A Place for Peace
A peaceful atmosphere and round-the-clock personal care makes a stay at Bruns House a unique and special experience for both patients and their families.
Bruns House Inpatient Care
In 2004, we established Bruns House to provide inpatient hospice care for patients who require acute symptom management. Offering privacy and quiet that cannot be found in a hospital, combined with intensive round-the-clock care that cannot be achieved at home, Bruns House has cared for more than 3,000 patients and their family members. Bruns House is the only inpatient hospice house in the Bay Area. The Bruns House is also known as GIP (Hospice General Inpatient Care) or IPU (Inpatient Units).
Patients are cared for in a homelike environment. The peaceful atmosphere and round-the-clock personal care are what make a stay at Bruns House a unique and special experience for both patients and their families.
Goals of Bruns House
- To relieve pain and manage symptoms.
- To comfort and care for each patient according to their wishes.
- To support all patients and family members dealing with emotional, spiritual and practical concerns during the final weeks of life.
- To ensure that life’s last journey is what the patient wants it to be.
Bruns House is staffed by specially trained professionals, including physicians, registered nurses, licensed vocational nurses, home health aides, dieticians, social workers, spiritual care counselors, bereavement counselors, volunteers and a consulting pharmacist.
Our skilled medical and nursing staff provide assessments and interventions to control symptoms such as pain, nausea, anxiety, shortness of breath, and seizures. There is a registered nurse on duty at Bruns House twenty-four hours a day.
A social worker and spiritual care counselor are available for all patients and family members who are dealing with emotional, spiritual, and practical concerns during the final stages of life
In response to the COVID 19 pandemic, providing the highest quality care and maintaining a safe environment for our guests and staff is our number one priority. We continue to monitor and follow new developments from the state, Contra Costa County Health Department and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The following enhanced safety measures have been implemented in response to COVID 19:
- Clinical Screening for all who enter the Bruns House. Temperature check prior to entering the facility. Temperature reading 100 degrees Fahrenheit or higher or an affirmative to the clinical health screening questions, excludes from entry into Bruns House. Screening for the following symptoms within the last 7 days: fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, sneezing, shortness of breath, loss of taste/smell, or generalized weakness.
- Visitors – Visitors are limited to two designated visitors per patient. If more than two family members wish to visit the patient, exceptions will be considered on a case-by-case basis. If an exception is made, Bruns House staff will work with families to schedule visits to minimize visitors from congregating at the facility. Bruns House staff will also assist with maximizing alternate modes for family to connect with the patient.
- Visitors – Visitors must wear a mask at all times while visiting the Bruns House. A mask will be provided if needed.
- Visitors – If visitors who have been to the Bruns House test positive for COVID 19 within the 10 days after the last visit, we ask that Bruns House be notified by calling (925) 945-8924.
- Hand Hygiene – Alcohol sanitizer is readily available throughout the facility.
- Physical Distancing – Practicing and educating to maintain at least six feet between people.