It’s a common misconception that dementia is a standalone disease. In fact, dementia is a general term used to describe a decline in cognitive function severe enough to interfere with daily life. This decline can take a number of shapes, including memory loss, language difficulties, behavioral changes, and disorientation. Because many people don’t fully understand […]
Support for Dementia Patients & Their Loved Ones Read More »
Hospice is all about compassionate end-of-life care. It’s also about comfort — not just for patients, but also for their families. Unfortunately, not every person in need of hospice care has a home they can receive it in. Maybe the place they call home isn’t suitable for the level of care they need, maybe they
Mission House: A Homelike Place for Patients and Families Read More »
Roughly 21% of San Francisco’s population is Chinese — one of the highest percentages of any major U.S. city. And the Bay Area as a whole has long been a destination for individuals and families of Chinese descent. With our mission of expanding the access and adoption of end-of-life care to all individuals, it’s important
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The core of hospice and palliative care is compassionate care that focuses on alleviating pain, addressing emotional and spiritual needs and supporting families during some of life’s most challenging moments. Every person on this planet will eventually face the end of their life. Most people will at some point have a serious illness or have
Breaking Through Inequities in Care Read More »
When Gloria Braas graduated from high school, she worked for the ration board during World War II because she wanted to help the war effort. After the war, she eventually settled down and got married. “The two loved to cook and they loved cooking shows,” Gloria’s daughter Tammy Braas-Hill says. “They had a lovely marriage,
Making a Difficult Journey Easier: Gloria’s Story Read More »
As recent as the 1970s, the concept of hospice care was relatively new in the United States. That began to change in 1975, when the team at Hospice of Marin recognized that quality end-of-life care required a comprehensive approach, addressing not only physical symptoms but also emotional, social and spiritual needs. But as much as
Making Access to End-of-Life Care Policy Read More »
Historically, hospice care in the United States has been more accessible to white men and women, leaving a gap in quality end-of-life care for diverse populations, including racial and ethnic minorities and the LGBTQ+ community. At By the Bay Health (BTBH), we recognize these disparities, and we’re on a mission to make hospice and palliative
Why By the Bay Health Strives to Make Hospice and Palliative Care Equitable for Everyone Read More »
Our mission at By the Bay Health (BTBH) is to provide comfort and support to patients and their families during some of life’s most challenging moments. Forging partnerships with healthcare leaders like UCSF Health and Kaiser Permanente are key to achieving our goals as an organization. The care journey for patients with serious illnesses or
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October 16, 2014 was Thursday. It was also the day that Xavier’s mother, Jessica Pequeno, learned that her young son had a rare genetic immune deficiency. “He’s actually one of ten people in the world with his condition,” Jessica says, “and one of two in the U.S.” By the time Xavier had reached the age
Finding Good in Every Bad Situation: Xavier’s Story Read More »
Jeannie Stewart was born in San Francisco in 1940. The daughter of immigrant parents, she grew up in the neighborhood of North Beach. She loved the outdoors, and baseball, and was a hula hoop champion. In her later years, though, Jeannie started to slow down. And one day she had a fall. That’s when her
Surrounded by Family: Jeannie’s Story Read More »
