For someone reason my first review did not post and so I am resubmitting because I want to share with 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. read more

Sooo, I don't know how your relationship with hospice started, but here is mine. 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. read more

I discovered Sonata Hospice trying to find new ways to volunteer for my community. As open as I was to any experience a new organization may give to me, how lucky was I to discover how ready and wonderful the team was to receive me! Training was comprehensive and organize, and I never felt like I had an unanswered question. And for what's hard to teach on paper--how to experience and share compassion for others--is embodied by everyone on the team and taught by example. It's hard to find a team of caregivers and supportive staff to exhibit all this while being fun and professional to be around, and it benefits both myself as a volunteer and even moreso the patients and their families that we serve at our best. I'm truly grateful to be a part of this team and look forward to continuing serving with them. read more

They were there when I needed help. The had everything ready, delivered, set up. Available 24 hours for questions and support. There were a gift during that difficult time. I can't say enough good things about everyone who was part of my mom's team. read more

I'd like to leave a review of Sonata Hospice in Hayward. I know hospice care doesn't always last very long, but it was so nice for my mom to really get to know and become friends with her caregivers for 8 months. She appreciated and enjoyed all of them. My mom's nurse was Pam and she treated my mom with such tenderness, patience and compassion and my mom felt it. Rachel filled in for Pam a couple times and mom said she was delightful. Melissa, our social worker, offered support to my mom and all of us with such a caring heart. Julie was the nursing coordinator and was always ready to answer my questions or order meds or supplies. Sheila the nurse practitioner, and Maria the Chaplin, as well as the on-call nurses that made themselves available after hours to be there when my mom needed someone including Raj and Erica, all made us feel like our mom was their priority I hope I'm not forgetting anyone but this group of Sonata employees were like a family to us and my mom and my siblings and I grew very close to them. I've only had a few days of hospice experience from many years ago when my late husband passed away. We did not get Hospice, soon enough and only had it for four days. I had no idea how much Hospice could really do to help a patient and their family feel so loved and supported. As a retired nurse, I know I asked a lot of questions with my many phone calls to Julie, but always felt supported and heard. My mom also enjoyed everyone from Sonata that came to see her and when they'd leave she'd say, I really like her or him. It was so comforting for us to see our mom feeling so well cared for. If my mom needed anything from a medication to home care supplies, it was an easy phone call away. We love and miss our mom, but we feel so good about our decision to have Sonata Hospice be there for her last several months. Thank you to everyone at Sonata Hospice for your devotion to caring for people at their most vulnerable time. read more

The team at Sonata provided exceptional care and compassion during a very difficult time. They treated our family and loved one with genuine kindness, respect, and professionalism. Their communication was excellent, and they went above and beyond to make sure everyone felt supported. Truly grateful for their dedication and heart. read more

Everyone at Sonata Hospice is lovely and they truly care about their patients. Would recommend them to everyone!

Fantastic care for my mom's mental and physical comfort during her last month. Wonderful, compassionate, responsive. Truly grateful.

My family and I had no idea what to expect when it came time to get my Grandfather on Hospice. My siblings and I were not ready to give up and neither was he. We were delighted from the minute we first spoke with Heidi. She helped us understand what Hospice really is-compassionate care that helps manage symptoms. She was able to help my sister face her fear of starting morphine and held our hands throughout my Grandfather's journey. We are forever grateful for the care that Heidi and all of the amazing staff of Sonata Hospice has done. Not just for my Grandfather, but for our entire family. This is definitely a dream team who will help guide families and patients through their most difficult times. I don't know what we would have done without them. A+ care. read more

I don't have enough words to show my gratitude to this team of people that made such a difficult time for my family easier. The care and outlets they gave us to cope with our grief is one of the things we will be grateful for the rest of our lives. Thank you Sabrina for your patience and help getting our grandfather the care he needed. read more

This team deserves 10 stars. We had so many options when it came to hospice providers and I am so happy that we picked the right one. I couldn't be more grateful for everything Sonata has done for my family during such a difficult time. read more

My family and I had spent a lot of time interviewing Hospice agencies in our area and we were completely overwhelmed. It's definitely not an easy decision to make. The minute we spoke with Heidi, we just knew that this was the team we needed for our Mom. She was able to provide so much information with genuine sincerity and helped us to understand what our options were. We were thrilled to be able to have our Mom out of the hospital and back at home where she wanted to be. We remain forever grateful to the Entire team of Sonata Hospice. They have made our Mother's journey comfortable, with compassion, dignity, and immense support for all of us. 5 stars isn't enough! read more

They provide exactly the level of professionalism and care you want for your loved ones final stages.

This agency was beyond AMAZING. They have THE BEST NURSES imaginable. Not only were they able to tend to the needs of my Mom but they were able to provide the much needed support that my family and I needed to get through this difficult time. Their team goes above and beyond not just for their patients, but for the patients families and caregivers. My family and I were able to spend the quality of time with Mom and even though we lost our loved one, we were able to build lasting relationships and beautiful memories. Thank you Sonata Hospice, for EVERYTHING you guys & Gals do. read more

I must say, I was not familiar with Hospice. When it came time to have that discussion with my family regarding Mom and end of life, comfort care, I was beside myself. Sonata came in, and trained our caregivers as well as provided grievance counseling and family/caregiver support group. I could not have made it through this without the compassion and knowledge from the Sonata Hospice team. We were beyond blessed to have them and will be forever grateful for the care that was provided for our Mom, family and our caregivers. read more