Central Coast VNA & Hospice expands aging-in-place outreach as demand rises

Central Coast VNA & Hospice is stepping up education and outreach on home-based senior care across Monterey, Santa Cruz, San Benito and South Santa Clara counties as more families look for ways to help older adults stay at home. The nonprofit is marking 75 years of service in 2026 while highlighting home health, palliative and hospice support for a growing older population.

Why it matters: - Families across the Central Coast are facing more pressure to plan for senior care at home as the older population grows and more people want to age in place. - Central Coast VNA & Hospice is trying to make home-based care easier to understand before a health crisis forces rushed decisions. - The nonprofit serves four counties, including rural and underserved communities that can have fewer care options.

What happened: - Central Coast VNA & Hospice expanded its community education and outreach around aging-in-place care services. - The initiative responds to rising demand from families seeking professional support for older adults who want to remain safely at home. - The organization is celebrating its 75th year of service in 2026. - Central Coast VNA & Hospice provides care in Monterey, Santa Cruz, San Benito and South Santa Clara counties.

The details: - The nonprofit offers home health care, palliative care, hospice care and community-based services. - Services include skilled nursing care from registered nurses and licensed vocational nurses, medication management, wound care and post-surgical recovery support. - Central Coast VNA & Hospice also provides chronic disease management for cardiac illness, diabetes and respiratory disease. - The care team offers physical, occupational and speech therapy. - Palliative care focuses on comfort, symptom relief and quality of life for people with serious illness. - Hospice care includes interdisciplinary team visits, emotional and spiritual care, family support and bereavement services. - Medical social services and care coordination are also part of the service mix. - Each care plan is developed with the patient’s physician and tailored to individual goals, preferences and clinical needs. - All services are delivered in the home. - The organization’s interdisciplinary teams include nurses, therapists, social workers, chaplains and volunteers. - Staff regularly work with families who are encountering home health or hospice care for the first time and need practical guidance. - The nonprofit accepts Medicare, Medi-Cal and many other insurance plans. - Staff help families understand coverage, eligibility and veterans’ benefits that may apply to eligible patients. - The organization serves communities including Salinas, Hollister, King City and Watsonville. - Central Coast VNA & Hospice said it travels to rural and underserved areas to help make care available outside denser population centers. - The organization was founded in 1951 and reinvests in community services and patient care rather than shareholder returns.

Between the lines: - The outreach push reflects a broader shift toward planning for aging at home before needs become urgent. - The emphasis on plain-language education suggests many families still do not know what home health, palliative care and hospice actually cover. - CEO Jane Russo said the organization is focused on answering the basic questions families ask when a loved one is seriously ill, including whether the person can stay home and who will be involved in care.

What’s next: - Central Coast VNA & Hospice will continue educating families about when and how to access home-based care. - The organization is pointing families to more information at the company’s announcement or by email at info@ccvna.com and 831-372-6668. - The nonprofit says it will keep serving patients across the Central Coast as demand for aging-in-place support grows.

The bottom line: - Central Coast VNA & Hospice is using its 75th year to position home-based care as a practical option for more Central Coast families trying to help older adults stay safe, supported and at home.