We are one of four hospices in SLO County and the only volunteer hospice. We understand that this distinction can be confusing for people trying to access support. As a volunteer hospice, we are dedicated to providing access to all who are dying or grieving in the community, regardless of whether a condition or situation meets federal Medicare requirements. There are very few social model hospice agencies like Hospice SLO County that provide support to individuals from time of diagnosis to last breaths. We recruit, train, supervise, and support our volunteers to go into homes and help clients as soon as they are diagnosed with a life-limiting illness. These in-home volunteers provide much-needed respite support to caregivers. Our end-of-life doulas provide support and comfort to the dying person and their family by offering education and guidance; emotional and spiritual support; and practical care. Pet Peace of Mind volunteers support seriously ill people by caring for their pets to help keep the animals with their humans through the end of life. Additionally, we are a community grief center. Our grief counseling services are available to anyone in SLO County coping with the death of another (including animals) regardless of when, where, or how the death occurred. We offer individual and family counseling and various support groups along with Community Grief Response – a team who helps businesses and organizations process the death of a co-worker or member. Anticipatory grief counseling is also available. The services of Hospice SLO County make grief counseling exponentially more accessible to a much wider range of community members, due to being offered free of charge. As a volunteer hospice, we do not bill insurance or charge fees and we provide access to all who are dying or grieving in the community, without having to meet federal Medicare requirements.