(909) 364-0771
Heart of Gold Hospice, Inc.
A Hand to Hold, A Heart to Embrace
News And Updates
SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
to search COVID-19 vaccination sites within SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY and schedule an appointment.
LOS ANGELES COUNTY
to search COVID-19 vaccination sites within LOS ANGELES COUNTY and schedule an appointment.
RIVERSIDE COUNTY
to search COVID-19 vaccination sites within RIVERSIDE COUNTY and schedule an appointment.
ORANGE COUNTY
to search COVID-19 vaccination sites within ORANGE COUNTY and schedule an appointment.
COVID-19 TESTING SITES
to search COVID-19 testing sites by location and schedule an appointment.
Letter of Commitment: Our Commitment to Care during the COVID-19 Pandemic
April 30, 2020
We, the undersigned members of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO), commit to caring for patients and families in need as we face the worst public health crisis in over a century.
Suffering patients impacted by the coronavirus (COVID-19) rely on the interdisciplinary, personcentered care that the community-based hospice and palliative community provides. The hospice philosophy of care focuses on caring for the whole person by addressing physical, emotional, and spiritual needs, and is provided by an interdisciplinary team comprised of physicians, nurses, social workers, home health aides, chaplains, bereavement professionals, volunteers, and allied therapists. As more hospitals reach maximum capacity, patients continue to be discharged back into the community and the demand for symptom management and emotional and spiritual support grows. We will continue to treat patients ensuring that patients do not die alone, and in some cases saving lives, and we are prepared for the thousands more Americans who will seek care in hospice inpatient units and in their homes as many states experience their peaks in the coming weeks as projected by the Centers for Disease Control.
As COVID-19 claims the lives of Americans leaving family members and loved ones to struggle with the often sudden and traumatic loss, it should be remembered that hospice providers often serve as important community bereavement resource centers. Many hospices open their bereavement support services to those in the community beyond the customary family caregivers of the patients they have served. Providers have a history of offering support to communities following natural disasters, mass casualty events, other public health tragedies. Hospice bereavement professionals are called upon to help individuals and communities cope with the loss and grief that is now a part of our nation’s experience from the COVID-19 pandemic.
With our commitment to serve these patients impacted by COVID-19 comes our commitment to keep our patients, family caregivers, and staff members safe. Like the rest of the health care system coping with the COVID-19 pandemic, our provider community is facing several challenges including a dire shortage of resources, like personal protective equipment, testing supplies, and staffing. But, in the face of this challenge, we continue to care for patients by finding creative solutions.
It is unknown how many lives will be impacted by COVID-19 or how long the virus will continue to cause major disruptions around the world. The hospice and palliative care community has faced similar unknowns in the past with the HIV/AIDS epidemic. We did not shy away – we cared for the patients who needed us at that time, and we did so with honor and respect.
In the face of uncertainty and the many unknowns, we stand ready to serve and deliver the highquality person-centered care our patients and families receive every day, to make the safety of our team members a priority, and to remember the sanctity of every individual we care for during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.
Respectfully,
Heart of Gold Hospice, Inc.
Chino, CA
Upcoming Community Drive-Through Testing Events
April 22, 2020
(SAN BERNDARINO COUNTY) Upcoming Community Drive-Through Testing Events
In efforts to provide more testing opportunities for San Bernardino County residents, community drive-through testing events are being held throughout the county. At these drive-through testing events, samples are collected by public health professionals by inserting a nasal swab up the nostril. These samples are then sent to a laboratory for COVID-19 testing. All persons must meet criteria to be tested. Events are free of charge and do not require health insurance.
Additional events and event details will be announced as they are confirmed. Please remember, if you are showing symptoms of COVID-19, you can still call your doctor and they can determine if you need testing.
CLICK HERE FOR SAN BERNARDINO DRIVE-THROUGH TESTING EVENTS
(RIVERSIDE COUNTY) Testing for coronavirus expanded to residents without symptoms
Read the April 17, 2020 News Release from the Riverside University Health System (RUHS) on opening their drive-up testing for the Blythe area. The Blythe site is the fifth location for testing in Riverside County. Testing sites are also located at the Riverside County Fairgrounds in Indio (Tuesdays through Saturdays), at The Diamond Stadium in Lake Elsinore (Sundays through Thursdays), the parking lot at Harvest Christian Fellowship Church in Riverside (Tuesdays through Saturdays) and the Perris Fairgrounds (Tuesdays through Saturdays).
In the same News Release, Dr. Cameron Kaiser, Riverside County public health officer, said the modification of the testing criteria will allow anyone who wants to be tested the opportunity to see whether they have the illness. Officials have said expanded testing – for those with and without symptoms -- will give health experts a better idea of the extent of the illness in Riverside County.
(LOS ANGELES COUNTY) Free drive-up mobile testing sites
The City of Los Angeles, in partnership with the County of Los Angeles and CORE (Community Organized Relief Effort), is providing free COVID-19 testing to Los Angeles County residents.
At this time, testing is only for people with symptoms, such as fever, cough, and shortness of breath. Anyone with COVID-19 symptoms can now book a same or next day appointment.
Tests are also prioritized for first-reposnders, critical government workers, or health care professionals. Those individuals should inquire at their affiliated hospital, medical center or department for information about how to schedule a same or next-day appointment for testing.
The tests provided through this program are mouth swab tests that do not require assistance. Prepare for your appointment by watching this video.
For more questions about testing, Please visit LA County's FAQ for answers to frequently asked questions.
To find out if you're eligible for a test and to schedule an appointment at a drive-up mobile testing site in Los Angeles County, please click here.
CLICK HERE for COVID-19: What you need to know about testing in Los Angeles County
Institute of Aging 24-hour hotline
The Institute of Aging is offering a free 24-hour hotline to help people aged 60 years and older receive emotional support and information on how to cope with COVID-19. You can call the hotline at 1 (800) 971-0016 or click HERE for more information.
Seniors and other high-risk individuals living in Chino Valley: If you are unable to leave your home for food, medication, and other essential services, dial (909) 315-8850 or email sos@chofire.org to receive assistance.
Public Health to hold drive-thru testing; COVID-19 dashboard coming soon
March 26, 2020
County Public Health will conduct a drive-thru specimen collection for novel coronavirus (COVID-19) on Friday, March 27. The specimen collection for COVID-19 testing will be available for the public by appointment only. Appointment sign-up and details will be available on the COVID-19 webpage (wp.sbcounty.gov/dph/coronavirus) on Thursday, March 26 by 8 a.m.
County Public Health will also publish a dashboard on the COVID-19 webpage tomorrow. The dashboard displays a visual representation of data surrounding COVID-19 testing results, including the number of confirmed cases and deaths, patients tested, patients that tested negative, and confirmed cases by gender and by age groups.
“We tragically reported another death related to COVID-19 today and our hearts go out to this man’s loved ones,” said Dr. Erin Gustafson, Acting County Health Officer. The County reported 54 confirmed cases and two deaths associated with COVID-19 this evening.
“The advances in our fight against COVID-19, including a drive-thru specimen collection event and a data dashboard to inform the public about COVID-19 in our County will help us as we continue to move to mitigate the threat. We continue to urge everyone to take the stay at home order very seriously.”
California Gov. Gavin Newsom and the State Public Health Officer on March 19 issued a statewide stay-at-home order with exceptions for essential tasks and services. See details here: covid19.ca.gov/stay-home-except-for-essential-needs.
The Acting County Health Officer and the Board of Supervisors have declared a local health emergency to help ensure county government and the public are prepared and allow flexibility in response. Various county departments and agencies are working together and in partnership with cities, schools, and the business and nonprofit communities to ensure an effective response.
As with any virus, especially during the cold and flu season, there are a number of steps you can take to protect your health and those around you:
People experiencing symptoms of contagious illness should seek medical guidance.
Persons aged 65 years and older and persons of any age with certain underlying health conditions are at increased risk should they contract COVID-19 and are encouraged to self-quarantine.
Wash hands with soap and warm water for 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing. If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
Avoid touching eyes, nose or mouth, especially with unwashed hands.
Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using regular household cleaning spray or wipes.
N95 masks are not recommended outside a healthcare setting. Surgical masks can be worn by sick individuals to reduce the likelihood of spreading germs to others.
For information about the coronavirus crisis, visit the County’s coronavirus website at wp.sbcounty.gov/dph/coronavirus. New information and resources have been added and the site is being updated daily. The public can also contact the coronavirus public information line from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday at (909) 387-3911, or email the County at coronavirus@dph.sbcounty.gov.
March 19, 2020
Our hospice agency is proactively monitoring our community for any outbreak of Covid- 19 (also known as 2019-nCov, 2019 Novel Coronavirus). With 192 confirmed cases with 1 death in Los Angeles County, 16 in Riverside County with 3 deaths, 42 in Orange County, and 5 cases in San Bernardino County, as of this writing (https://www.latimes.com/projects/california-coronavirus-cases-tracking-outbreak/ March 19, 2020), we would like to exercise caution due to the information that older adults and people who have severe underlying chronic medical conditions like heart or lung disease or diabetes seem to be at higher risk for developing more serious complications from COVID-19 illness.
Our agency is vigilant in preventing the introduction and spread of COVID-19 within our community and into your homes. To mitigate the spread of the Covid-19, our agency has requested all of our patients to utilize the distancing tool to significantly restrict visitors and nonessential personnel within their homes. We have directed our patients or someone in their home showing signs and symptoms of having Covid-19 (Fever, Cough, Shortness of Breath), not to make an appointment or walk into their local hospital or clinic. Instead, stay at home and call us at (909) 364-0771 and we will triage with a nurse who will assess their symptoms remotely until our agency has the necessary safety equipment (Personal Protective Equipment or PPE).
We will continue to monitor the situation and follow guidance from national and local governments, as well as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization to protect your well-being and of your family, our employees, and
our community — and all the while we’ll still be right here, ready to support you 24/7/365.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
For more rolling updates and information on COVID-19, please go to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization websites.