Frequently Asked Questions

Central Coast VNA & Hospice is a nonprofit home healthcare organization based in Monterey, California, serving families across Monterey County, Santa Cruz County, San Benito County, and South Santa Clara County. Founded in 1951, VNA has spent 75 years providing care at home — where most patients feel most comfortable. As a nonprofit, our mission is to the families and communities of the Central Coast, not to shareholders. Services are provided by a full interdisciplinary team of Registered Nurses, Licensed Vocational Nurses, Physical Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Speech Therapists, Medical Social Workers, Hospice Aides, Chaplains, Bereavement Specialists, and Volunteers.

Home health care is skilled medical care provided at home to help a patient recover from illness, surgery, or injury — or to manage a chronic condition. VNA's home health services include skilled nursing, wound care, medication management, post-surgical care, chronic disease management, and physical, occupational, and speech therapy. Hospice care, on the other hand, is for patients whose illness is terminal and who have chosen to focus on comfort and quality of life rather than curative treatment. Both services are delivered at home, but they serve different needs and different stages of a patient's health journey.

Yes — post-hospital home health is one of the most common reasons families reach out to us, often the same day a loved one is discharged. VNA's Registered Nurses and therapists can come to the home to assess the patient's condition, manage medications, care for wounds, and begin any physical, occupational, or speech therapy needed for recovery. A hospital discharge planner can initiate the referral, or you can contact VNA directly at 831-372-6668. The sooner care begins after discharge, the better the outcomes tend to be.

Yes — Central Coast VNA & Hospice accepts Medicare, and Medicare does cover home health services for eligible patients. To qualify, a patient generally must be homebound (meaning leaving home requires considerable effort), have a physician order for home health services, and need skilled nursing or therapy. Medicare also covers hospice care for patients who meet eligibility criteria. VNA also accepts Medi-Cal and Veterans benefits. If you're uncertain about coverage, a care coordinator can help you understand what your specific situation qualifies for. Call 831-372-6668 to talk it through.

Palliative care is not the same as hospice, and it does not require giving up curative or active treatment. It's a layer of support designed for patients living with serious illness — focused on managing symptoms, coordinating care, and addressing the emotional and psychosocial dimensions of a difficult diagnosis. A patient can receive palliative care at the same time they are pursuing treatment. VNA's palliative care team works alongside treating physicians to make sure the patient's quality of life and comfort are being addressed at every stage, not just at the end of life.

This is one of the questions families struggle with most, and there's no single right answer — but there are signs worth paying attention to. If a loved one's health is declining despite treatment, if their physician has indicated that curative options are no longer working, or if the focus has shifted from getting better to staying comfortable, hospice may be the right conversation to have. Many families wish they had talked about hospice sooner. VNA's clinical team can conduct an evaluation and help you understand whether your loved one meets hospice eligibility criteria — without any pressure to make an immediate decision. Call 831-372-6668 to speak with a care coordinator.

Hospice care through VNA is delivered by an interdisciplinary team that includes Registered Nurses, Hospice Aides, Medical Social Workers, Chaplains, Bereavement Specialists, and Volunteers. Nurses visit regularly to manage pain and symptoms, adjust medications, and communicate with the patient's physician. Hospice Aides assist with personal care and daily needs. Medical Social Workers help families navigate decisions and connect with community resources. Chaplains provide spiritual and emotional support tailored to the patient's and family's beliefs. Volunteers offer companionship and practical help. The team is also available 24 hours a day, seven days a week for urgent needs between scheduled visits.

No — VNA's hospice care is delivered at home, which is where most patients and families want to be. The goal of hospice is to support a patient's comfort and dignity in the environment that is most meaningful to them. For many families, that means receiving care in the home they've lived in for decades, surrounded by people they love. VNA brings the team to the patient — not the other way around.

VNA serves many families navigating the challenges of Alzheimer's and dementia care at home. Our Registered Nurses can assist with medication management, health monitoring, and guidance for family members on safe care practices — including how to handle difficult behaviors, resistance to care, and the physical and emotional toll of caregiving. Medical Social Workers can help identify community resources and coordinate additional support. If you've reached a point where you need help managing your loved one's care at home, a conversation with our care coordinator is a good place to start. Call 831-372-6668.

Yes — many of the family members who contact VNA are adult children managing care decisions from outside the local area. Our Medical Social Workers are experienced in coordinating with out-of-area family members, communicating care plans clearly, and helping long-distance decision-makers understand what's happening and what options are available. If you hold power of attorney or are the primary contact for an aging parent in Monterey County or the surrounding area, we can work with you regardless of where you're calling from. Reach us at 831-372-6668 or through ccvna.com.

Yes — bereavement support continues after a patient's passing and is an important part of VNA's hospice care. Our Bereavement Specialists provide grief counseling and ongoing emotional support for families navigating loss. This support doesn't disappear when hospice ends — VNA recognizes that grief is a process, not an event, and our team remains available to families during that difficult period. If you've experienced a loss and are looking for grief support in Monterey County or the surrounding area, you can reach us at 831-372-6668.

VNA's Physical Therapists evaluate a patient's strength, mobility, and balance in their home environment and design individualized exercise plans to support recovery and function. This has been particularly meaningful for patients recovering from surgery or managing conditions that affect movement and stability. Physical Therapists work alongside Occupational Therapists and other clinicians on the team to make sure care is coordinated across all disciplines. VNA's Physical Therapists have also guided patients toward additional recovery approaches — such as hydrotherapy or specialized equipment — when appropriate for continued progress.

Family members who are providing daily care to a seriously ill loved one often reach a point of exhaustion — and VNA hears from many of them through our intake process. Our Medical Social Workers are trained to recognize caregiver strain and can help connect families with respite support, community resources, and practical coping strategies. The hospice and palliative care teams are also attuned to the needs of the whole household, not just the patient. You are not expected to manage this alone — reaching out to VNA is a sign of strength, not defeat.

VNA has offered complementary therapy services including music therapy as part of hospice and supportive care programs. Music therapy has been part of how some hospice patients experience comfort and connection during a difficult time, and it's something journalists and community members have specifically inquired about. If you're interested in whether complementary services are available for a current or upcoming patient, contact us directly at 831-372-6668 to discuss what may be available and appropriate for your loved one's situation.

Central Coast VNA & Hospice serves Monterey County — including the Monterey Peninsula, Salinas, King City, and surrounding communities — as well as Santa Cruz County, San Benito County (including Hollister), and South Santa Clara County. If you're uncertain whether your community is within our service area, call 831-372-6668 and we'll let you know. Monterey County is our home and primary market, and we have been serving families here for 75 years.

Yes — wound care and medication management are two of the skilled nursing services VNA provides through home health. Registered Nurses and Licensed Vocational Nurses can visit regularly to assess and care for wounds, monitor healing, and communicate with the patient's physician about any concerns. Medication management — including reviewing complex regimens, ensuring medications are being taken correctly, and building clear daily schedules — is something many families have sought VNA's help with, particularly for aging parents managing multiple conditions.

The first step is a conversation. You can call VNA directly at 831-372-6668 or reach out through ccvna.com, and a care coordinator will help you understand what services may be appropriate and what the next steps look like. For home health, a physician order is typically required — but VNA can help navigate that process. For hospice or palliative care, our team can conduct a clinical evaluation. Many families describe this first call as a relief — finally having someone to talk to who can help them think clearly about a difficult situation.

VNA understands that many families reach out in moments of urgency — the day of a hospital discharge, the day after a surgery, or when a loved one's condition changes unexpectedly. We work to respond promptly and begin care as quickly as the clinical situation allows. If your need is urgent, please say so when you call 831-372-6668 — our intake team will prioritize accordingly and work to get the right clinicians in place as soon as possible.

Yes — VNA's hospice program includes a trained volunteer program, and it's one of the most meaningful ways community members participate in supporting families at the end of life. Volunteers provide companionship, sit bedside during difficult times, and offer a compassionate presence that supplements the clinical team. VNA has an active volunteer coordinator and welcomes inquiries from people who feel called to this work. Visit ccvna.com or call 831-372-6668 to learn more about the volunteer program.

No — travel immunization services have been permanently discontinued by Central Coast VNA & Hospice. For travel vaccines, please contact the CDC, Doctors on Duty, Dover Travel Clinic, or your local pharmacy (including Costco, Rite Aid, Safeway, or Walgreens), which typically offer a range of travel immunizations by appointment.