of Directors. The organization is also innovative, efficient and collaborative in the way Board members are utilized. I can’t say enough good things about Hospice of SLO County!
In the midst of the Covid pandemic I needed a way to safely leave the house and also stay busy. Volunteering in the front office of Hospice of San Luis Obispo County allowed me to do it. That was years ago, and I'm now at 400+ hours of volunteering for them. There are heavy days and joyful ones, but EVERY day they are here is for the sake of others. They give everything and then some to the community and I'm honored to help them do it.
Hospice was there for me when both my parents were suffering from dementia and I was the primary care giver. I had little or no experience or expertise in this difficult situation. I simply walked into a Family Caregiver Support Group and right away no longer felt alone. I never really shared at all in the meeting, but was helped so much by the others stories of struggle and ideas that helped them. It also opened up other resources for me to get help from. May years later, when I retired, I joined as a volunteer and I find it so rewarding to be able to give back to the community and this amazing organization.
I have been volunteering with Hospice SLO for a few years now as a yoga instructor for Grief Yoga classes and am continually inspired by the impact the classes have on our community here thanks to Hospice making them available and free. The support that Hospice SLO gives to the community is so comprehensive as I've attended myself some of their Heart Drum circles as well as volunteer appreciation meet ups. I feel truly honored and blessed to be a part of Hospice SLO and grateful I can share my experience here so others can read how wonderful they are.
As a proud volunteer of Hospice SLO for about 5 years, I feel that I am an important member of a non-profit that is providing an invaluable service to our community that no one else provides. Our excellent volunteers at Hospice SLO provide loving care and kindness and assistance for the sick and/or elderly who need fairly constant care but are still at home. In addition, Hospice SLO provides other immeasurable benefits like grief counseling and end of life support, and all their services are free of charge! The incredible staff at Hospice SLO constantly provides both in-depth training and wonderful loving support to their volunteers. In my experience with Hospice SLO, recipients of our services have always expressed a deep gratitude for the remarkable aid and resources they have received.
I have had the honor of working as a volunteer with Hospice of San Luis County for the past 4 years.
The Hospice staff, volunteer trainings and free community services provided by the organization are extraordinary.
I am so impressed with the work done by the staff and volunteers that I also became a donor.
My own family and friends have benefitted from the services of SLO Hospice and I am deeply grateful for the help and healing they received because we have this wonderful organization in our own community.
After my mother and mother - in - law both passed away in 2021 with hospice aid, I joined Hospice SLO County as a volunteer. It has been a wonderful experience working with my client and with his family as I provide some respite time for them to shop, go to their own appointments, or just get out for a few hours. Although my client has cognitive impairment, we love to listen to oldies music and we both sing the lyrics together. He gets a kick out of that and so do I. HSLOC is such a valuable community service that families would not otherwise have access to in their most vulnerable time. I feel indebted to them as well, since I get to be a part of that service. Win -Win all around !
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Hospice SLO County has been providing compassionate loving care for both clients and their caregivers as they navigate the end of life for many years. The staff are wonderful and warm, and the mission is critically important for us all. The high level of training I received was really unexpected - so gad to have this information!
I started my journey with Hospice SLO as a client and quickly joined as a volunteer and sponsor. This is an incredible group, I believe one of only 17 remaining non medical hospice groups in the country, offering counseling, respite care, reiki, and resources for those needing their support. The team is a lifeline for families suffering with grief, impending grief and life changing medical diagnoses. I am honored to be part of the Hospice SLO family, to share my time and give back to our community.
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When my brother passed last year, Hospice was there immediately. We utilized group support meetings. The team was so caring and thoughtful, even made direct calls to check in. Months later I became an in home volunteer and it was one of the best decisions I've ever made. I love the program and our clients. SLO Hospice cares and makes a huge difference in our community.
As a board member I have noticed the care and compassion the staff and volunteers have for the people in our community.
Hospice San Luis Obispo County has a heart as big as they come. It’s a place where all who seek help in managing their grief can find expert care and comfort. It’s a place where hundreds of folks have found help in caring for their loved ones as their time in this realm slips away. It’s a place filled with the kindest, most compassionate and dedicated volunteers one could ever hope to find. It’s a place that defines community. I have never felt so happy to be associated with a group of people as I have at Hospice. As a Board member for the past four years I can honestly say I’ve never observed a better place serving it’s fellow humans!
I’m a Board Member and in the last decade, Hospice helped my Mother, Father and my younger brother make their transitions. Hospice of San Luis Obispo County continues to be such an important asset in our Community at some of life’s most difficult moments.
Hospice of SLO County is an incredible piece of the SLO community. You truly see what difference the hospice's services make in the community. Highly suggest volunteering here if you can :)
I have been a trained In-Home and Doula volunteer since 2018. I volunteer weekly for a client with advancing Parkinson's disease and dementia, which also provides caregiver respite for his spouse. Hospice SLO has impressed me with the care and sensitive support it provides for residents of SLO County and also for its many volunteers. All services are provided free of charge. That's right...FREE.
For anyone considering volunteering a few hours a week, this compassionate organization will train you, place you with a compatible client and support you every step of the way. I receive much satisfaction from my service and I highly recommend it.
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I signed up for HospiceSLO's In-Home Volunteer training in 2018 as a challenge to myself to engage in an activity that was outside my comfort zone at the time but that would benefit someone in need of support. The thorough training was exceptionally well planned, prepared and administered and I knew it would prepare me for the duties of an in-home volunteer. I was matched with a client who was a very good fit with my personality and outlook and I have served this person for three years as they declined into deepening symptoms that became more disabling and placed more demands on their caregiver. My weekly volunteer time now serves their caregiver as much as the client.
Later I also enrolled in the equally thorough End of Life Doula training, to gain further skill and insight into assisting a person facing a terminal diagnosis, and their loved ones.
All services provided by HospiceSLO are without charge regardless of a person's financial status, and are available without the strict criteria enforced by medical hospices. This is an amazing service for members of our community dealing with serious or life-limiting illness, especially if they cannot afford the kind of support they need or do not qualify for medical hospice.
I can't say enough positive words for HospiceSLO and the high value its services bring to recipients. All the volunteers and the small paid staff are providing deeply needed care to our lucky SLO County community.
I've been working with Hospice of San Luis Obispo County for a little over a year now, and I am still consistently amazed by the depth of compassion and empathy that the individuals and organization as a whole display. Despite being in an industry that is inundated with grief, this organization and it's members have not grown to be cynical or jaded. Rather, they provide light and hope for their community on the Central Coast, providing dignified counseling and care to as many people as they can. It is my hope that not only would Hospice of San Luis Obispo County continue to operate on the Central Coast, but that it would receive what it needs to flourish, in order that more people in need of this type of depth of care can receive it.
I got involved with Hospice SLO in the beginning of 2022. I was new to the area and looking for a way to give back to my community and also explore a possible career shift to becoming an End of Life Doula (after 20 years in corporate America). The journey has been incredible! I've met so many kind and knowledgeable people. As an In-home volunteer and Pet Peace of Mind volunteer, I've received excellent training on everything from the history of volunteer hospices and the industry evolution, to documentation (ie., Advance Health Care Directives, Vial of Life, POLST, etc...) to effective communication and gentle touch techniques (i.e., Reiki) for clients (humans and animals). The staff truly respects and values volunteers' time, backgrounds, and limitations of all shapes and sizes. This is a very special organization to be a part of.
I have used several of the services of Hospice of San Luis Obispo County as a county resident before and after family members passed away - my father, and the horse I had for 30 years - within 10 months of each other. The exceptional assistance made all the difference to my emotional and psychological well-being during this challenging time.
We are so fortunate to have the range of services offered, with the incredible quality of staff and volunteers. Most of my friends and family in other parts of the country do not have access to so many services.
I have also had the privilege of serving as volunteer as a Doula, Threshold Singer and with Pet Peace of Mind programs. The training, teams and support are excellent. We are so blessed to have Hospice of San Luis Obispo County as a non-medical Hospice for all of our well-being.
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I’ve been a volunteer for four years with Hospice SLO and also a recipient
Of services for grief after my father died, and then my horse died.
The staff are all exceptional in level of care and assisting you in receiving the resources needed. Receiving grief counseling was extremely helpful for moving through grief. I had previously been in counseling at other times of my life when someone close died but never specifically grief counseling. This was different and extremely helpful and comforting.
As a volunteer as an End-of-Life and Death Doula, for their Pet Peace of Mind program, and with the Threshold Singers we receive excellent training, ongoing support and education.
As a medical social working with both the Alzheimer's/dementia community and at a medical based hospice, I have always turned to Hospice of San Luis Obispo County for support for my clients. They have an array of services to help those facing life limiting illnesses and offer each service with the compassion and care those receiving the service deserve. As an adjunct lecturer at Cal Poly, I have also turned to Hospice of San Luis Obispo County for support, and they have been instrumental in supporting the learning and grief needs of Cal Poly students, from providing guest speakers for classes to co-hosting a Covid-19 Memorial for the Cal Poly community. I am so inspired by their mission, I recently joined the Board of Directors. This organization is an incredible asset to our community.
My name is Jeff Bonner and I became involved with Hospice of SLO County in 1997 following the untimely death of my daughter, Megan. She was involved in a traffic accident in a intersection in Tucson, Arizona in early November of that year. She was 21.
I attended grief counseling sessions on Tuesday evenings for a couple of months, used the free literature library to learn more about grief and used the available free counseling service.
Everyone at Hospice was very kind and helpful. they listened and made recommendations to assist me on path.
I have had several friends and acquaintances since then who have had need of Hospice end of life services and all of them have been grateful for the services Hospice of SLO provides.
I donate what I can to Hospice each year to help them continue to provide these services and am extremely grateful that they are participating in the life and death process in our county.
The individual counseling sessions were invaluable. I lost 4 brothers in 3 years. The Hospice grief counselor provided much needed grief therapy.
Gratefully,
Patricia Gordon
I have Multiple Sclerosis and have had a volunteer come into my home. She helped so much by completing tasks like doing the wash, fixing meals, walking the dog and just visiting. Also Kim Chartrand has been so valuable giving me contacts within the community when I need them. So thankful for their services!
As a volunteer, End of Life Doula/Death Doula and GEM member, being a part of this organization is an honor and privilege. I’ve never come across a more caring and loving group as this.
Thank you Hospice SLO.
After completing my eight weeks of thorough training I was ready to become a volunteer. The Hospice staff was wonderful when I was interviewed making me feel that they were there for me at all times and to make sure I was a good fit with my client. This last two months with my client has shown me how Hospice can be such a wonderful program for people who just need assistance with everyday chores as well as a friend to talk with. I cannot say enough about Hospice of San Luis Obispo, and every chance I will speak highly of this organization and what it stands for.
We are faithful SLO Hospice supports and will continue to be. Also, my husband and I used to volunteer for caregiver relief years ago. I also taught a gentle yoga class for about a year there at the office. We were also involved in vigil volunteering and attended other training there. When we had our parents to take care of we attended caregiver support groups and at the time of their deaths, we attended grief support groups. When our pets died, we attended pet support groups. We continue to be donors. We enthusiastically recommend Hospice SLO County. Craig and Cheryl McCollum
I am a new volunteer with Hospice after finishing my several months of training, which was home study and Zoom meetings. I found the training very thorough, the staff knowledgeable, caring, and helpful. I am enjoying my first assignment with an 82-year old woman who has had two strokes. She and her husband are very sweet to me and so grateful each time I visit them. I think Hospice SLO is a great way to be of service to others.
I’ve been a volunteer with hospice SLO for about a year. I’ve also used many of their lovely services including: grief support, counseling, yoga, and advise for my mom’s financial and aging needs. My family appreciate the no costs services they provide. Many people I know in our community rely on them in a times of great need.
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More then a support group, counseling service, and auction fun fundraiser SLOHOSPICE is a local community. They have become an extended family for me as I develope my grief coping skills. "Virtual gatherings" have kept us safe and supported during the recent Covid-19 quarantine. The resources they provide me are unlimited: Word of mouth referrals, encouragement, literature, compassion, and common purpose.
I have been a hospice volunteer for several years. From in-home visits to reiki sessions. This inclusive organizations offers support for us volunteers as well as for our clients. There are many niches for different volunteers from humans to animals. As a reiki provider, the music room was a perfect place for peace and quiet pre-covid. SLO hospice has shown us our humanity to others in need and to ourselves.
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I signed up to be a volunteer after I retired. It was a bucket list item for me. The training program was broad and meaty. It certainly made us think about our own mortality to the point of writing our own eulogies! The organization continues to provide us with ongoing education pre-Covid with classes on Alzheimers, outreach organizations, legal aspects as well as self care classes. SLO hospice is keen on keeping volunteers healthy through yoga, reiki, monthly meetings, volunteer appreciation. They also make sure the client matches work and will make adjustments as needed. There is pretty much an 'open door' for volunteers to obtain support.
Hospice of San Luis Obispo County is unique with regard to the volunteer services it provides. Volunteers are trained in palliative care practices which focus on family dynamics as well as the health and welfare of the client. These services are not only provided for the terminally ill, but for clients with acute care needs. Volunteers are able to assist with health issues, crisis management and referrals to trained professionals within hospice itself and in the community. In addition, Hospice of San Luis Obispo County has an end of life Doula program which assists clients and families with thoughtful planning and care during life's last stages.
I'm so excited that Hospice of SLO also includes helping folks with their animals and animal care when health is precarious. These beings are part of the family, and peace of mind when it comes to their care is a wonderful service.
I have been a Hospice volunteer for five different Hospice organizations over the past 12 years, and I am incredibly impressed by the breadth of services provided by this organization. Their status as a Volunteer Hospice allows them to provide services to clients who are not yet diagnosed as being less than six months from death and/or are opting to continue treatments or wait for an organ transplant. This organization has provided me with training as an End-of-Life Doula and opportunities to assist patients and families in order to acquire the experience required to complete my certification. I believe the EOL Doula services alone makes this organization a leader in the movement and provides a missing compliment to Medical Hospices in the community, making the Hospice service in this County far superior to others.
I joined Hospice SLO a number of months ago as a volunteer and I have been greatly impressed with this wonderful organization! The services offered could not be more important to our community, and the professionalism, kindness and compassion displayed by everyone involved has warmed my heart. I am proud to be involved and hope to have the opportunity to make a greater impact in the years to come.
Lisa Guy
24 year SLO Resident
I have volunteered for HSLO for more than five years and across the board every member from the top down is client focused. The level of compassion is astounding. I joined them after losing a loved one to lung cancer and seeing how much better the end of life process can be if hospice is there to help guide everyone involved.
Hospice of SLO gets my highest recommendation and has earned my deepest respect and admiration. I completed the extensive volunteer training and am now an active volunteer. The training was rigorous and expansive, and I personally learned so much about the needs of those persons in transition, the caretakers who provide for them, and frankly, my own feelings about my mortality. There was amble processing which informed my volunteer position for sure, but that also allowed me to access my own feelings about death and being prepared for it. They are a very organized and responsive service with dedicated and devoted administration and volunteers. They are deeply concerned and caring for those in need in our community and work with integrity and appreciation for what they are able to provide. As a volunteer I feel supported and appreciated. I am passionate about my work with Hospice SLO and recommend this volunteer and growth opportunity to anyone interested. Bravo and so many thanks!
SLO Hospice is a rare resource in our community. It is a non-medical and non-profit hospice. They offer support and resources to everyone who seeks assistance. I have seen the support clients receive first hand as a volunteer and I am grateful to have this wonderful organization in our community. Check out their website http://www.hospiceslo.org/ and all the resources they offer.
I was introduced to SLO County Hospice as a member of Threshold Choir. I’m amazed by how connected this nonprofit is to the community. They offer a variety of services & events even for those who may not yet be a caregiver, grieving or actively approaching life’s end. I am grateful for the kind & inspiring people I continue to meet through this organization. The work they do is so very meaningful & valuable.
Going through the volunteer course with SLO hospice was not only an excellent experience, where I met some truly incredible people, but I can away prepared to go into a clients home and provide companionship and witness to an elder in the last year of his life. The services, the SLO Hospice house, and most of all, the people running it all, is remarkable. The care organised and offered is one of uplifting of lives.
I trained as an in-home volunteer last year and was so impressed by the professionalism, attention to detail, and most importantly, the empathy, thoughtfulness, and love that goes into every part of this organization. Each person who interacts with HospiceSLO, whether it’s a volunteer or a client, is made to feel important and cared for. Our community is definitely enhanced by having Hospice SLO here!
I have volunteered with HSLO for more than three years. The training was superb. The assignments to individuals in need were very fulfilling. I have attended to the respite care needs of individuals and their primary caregivers and have assisted individuals up to the point of their passing who otherwise would have suffered without companionship. HSLO’s clients never need to be concerned about paying for HSLO’s services because all we do is provided at no charge. If you want to make a difference in your community to deliver benefits that will last for years into the future, sign up and donate today!
As a volunteer for HSLO for over a year as a Pet Peace of Mind volunteer and an in-home volunteer, I have seen up close the dedication of the staff and volunteers and the positive effect the programs have had on my client’s health, safety, and ability to stay in her home with her beloved pets.
Hospice of San Luis Obispo County provides training and placement for companionship and emotional support volunteers with terminally-ill members of the community. My family and I received the benefits of this organizations' mission when my father was dying of cancer in 2005. Now, I am a hospice in-home volunteer and so enjoying my weekly time with my client. The training and support I have received from Hospice of San Luis Obispo is invaluable. I have learned so much about end-of-life support and acceptance. This non-profit is like no other and is so important to so many people who can not always express their gratitude.
I'm absolutely in love with Hospice of San Luis Obispo County. I just finished the in-home volunteer training to learn more about the organization and the folks who benefit from its services. What I learned: HSLO serves all of us -- in the most kind, capable, altruistic way imaginable. HSLO is a beautiful example of how to treat each other -- in life as well as near life's end. I'm delighted to know our community is in such wonderful hands, and I'm honored to serve Hospice SLO in any way I can.
I've been volunteering with Hospice of San Luis Obispo for about 4 years. I can't fully describe the satisfaction I have being a respite provider for clients and caregivers. People find it hard to believe that I receive more than I give. These wonderful clients show me what love, commitment, strength and perserverence are. They have added so much to my life and I hope I add just as much to their's. Hospice of SLO is the catalyst and I think they are doing a great job and service to this community.
I have been a Hospice volunteer for many years and taken numerous trainings, and this organization has a great volunteer training program!! The instructors are well informed, classes were interesting and all the staff kind and humorous, so I highly recommend them to anyone in need of their services. FYI, this is the only non-medical Hospice in SLO, which allows them to serve more people than the ones that are Medicare funded.
What an amazing group, need to spread the word. Volunteers are in the home to support clients and families and are so needed to support families to take care of themselves and are FREE. All the services provided have no charge. The training for these dedicated folks is amazing and very thorough. Leadership is always available to support and help volunteers. The Doula group provide support and are with client and family/friends as the end of the clients walk draws near. I have never met a group of more dedicated folks that reach out into the community to provide support, encouragement and caring, and also care for each other. The individual/group counseling and the many special programs (Reiki, drumming, stress/relaxation, meditation) to mention a few. What a wonderful asset to the community.
I have been attending a grief therapy group at the Volunteer Hospice as well as a Training Class to become a Hospice Volunteer as my own heart heals. Everyone at Hospice is interested in serving the community and taking good care of the volunteers. When I walk over the threshold at the front door before group or my class I always find myself thinking "I am home."
Hospice SLO County nurses and volunteers are known for their compassion and expertise in their work with end-of-life patients. However, my experience has been working with the unsung heroes of the office staff. My company worked with the HSLO staff to create a successful fundraiser last year, and I have only wonderful things to say about them. Kris Kington-Barker and her associates were prompt to reply to emails, efficient in producing quality newsletters, and effective in getting their supporters to join in a, previously unknown product, promotion. Their professionalism and success in doing so meant together we created a win-win-win situation, where even the patients directly benefited.
J'Nelle Holland, owner Hot Cherry Therapeutic Pillows
My husband died13 years ago. During the year of his illness, the Hospice support group helped me stay sane as everything seemed to crumbling around me. Members of that support group still get togethe roccasionally. Each of our lives has taken a different direction, but the bonds we established thanks to Hospice have kept us connected.
My aunt, who is 88 years old, had to move into a memory care facility after breaking her hip. Her nephew and I moved her from OR to CA to live near me. However, she could not keep her pet. Her cat, Buffie, is almost 13 years old. I was unable to find a home for Buffie in OR, and was unwilling to leave her in a shelter to take her chances. So I brought her on the plane with me down to CA. A friend suggested that I contact Hospice SLO Pets to help find her a home. I didn't know Hospice offered this service! Two staff members at Hospice got the ball rolling. Sidney put together a photo and a blurb about Buffie, and Shannon put the word out in the Hospice newsletter and other announcements. Although Buffie is elderly and has to take daily medication, a wonderful family responded and adopted her. I am very grateful to Hospice SLO Pets, and happy for Buffie in her new home!
I am an in-home volunteer for HospiceSLO and cannot say enough about how caring and dedicated this group is. The volunteers receive excellent training from knowledgeable staff. They are very thoughtful when matching volunteers with clients and are always available to discuss a case, give input and perspective and assist volunteers in any way possible. They are interested in the volunteer’s journey every step of the way as well as in providing the best care possible for clients. The types of services offered are amazing, from pet peace of mind to reiki to grief support groups to providing in-home care and caregiver respite.
Knowing that there is such a wonderful organization ready, willing, and able to assist clients in this time of need absolutely warms my heart. Very thankful for all that volunteer.
Hospice SLO County does what other agencies can't and also works closely with other area resources to help people with life limiting illness and their family caregivers. The caring volunteers and staff make it so my loved ones have been able to get the care and resources they need all free of charge.
Provides a no charge service in supporting the community through end of life and bereavement counselling
I volunteer in the front office with Hospice of SLO County. I was looking for a place to volunteer that made a difference. Hospice of SLO County makes a difference . The office staff and counselors I work with are really helpful and kind. The people who work at the office really care about the people who come in for service.
Hospice of SLO County is a most remarkable organization. Their 40+ yr legacy of quality and commitment comes through in all they do. They offer a complete range of Hospice related information and services - some of which I never knew about until I started working with them, like Reiki, cognitive care, Yoga Nidra, and Pet Peace of Mind. The employees and volunteers are true humanitarians. If you need them, they are there to help and connect you to services. If you are interested in volunteering, you will find no greater fulfillment and purpose than the work you can do with them. Their training is comprehensive and so thoroughly enjoyable. It has been a great honor to train and work with them.
Shannon McOuat, Director of Volunteer Services, Hospice of San Luis Obispo County is the soul of our Hospice program. She knows the importance of being present for everyone; her grasp on the resiliency of the human spirit, her dependability, approachability and humility have shaped her into a true asset to our community.
Shannon has set a tone of respect and compassion to the hundreds of those struggling to find their way through the maze of death. We are all better off because of her.
Hospice of SLO County has one of the most amazing and helpful team of staff members! The services they provide are incredible and they make sure to act as a community resource for those who need some guidance when dealing with life-limiting illnesses, grief, or death. The counseling team and support group leaders are exceptional as well as the care management team!
I was deeply concerned about my daughter and grandson after the suicide of my granddaughter. I briefly considered seeking the services of private therapists in the area however I kept hearing that for grief counseling, regardless of of the cause of death, Hospice San Luis Obispo County was the place to seek support and service. There was very little wait to see someone and both my daughter and grandson found the staff warm, professional and knowledgeable. I am so grateful this organization was available to us.
I took the training to become an in home volunteer two years ago. Since that time I have been providing respite care for a wonderful client and his wife. He is not at the end of his life. However, he is challenged by life changing dementia and various illnesses which cause physical decline. I have the privilege of sharing some of this journey with him. Also, I can give his caregiver a shoulder and an ear when she needs support. In truth, I feel that I get back much more than I give .
I have also been a volunteer for the fundraiser, Bingo Bonanza. It really is a '"FUN- raiser", as much as a fundraiser....what a blast!
Lately, I have been helping out in the office once each week. It is my pleasure to help others with clerical tasks which frees them to provide their valuable services. And all of these valuable services are FREE!!!
Hospice of SLO County plays a critical role in the lives of the members of our community. The many offerings of support groups and individual counseling cover a wide range of services to aid individuals dealing with life-altering changes. The caring and sensitive practitioners provide support and comfort when most needed. Training for those who wish to volunteer their services is available to broaden the scope of the program and encourages a vital dynamic for those in need of assistance during difficult periods of their lives. The many volunteers associated with Hospice of SLO County provide services free of charge to community members and do their best to improve the conditions of those in need.
Hospice of San Luis Obispo county staff thoroughly trains its volunteers in the complexities and sensitivities surrounding end of life. The scope of the training is holistic, including education about the dying process, family dynamics, cultural practices/preferences, diet, socialization, spirituality, durable medical equipment, non-medical solutions to pain/anxiety management and more. The staff does a great job of pairing volunteers to clients, plus they are always available for support and education. Hospice of SLO coordinates with other professional organizations that might be a part of the client's team, such as medical hospice, in-home healthcare providers and agency caregivers (just to name a few). This coordination is an exceptionally powerful benefit to both the client and their family/friends , allowing them to concentrate on each other rather than arranging help. In closing, it is an honor to work beside the staff at Hospice of SLO - their commitment to clients, volunteers and the community is humbling and stellar.
Hospice of San Luis Obispo County is an amazing organization that cares about the well being of their volunteers. The compassion that I have learned from Hospice is something that I will take with me for the rest of my life.
I volunteer for HSLO on a regular basis. HSLO’s central purpose is to ease life-limiting illnesses, dying and the grief that follows. Too many people in our society face death alone, and when primary caregivers are in place, a little bit of help (on occasion, just to get caregivers out of the house for a couple of hours) goes a very, very long way. I am able to see an exponential return on the investment of time and energy. I also believe that HSLO is properly administered by first-rate qualified professionals who provide on-going training of volunteers, who are aware of the need to define and set the parameters of volunteer activities and who simultaneously are on the lookout to expand HLSO’s reach for the benefit of the community. For all this, HSLO CHARGES NOTHING for its services. It doesn’t get any better than that.
From my vantage point, it seems to me that HSLO’s primary difficulty is the recruitment and retention of volunteers. This circumstance is made more difficult by the current economy and very low unemployment numbers. My suggestion is that HSLO seek the input of its current volunteers about this issue. I would pursue highlighting HSLO’s profile in the community and budget for that expense. This would help in recruiting volunteers and in HSLO’s outreach to potential clients who need and deserve support and assistance as they confront life’s final challenge.
I am a volunteer and have found SLOH to be staffed by caring and committed employees and dedicated, well-trained volunteers. I couldn't have found a better organization to be involved with. Thank you SLOH!
Participated in a caregiver support group for 2 or 3 years. This helped me get through some very stressful times. The leaders, Roslyn and Kathy, as well as all the group members, helped me gain insight into my role as a caregiver. The support I received enabled me to find the courage to place my spouse in an assisted living facility and find time to "become a real person" again. I was in a terrible state when I started working with the group and now I am able to cope with life again. My husband is also in a better place and is aware of what I was going through. I am still involved with the support group, and now I feel like I am able to give back to its new members.
Hospice of SLO County literally saved me when my daughter and her husband were murdered thirty-one years ago. I attended the General Bereavement Group (which is all there was back then). I do not know how anyone survives loss without their help. I have had other losses since then and always attend a group. For a few years I have been a group facilitator and now try and give back. This is the best organization!!!! Charlotte Wood, Los Osos
Hospice SLO county is an all volunteer hospice, so the training and recognition given to volunteers is a big part of the whole experience of volunteering. Having volunteered with many non-profits in my life time, I can honestly say that Hospice SLO is the BEST non-profit I've ever worked with in terms of training and recognition of its volunteers. In addition, the personal and professional rewards and learnings you get by being involved in this type of work are immense and life changing.
HOSPICE SAN LUIS OBISPO is an outstanding organization. My husband recently passed away after a long illness and I was able to work through my grief and sadness with the expert guidance of Roslyn Strohl and Kathy Murphy. They cofacilitated our caregivers group which met every other week for almost 3 years. We had a wonderful group of 12 ladies who were all very interactive and supportive. I feel my transition to widowhood would not have been as positive as it has been, if I had not had the expert guidance and care offered by Roslyn and Kathy. Thank you Roslyn and Kathy and all the dear ladies who participated in our group. Sincerely, Shiela Schraub
I have volunteered with Hospice SLO for 16 years and they get better and better, always looking at how best to serve the community. From their free individual and group bereavement counseling to in home volunteer care to community crisis response to pet peace of mind, the staff is professional, caring, and heartfelt. A volunteer hospice, their training is superb and volunteers are supported and valued. With a small staff, a huge service is offered for people facing illness or the loss of a loved one. Their ongoing education programs help the community deal with life, death, and dying. Their website photo, people with arms around each other, illustrates their values and orientation.
I am an intern at the Hospice of San Luis Obispo. As I have come to learn how things run at the Hospice of SLO, I have to say it was one of the best and most well run elder care organizations. All the staff are very experienced, knowledgeable, positive, and patient.
Warm fellowship, a caring staff, and a cozy environment make this organization a wonderful place to volunteer. My tasks primarily involve administrative and secretarial-type functions in support of the staff and counselors. Little things that seem to make their jobs easier, and they are always so kind in letting me know that it does! I am often the first to greet those arriving for counseling, and enjoy and have benefitted from the chance to touch their lives by something as simple as a nice and caring greeting. Have particularly liked the way the staff here have gone out of their way to make me feel a real part of this organization.
The scenario (pick one): Your child's high school student committed suicide; a family member or your best friend just died after a long struggle with cancer; a family member or friend died suddenly and unexpectedly; your spouse died; your pet died: you or loved one is diagnosed with a life-threatening illness; etc. Any one of these scenarios result in you "having the worst day of your life." You are overwhelmed with grief, you can't take nourishment, can't sleep, can't think, can't stop crying, and basically can't function at all. Someone mentions Hospice of San Luis Obispo County and provides your with the phone number. You make the call and immediately you are embraced with sincere kindness, compassion, and understanding. You are connected to counseling and support groups who guide and support you in coping with your loss or pending loss. Hospice of SLO County is a non-medical hospice with a focus on respite care, social and practical support. All the services are provided free-of-charge to children and adults by experienced professionals and trained hospice volunteers. First hand, as a board of directors member, I have observed the dedication of the administrative staff, the professional staff, the volunteers, and fellow board members. They are passionate about fulfilling the mission of Hospice of SLO County. Hospice of SLO County is where the healing begins.
My husband and I volunteer for Hospice SLO County for their Pet Peace of Mind program. Through this program, we’ve fostered a beautiful shih tzu Toby, whose owner went into hospice care in 2013 when she was no longer able to care for Toby. Toby was severely neglected when we began fostering him in 2013, at 14 years old. Our friends who saw this poor dog didn’t think he’d survive more than six months.
The goal was to find a “forever home” for Toby, but placing an old dog with ongoing medical expenses is next to impossible. We regretted not being in a financial position to do adopt him ourselves. But Hospice Pet Peace of Mind stepped up to it graciously and dependably, paying his ongoing and costly medical bills.
Toby is now 18 and still loves his walks, food, and being around other dogs and people. He brings a smile to so many people we encounter. Hospice has also loaned us a very nice dog stroller to use for him on our walks, when his arthritic limbs protest.
Toby brought many smiles to my son’s face this year as Jeff lived with us during his cancer battle. I feel that Toby was part of the healing energy and process for Jeff.
We’ve given Toby a lot of love and good care, but without the loving care and financial support of Hospice Pet Peace of Mind, this beautiful animal would not survive.
Hospice is a life saver, on so many levels, and the people we’ve dealt with are deeply caring individuals.
I was referred to Hospice SLO County by my private therapist whom I was seeing because I was struggling with the death of my mother. My therapist said " you could benefit from having a crying buddy " and hearing from others who are going through the same thing.
The facilitators were so sincere at explaining that tears were welcome. That tears meant the people we lost mattered. That for every tear we cry, we heal a little more. The tears need to come out. This was a safe place where that can happen. That was very consoling to me.
Part of the group structure is that we can tell our stories about our loved ones over and over and over again. This is the place that doesn't get tired of hearing it from you. And the stories need to be told. This made the group very personal.
An important point that I learned is that I'm not trying to get *over* my mother's death. I trying to get through it. I don't want to get *over* it. I'll never be *over* it, but I can heal and become "me" again.
I would heartily encourage them to try out the group. Come to a meeting. No pressure to talk. Just listen if you want to. I would tell them that they would find comfort in being in a group that truly understood the emotional and physical pain of grief, and that the group would be of great support through the journey ahead, without judgement.
HSLO is the only volunteer hospice in SLO county, and I have volunteered there since 2006. HSLO supports its volunteers, clients and caregivers with valuable services, all at no cost. I have worked with hundreds of clients in my time with HSLO, and experienced first-hand the gratitude and the appreciation of clients who discover the range of our services. Whether HSLO is educating the community and reaching out to those who grieve, or offering respite during the most difficult times in our lives, it offers a special and extraordinary level of care and heart.
I work as a volunteer in the office answering telephones, greeting people, and helping with various office projects. All the people at Hospice of SLO - both volunteers and paid staff - are extremely dedicated to helping people in any way they can. They are very caring and sensitive to individual and family needs. It is a pleasure working with all of them.
When my husband died, I coped. I'm a good 'coper'. A woman I knew only slightly took me aside one day and said, "I know you think you can handle this. You probably can, but it will be better if you go to some meetings." She took me to my first Grief Support meeting sponsored by Hospice of San Luis Obispo County. I continued to go for almost three years. The facilitators were comfortable and comforting. It was a welcoming place to come to cry and laugh. We were all made aware that there was more help available. Individual counseling could be had at no charge. Some members came to group; some to individual therapy; some used both. Other facilitators were sometimes brought in. All were obviously trained and empathetic. Even when someone was having a particularly bad time, one always felt the safety of their ability to handle the situations that arose. We became friends. With their help, we held each other up. I brought newly grieving widows into their care, even after I had left. I shall remain forever grateful they were there when I was at my worst.
I have seen many people benefit from the many services Hospice SLO County has to offer. I think that all of our clients take something valuable away from the experience with Hospice as well.
Hospice SLO County is a well-run non-profit that has stellar staff and dedicated volunteers. The counselors are top notch and every donation - no matter how small - is acknowledged and fully appreciated. The organization provides free support to those dealing with loss as well as workshops and classes to help those in the role of caregivers. Volunteers provide in-home respite relief for caregivers and end-of-life doula services, in addition to pet peace-of-mind services. Free counseling in the form of individual and group sessions are available and the counselors bring their services to the community (schools, etc.) when a group is dealing with loss.
Volunteering at Hospice SLO has been such a positive impact on my life. Being in a professional environment where every person clearly cares for others has opened me up to a world of compassion. The staff and other volunteers are uniquely understanding and willing to reach to fit the needs of others, yet remain professional. I admire everyone involved with Hospice SLO and would recommend their services to anyone looking for the type of support we offer.