Summer 2026

Chief Executive Officer Jane Russo stands front and center surrounded by the Central Coast VNA & Hospice team, who are celebrating 75 years of service. I n the early 1950s, a group of enthusias- tic nurses with medical bags packed in their cars traveled across Monterey County to assist homebound patients. Without electronic records and sophisticated medical devices, they braved unpaved roads to help vulnerable popu- lations in their own homes. Seventy-five years later, the staff at Central Coast VNA & Hospice are armed with GPS sys- tems, modern medicine and sophisticated tools to assess their patients’ needs. The goal, howev- er, remains the same: to attend to those unable to leave their own residences and to provide compassionate care, including end-of-life services. Chief Executive Officer Jane Russo explains that the organization provides home health visits, palliative care, and hospice services which are covered through insurance and other fund- ing mechanisms, while free bereavement coun- seling is available to anyone in the community. “We are the only nonprofit in the area that offers this continuum of care,” she says. “We have an aging population and cover such a wide breadth of regions. Everything we do is based upon the support of the community and we work with local physicians who understand the uniqueness of our community.” Services also include support for those recov- ering from an accident or illness. “We want to meet the patients where they need to be met,” Russo says. The 75th anniversary gala takes place this October. For more information or to donate, visit www.ccvna.com or call 831/372-6668. Central Coast VNA & Hospice Celebrates 75 Years of Community Care B Y B R E T T WI L BUR SHORT CUTS GIVING BACK 96 C A R M E L M A G A Z I N E • S U M M E R 2 0 2 6 Photo: Kelli Uldall