Hospice by the Bay and The Redwoods Seniors Community in Mill Valley have announced the official opening of “The Grove” — Marin County’s first and only dedicated inpatient hospice and comfort care center.
Created with Marin’s expanding senior population in mind, HBTB and The Redwoods developed The Grove as a new option for patients receiving palliative or end-of-life care who are unable to remain in their own homes due to complex medical conditions, isolated living situations, or the need for extra caregiver support – while still desiring to experience the comfort and community of a home-like environment.
“As senior populations throughout the Bay Area continue to grow, it’s important to provide more options for patients seeking care,” affirms Kitty Whitaker, CEO. “This is not only a first for Marin County, but potentially a prototype for similar partnerships with other assisted living communities throughout the Bay Area.”
Hospice by the Bay is collaborating with the on-site, 24/7 skilled nursing staff at The Redwoods to provide specialized palliative and hospice care for all patients at The Grove. As always, HBTB’s services include grief counseling and family bereavement support for patients and family members.
All Bay Area patients enrolled with Hospice by the Bay are eligible for referral to The Grove, regardless of their insurance coverage or financial means. Patients do not have to be residents of Marin County to be referred.
“Inpatient hospice centers are relatively common in other parts of the country, but not so much in California,” explains Hunter Moore, Chief Executive Officer at The Redwoods. “The Grove fills this niche by providing a supportive, all-inclusive care environment so families can focus on relationships with their loved ones.”
In August 2019, The Grove began accepting a limited number of patients to gradually introduce the concept of inpatient hospice care at The Redwoods. Since then, Hospice by the Bay has served 26 patients under the partnership.
Kate Linscott, whose mother was a patient at The Grove last year, felt the quality of care and peaceful setting were very beneficial for her mother. “When mom transitioned from Skilled Nursing at the Redwoods to its Hospice program, we were so pleased that her wonderful care team transferred to the Hospice side with her. The nurse aides that took such good hands-on care of mom really knew her well and were so kind and responsive to her needs at the end of her life.”
The Grove is newly renovated, offering 12 fully appointed suites in a dedicated wing of The Redwoods Health Care Center. Rooms may be private or shared, depending on patient preference. Among the amenities are a soothing color palette, decorative comforters and artwork, private bathrooms, flat-screen TVs with USB ports, and sliding glass doors that open to garden patios or views of Mt. Tamalpais. An adjacent lounge is available for family members to take breaks, meet with social workers, or purchase fresh food and beverages.
We’re proud of the collective efforts and support that enabled us to bring this community-oriented option for palliative and end-of-life care to Marin County. We look forward to sharing updates about The Grove as we continue developing this care option for our patients.