Hospice of the Foothills, also known as Foothills Compassionate Care, is a reputable non-profit organization 501(c)(3) and has been a beacon of compassionate care and hospice services in Western Nevada County. Established in 1979 as a small, all-volunteer operation, we have grown into a top-rated, highly respected, non-profit organization licensed by the State of California, certified by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), and accredited by the Joint Commission.
Our journey from these humble beginnings to the trusted and comprehensive care provider we are today is a testament to our unwavering dedication to patient care, accountability, stewardship, and serving our community.
As patient and family needs evolved, our dedicated leadership and staff heeded and rose to meet those needs. Looking to the future to ensure our community and its citizens have access to all that Foothills Compassionate Care has to offer, the mission and vision took shape in the creation of a new organizational name. Springing from the staff’s kindness and expertise, the updated organizational name, Foothills Compassionate Care, reflects and encompasses the expanded services to meet those growing needs. The heart of our care is still hospice care, Hospice of the Foothills. Our dedicated staff will also focus on outreach, collaboration, education, and forming partnerships in our community to provide outstanding, compassionate care through every step.
The name Foothills Compassionate Care better reflects the full range of services we provide and our commitment to comprehensive, compassionate care. While hospice care remains at the heart of what we do, we offer a myriad of services including palliative care, grief support, caregiver support, community education, and our Gift & Thrift stores. The new name encompasses all these services under one umbrella, aligning with our mission to support our community through every stage of life.
No. You have known us as Hospice of the Foothills, one of the region’s most beloved nonprofits, since 1979. As Foothills Compassionate Care, Hospice of the Foothills remains the same on every level. We want to be sure the community really understands the breadth of our offerings. Hospice of the Foothills will remain a core part of Foothills Compassionate Care.
No, our core services remain the same. We continue to offer the highest quality of hospice and palliative care, grief support, and caregiver services. We will also be adding more education and support services. The name Foothills Compassionate Care is intended to unify all these offerings under a single, recognizable brand representing our comprehensive care approach and set us up for the next 50 years of service to this community.
No, your donations and support will continue to benefit the programs and services of Foothills Compassionate Care directly. Our commitment to transparency and effective use of resources remains unchanged. Donations can still be made in the same ways as before, and we are deeply grateful for your continued support.
You will see our Foothills Compassionate Care branding across all of our communications, including our website, social media, brochures, and at our Gift & Thrift stores. The updated Hospice of the Foothills logo retains elements of our original design, such as the iconic tree, to honor our legacy while embracing a more inclusive and comprehensive identity.
Hospice of the Foothills continues to be a vital part of our organization. It now operates as a program under the umbrella name of Foothills Compassionate Care. This integration allows us to maintain our legacy of exceptional hospice care while expanding our services to meet the diverse needs of our community.
Friends of Hospice will continue to operate as before—nothing has changed. Historically they have always been a fundraising auxiliary that raises over $200,000 a year to help support our programs.
Absolutely not. The quality of care you receive will remain high as it has always been. Our commitment to compassionate, patient-centered care is stronger than ever. We are accredited by the Joint Commission, have a 4-star rating from Medicare’s Family Caregiver Survey, and are recognized in the “We Honor Veterans” program. These standards will not change.
After thoughtful consideration by our staff, Board of Directors, Board of Trustees, donors, volunteers, and community partners, we decided to highlight all of our services under one umbrella name. It reflects our ongoing commitment to continuous improvement and responsiveness to the evolving needs of our community. As we celebrate 45 years of service, this change positions us for future growth and allows us to better communicate the breadth of our services. We are excited for the future and look forward to more under this umbrella name.
We are always happy to come to speak to any group who would like to know more about the services we provide. Please contact us at 530.272.5739 and ask for the Community Relations department.
We are here to help! If you have any further questions or need more information about our expansion, please contact us at 530.272.5739 or email us at in**@*************es.org. We are always happy to discuss how this change benefits you and our community.
MISSION
With expertise, quality, and compassion, we empower and guide individuals and families to prepare for and navigate life’s challenging chapters.
VISION
To have a community that fully embraces the Journey of life and death.
VALUES
Integrity, Compassion, Respect, Empowerment, Collaboration
Why Choose a Non-Profit Hospice
When it’s time to start looking for hospice care for yourself or your loved one, how do you know which one to choose? It can be as simple as asking, “Who owns this hospice agency?” Today, of the 2,600 hospices in California, only 6% are nonprofit.
Nevada County is one of the few remaining communities with a nonprofit hospice care organization. Foothills Compassionate Care (Hospice of the Foothills) belongs to the community, not to some large corporation. What started as a community-based organization responding to a need for expert end-of-life care and the best hospice care. After more than 4 decades, we are still community-based and community-supported.
What is the difference? All hospice organizations must abide by the same Medicare minimum requirements, but how they each operate and deliver care within those requirements can be drastically different.
Foothills Compassionate Care has provided compassionate end-of-life hospice care in Nevada County for more than 45 years. This organization has always been nonprofit and community-owned—this means we answer directly to the communities we serve rather than investors or a larger healthcare system.
Here are some things you should know about all nonprofit hospices:
Nonprofit hospices prioritize the well-being of patients, above financial gain. Their mission revolves around providing comprehensive care that suits the individual’s needs. This creates an environment where patients and their families feel heard, valued, and supported.
Unlike for-profit hospices that are driven by the bottom line, nonprofit organizations deeply invest in their communities. They continually go above and beyond required minimum care thresholds because they can. Their focus goes beyond basic care to include outreach programs, education initiatives, and support systems that enrich the lives of those they serve.
Nonprofits aren’t motivated by shareholders or commercial interests but rather by compassion for the patients they serve. This absence of profit-driven motives ensures that decisions are made with the best interests of the patients at heart prioritizing high-quality care above all else.
Nonprofit hospices often go above and beyond to ensure that financial constraints don’t hinder access to end-of-life services for individuals in need. There is no cost for our hospice services at Hospice of the Foothills. This aligns with a commitment to inclusivity and accessibility.
One important aspect of nonprofit hospices is their emphasis on practices and transparency. These organizations are structured in a way that promotes openness and accountability which helps build trust among patients, families, and the community as a whole.
PHILOSOPHY
Patients, caregivers, their families, and friends are at the heart of our compassionate care.
We believe patients have the right to be informed about their disease, prognosis, treatment, and available alternatives. Patients and families are the primary participants in the decision-making process and have the right to accept or refuse treatment.
We guide and empower dying patients and their loved ones to attain a quality of life that allows them to live to the fullest and to prepare them mentally and spiritually for their end-of-life journey.
We recognize that quality of life, peace, and comfort at the end of life should be the focus when curing a patient’s disease is no longer possible.
SERVICES
Foothills Compassionate Care serves over 500 patients and families every year in Western Nevada County and surrounding communities.
Our care team embraces the opportunity to guide and empower even more community members through life’s challenging chapters. Services include Education, Resources, Caregiver Support, Palliative Care, Hospice Care, and Grief Support.
NON-DISCRIMINATION
Click here to read our Non-Discrimination Policy.
Your Care Team’s Commitment
Your care team is committed to providing comfort and relief of pain and other distressing symptoms. We create an environment of mutual trust, respect, support, and skill to enable patients to receive care wherever they reside.
A holistic approach concerning our patients’ physical, psycho-social, and spiritual needs. Support is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Your care team accomplishes this through an interdisciplinary plan of care developed with the patient and their loved ones that enhances the patient’s quality of life by:
- Offering symptom and pain control and comfort
- Exploring spiritual connection
- Providing psychological support
- Empowering and guiding caregivers and family/friends to care for their loved one
- Provide connections for the support of daily life
- Help navigate available resources
- Explain the importance of an Advanced Healthcare Directive
- Offer respite
- Continuing support for loved ones throughout the bereavement period
An Organization You Can Trust
ACCREDITATION
Foothills Compassionate care is “deemed status” accredited by the Joint Commission. The Gold Seal of Approval® signifies that Foothills Compassionate Care has exemplified its commitment to using best practices to improve safety and quality for its patients, staff, and community.
RATINGS
MEMBERSHIP
PARTNERS
