For someone reason my first review did not post and so I am resubmitting because I want to share…read morewith all of you our experience with Sonata Hospice. In late October of 2025, our family was scrambling to find a hospice care provider for my mother in law. Finding a reliable hospice provider for a loved one is a daunting task often made under stressful circumstances. Our family, after extensive searching and disappointing recommendations from other sources, found Sonata Hospice through positive online reviews on Yelp. This review comes from a genuine family who utilized their services for a critical 10-day period. The level of care provided by the entire Sonata team to both our loved one and our family was amazing and far exceeded our expectations. We felt completely confident that our loved one was in excellent hands, and we as a family felt fully supported throughout this difficult process. Several team members deserve specific commendation for their outstanding professionalism and genuine compassion: Rachael (Nurse/Case Manager): Rachael was outstanding. Her work is a true blessing and a calling. She provided expert clinical care while simultaneously offering immense comfort to our family. The attentiveness she provided our loved one was consistent with the level of care one gives their own family. Her clear communication, explaining procedures, answering questions, and involving us in the care plan was a model of professional and empathetic care giving. Marsha (Home Health Aide): Marsha treated our loved one with dignity and affection, like she was caring for a member of her family. Her hands-on care was superb. Maria (Chaplain): Maria brought much-needed peace, love, and spiritual support during a challenging time, helping us navigate the emotional and spiritual aspects of the process and providing our loved one with that extra level of care. The Office and After-Hours staff were consistently responsive and efficient in meeting all our immediate needs. The support they extended through the difficult moment when our loved one passed, provided ease and compassion during our time of grief. And our hearts were warmed when at her funeral we saw Rachael and Maria present and still supporting us. Deciding on end-of-life care is perhaps one of the most significant decisions a family can make. Concerns about the quality of care, trustworthiness, and prioritization of patient well-being over financial considerations are paramount. Sonata Hospice put those fears to rest. They are a trustworthy, compassionate, and highly professional organization that we wholeheartedly recommend to any family navigating the hospice journey. I hope this review makes the post and can provide another family with reassurance.

Sooo, I don't know how your relationship with hospice started, but here is mine…read more Our loved one was admitted to the hospital with some very serious medical issues. The hospitalist (treating doctor), sent around a palliative care doctor (doctor who specializes in improving the lives for people with serious illness), who explained that our loved one would benefit from hospice services. The doctor went on to explain that it doesn't mean our loved one was going to immediately pass away, but just that hospice, amongst many things, gives more care to people who need it and it was the hospital's opinion that our loved one would benefit from this service. She went on to recommend a hospice service her mom had and left me with "Great!", we'll check in tomorrow and let us know who you selected. "Wait, whut?!" So I only get *24 hours* to select the service providing critical care to my loved one? So with that, I was off to find a hospice service, but not confident it would be *the best* hospice service, if only given 24 hours to find them. I was lucky enough to think of someone I trusted (the Executive Director of our loved one's care home), who immediately provided me with five hospice services. We ended up with the first service we contacted, Sonata Hospice, on the basis that 1) they were very local to our loved one's care home (2 miles) 2) most of the nursing staff was local to the office 3) most of the nurses were educated with the issues of our loved one (they had the specific speciality within their RN designation) 4) the very arbitrary fact that the owner was born and raised in Berkeley and lives in San Diego and our loved one was born and raised in San Diego and lived in Berkeley for most of their life. (That is to say, by that time, I had a good feeling about them). I will just briefly state what happened to the other four services - two were very aggressive and just turned me off, the other was outside of their service area, and one didn't answer the phone. Sonata turned out to be the right choice! Our loved one got such stellar care, that a significant number of other resident's families saw what good care our loved one got (full bathing in the shower every other day, not a sponge bath, consistent specialized care and respectful and compassionate communication) that they actually switched from their hospice service to Sonata! Sonata provided exceptional care to our loved one. From the beginning, when meeting with the very knowledgeable and very thorough Director of Patient Care who comes to you and takes a medical history and gives her patient the "once over". The Certified Nursing Assistants come to provide patient hygiene and are extra eyes for the nurses (looking for skin issues, etc) to the volunteers who sit with patients (because, let's face it, family is not the bomb all the time) to the social workers and religious personnel; they all provided seamless medical expertise, compassionate care and super prompt service to our loved one. Another thing that makes Sonata outstanding is the way they treat their patient's families. Having your loved one in hospice is so stressful! Worries abound - are all the patient's issues being addressed, HOW are all the issues being addressed? What if something comes up? Sonata treats all the people involved with the patient (family, caregivers) with comprehensible and simple medical expertise (they never speak above you), compassionate understanding and most of all, they are available and ready to go if something comes up or are there if other issues come up and more discussion or action is needed. If their patient passes away, if needed, they provide grief support for everyone, even after the patient passes. Hospice has one of the hardest jobs in the world. They help patients through what may be their patient's last time on Earth. Patients are not super bueno with their situation as is also their family. They are tasked with providing medical expertise, end of life care and compassionate attention to everyone concerned (patient and family) in very emotional and could be tumultuous times. We entrusted Sonata Hospice with escorting our loved one through the last phase of their life. What we got was exceptional medical expertise, the most compassionate and caring staff ever, comprehensive care, not only for our loved one, but for our family too and 24-hour open communication. Hospice care is an essential need in palliative care. For my family and for all the reasons stated above, we are forever grateful to Sonata for the service provided to our family in a difficult time. They are our only choice for hospice care.

Pathways is not a good company!! Not only do I not trust hospice period, regardless of program it's…read morefrom, but this review is merely going to be talking about my personal experience with them via their "grief support" counseling! They will kick you out mid-care if you also have mental health issues and recieve GENERAL therapy for mental health, which is also a form of discrimination! I was receiving virtual grief counseling weekly through them, and not only what I said above, but also their therapist I had, Katherine, was lying to the supervisor about me not ever talking about my grief to her, when in actuality, I have been, but she also has been asking me to explain details to her about my other stressors too, which lead to my instincts to be honest with her. However, that has lead her to shift to only listen to those moments rather than my grief moments, hence the belief of hers that "I was never talking about grief" in our sessions, so I had stopped telling her my other details entirely with "I'm not going to explain more details about that because then you're going to say it's not grief" before she asked from then on. Still despite that though, the last session was an uncalled for the last session, with using the adamant excuse that she was ending my care because "I had other problems distracting me from grief"(literally still sticking to the story that I was not talking about my grief). I then just spoke to her "supervisor", Tom May, who, rather than make Katherine take accountability, instead revealed the real reason; he had Katherine kick me out mid-care, and according to what he said, other people too, because "we're no longer servicing those who have a counselor already"(his words). I asked him why specifically because I told him before that I have a general therapist who helps with my general mental health, but she doesn't specialize in grief therapy, hence why she referred me to them. He then said "we're short staffed and we have others who really need our care on our waiting list" and mentioned that it was the management's decision. Since that told me that he was saying in other words that those people's grief mattered more than mine and/or the others he kicked out(since he admitted he was kicking us out to cater to them on the waiting list, rather than just focusing on hiring more people if they were really short staffed), I then asked to speak to such management, Tom refused and kept saying "I'm sorry, I can't fix that", which I believe is utter BS because if they were able to suddenly make that change in the middle of our sessions, then the right thing can be done and have it be reversed back, but he refused with the "I can't" BS! Moral is, if you have mental health issues on top of your grief that you also receiving support for, do NOT pick this place! They will either deny you on the spot(I've had a lot of losses within 5 years, and have been unable to receive AN OUNCE of grief support within those years because all the places I've reached out to prior to Pathways have all said no simply because of my mental health history) OR they will kick you out mid-care, leaving you in limbo with unfinished grief treatment with the excuses mentioned above! They do not care about clients at all, especially ones that have mental health issues on top of grief, like most other grief places! It seriously is difficult for a mentally ill person to find support for grief for crying out loud!!

Pathways Hospice of Alameda County was wonderful in caring for my cousin in the final weeks of his…read morelife. Their professionalism, kindness and compassion at a difficult time meant more than my words can express. Their calmness, openness and patience with all of my calls and questions kept me grounded and better able to manage expectations and communications with the rest of his family. Pathway's care ensured comfort and dignity when it mattered most, and for that, our entire family is deeply grateful.

Back in November I was in search for a hospice care and my friend Jocelyn very highly recommended…read moreLife Springs Hospice care. I soon contacted them and was connected with Grace who was so very accommodating from the very beginning! In fact she went out of her way to come see me at home so we can meet in person. She gave me detailed information of the whole process and arranged everything so perfectly! I knew right then I made the right decision! The nurse Renalyn took care of my Mom as if she was her own mother! I also had access to a contact number 24 hours a day and they were always there to answer my questions. I knew my Moms last few days were comfortable because she was in good hands! This is a very important issue for myself because i didn't have worry about other issues and just focus on spending quality time with my Mom. Six months have passed and since my Mom passed I have received letters on how to cope with loved ones passing and just this month they also sent another letter on how to move on and my right to grieve! I mean this is just wonderful how they still keep in touch with our bereaved family! I believe my review spells how amazing Life Springs Hospice Care is and I would search no further! I would without any doubt and with no hesitation, very highly recommend Life Springs Hospice! Trust me, its the best thing you can do for your loved one and if I can only give ten stars I would in a heart beat! Thank you everyone at Life Springs! With all sincerity and gratitude, Richard Nazareth Silva

Excellent Patient Care Coordinator!! I highly recommend this hospice. Friendly staff and caring…read moreclinicians.

I can't say enough good things about Suncrest Hospice. They have been so supportive for my husband…read moreand myself. Always responded immediately and very helpful through this most difficult time. I highly recommend them

Judging by the reviews here that are more recent, it looks like Suncrest stepped up their game…read moresomewhat. I certainly hope so. My experience with my mother mirrored the lesser views. The staff themselves were great. The nurse was great. The chaplain was great. The social worker was great. The caregiver was great. However, she was in agony until the last 24 hours of her life, when she slipped into a coma. I wish I had been better educated, for example, I did not know what terminal agitation was. We were only offered oral morphine and Ativan. I wish we could've been offered something more even if it involved transferring her to a nursing home. She never saw a doctor, even though he signed the death certificate. The staff individually were very nice and kind, but it seemed like the repertoire for agitation and pain management were very limited. I wish I had been provided with more options. I was checking to see if things had improved over the last four years and it looks like they have and I certainly hope so.

Our family is deeply grateful for the compassionate care provided by Hope Hospice during my…read moremother-in-law's final stages of life. From the very beginning, the nurses and care team demonstrated an extraordinary level of kindness, professionalism, and respect. They not only ensured her comfort and dignity at every step, but also supported our entire family with empathy and understanding during an incredibly difficult time. Every interaction reflected genuine care and a commitment to making her final days as peaceful as possible. The staff was attentive, responsive, and highly skilled, always taking the time to address our questions and concerns. Their presence brought us reassurance and comfort when we needed it most. We cannot thank Hope Hospice enough for the exceptional care they provided. We wholeheartedly and confidently recommend their services to anyone seeking compassionate, high-quality end-of-life care for a loved one.

Gentle care -- they actually spoke to the patient other hospice interviewers spoke to the family…read moremembers, ignoring the patient sitting in the room-- our loved one passed on after five days with Hope in the manner he was promised--this is from our experience in the winter of 2020. Some of the more current reviews are troubling. I would-today-be hesitant to use them unless I had numerous backup numbers etc and knew their backup pharmacy. Dying is a once in a lifetime experience. There's no room for apologies from a company in THIS industry.

My mother was close to death and I had no idea how to comfort her and make her transition easier as…read morethis was happening so fast. I googled Hospice and came across MD Choice that had some good reviews. I had no idea who I was calling but there had to have been some divine intervention pushing me to this call and this company. After a few questions I received a call from Dr De Leon who was the most compassionate and caring doctor I have come across. He sensed my immediate need, came straight out to the house, assessed my mother and went himself to the pharmacy to pick up the needed medications. He knew the urgency and took it upon himself to do all the footwork. He obtained the needed comfort medication, stabilized my mother and allowed my mother to pass peacefully all within a matter of hours from making that initial call. When she did pass that evening, he again, arranged for everything from the pronouncing to the calls according to the pre-arrangements. Without MD Choice and the connection with Dr De Leon, I don't know how I would have been able to handle the situation. His immediate response on a Sunday, his Taking control of the situation and quick actions made such a difference in the final few hours my mother had. If you find yourself in a situation like this and needing someone to help in this time, I highly recommend MD Choice and Dr De Leon. I am forever grateful to MD Choice and Dr De Leon for acting so quickly and with such caring and love in this terrible time of need. Thank you from the bottom of my heart and the hearts of my family.

My brother used MD Choice Hospice for only a week before he passed. But we're extremely happy we…read morechose them. Not only were they able to provide significantly more daily visits from their team of nurses and aids than the other options we considered, but they were incredibly responsive, efficient, and helpful with every question or request we had--and that includes their 24/7 on-call team. Cheryl, the RN Case Manager, in particular, was a godsend. It was a huge relief to be able to rely on them so thoroughly from day one. They delivered everything we needed within hours of getting the paperwork done; and both Cheryl and an aide were there for the last few hours my brother was alive--providing support and care. We really can't recommend them highly enough!

My clinical experience at Creekview was extremely positive. The facility is exceptionally clean,…read morewell organized, and maintained to a high standard. It creates a safe and welcoming environment for both patients and staff. It is a facility where professionalism, teamwork, and compassion are clearly prioritized. It is a place where I would be honored in pursuing employment after completing my clinicals. During my clinical experience, I felt encouraged to learn and was consistently supported by staff who were willing to share their knowledge while maintaining a strong focus on proper patient centered care. Having a grandfather with Parkinson's disease deepened my understanding of the importance of patience, dignity, and compassionate care; values that Creekview consistently demonstrates. I am truly appreciative of the professionalism and empathy shown by the entire team, and I would feel very confident entrusting my own family's care to this facility. Overall, Creekview reflects excellence in both care and workplace culture.

If you are looking for a place for an Alzheimer's, patient to have a long-term care, this is…read moreprobably a very good solution. If you're looking for short-term skilled nursing, I'm not so sure. I brought my mom in here to recover from major surgery. They screwed up the medications for the first 2 to 3 days until I came in and sorted it out myself. And if you're doing this, just be aware, that if the hospital transfers a patient, it can take them a minimum of 12 hours to get the medication to their facility, but no one will tell you this. So as a result, my mother who is suffering from extreme pain due to major surgery, had to wait almost 12 hours for medication because once I realized what was going on, I had two traipse to her house and procure some myself. And even once I thought we sorted it out, they still kept forgetting to give her some of the meds she was supposed to have for her eyes. It was eminently frustrating. They treat everyone like a dementia patient whether they have dementia or not. This is a material problem for people who do not have dementia. If someone is trying to recover from something, it means they will not get the attention, exercise, etc. that they need to actually recover. They'll be told to stay in bed and not move. Not helpful. They are shortstaffed on skilled nurses for the facility. There's basically one per shift and that is the only person who is allowed to do much of anything other than very basic stuff. Another material problem in my point of view The facility itself is very nice, clean, with a variety of separate spaces that are all well maintained. The food was high-quality. There are enough people around that you can feel like at least someone is always on duty and attending to the needs of the residence. Everyone who works there is delightful. To be fair, they listen to my concerns and tried to rectify and respond in a timely manner. If this is considered one of the best of the best, I'm alarmed for what that means for my own old age. It was OK. Like I said, if you're using it for long-term Alzheimer's support it's probably fine.

My best friend had a neurodegenerative condition, he needed a lot of help and we desperately needed…read moresomeone to help us take care of him. We had initially selected another service, but the had a Covid outbreak the day we were supposed to talk, a couple of days before heading out on vacation. The other service gave us Aimee's phone number, and it was amazing. Aimee understood immediately what we needed, and offered to visit us right away, in less than an hour she was there. I was a bit concerned, after all, 3 gay men dealing with to Catholic ladies... I had no reason to be concerned at all. Aimee was not just professional, but caring and understanding, and we got a caregiver who was also a gay man, so my friend felt more at ease. The team made by Pablito, Ninfa and Rosemarie was very professional, always on time and made our friend's life much easier. They became like family, gave him professional care, allowed us to have more time for ourselves and rest knowing our friend's needs were being take care of. Our friend died recently, leaving a huge hole in our lives, we miss him, and we are sad, but we are also happy and in peace because with Kindred at Home, he had professional care, he had lovely , kind people helping him, every day. He became stronger, he gained weight and was healthier, before he died. Thank you, Aimee, thank you, Claire, you were key in the last months of his life and we can't thank you enough for all what you did for us. I cannot stress enough how much I recommend this service.

Kristin is a complete "Life Saver" She was kind enough to…read moreloan me a wheelchair for a few days to get around until I get one delivered today. Your kindness means everything, Thank you Kristin