Hike for Hope 2026 Highlights Growing Need for Hospice Care in Alameda County’s Aging Community

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Hope Hospice has opened registration for Hike for Hope, its annual community fundraiser supporting compassionate, high-quality serious illness and end-of-life care across the Tri-Valley. Hike for Hope, taking place May 9 at Del Valle Regional Park in Livermore is a celebration of the outdoors and, for many participants, a remembrance of family and loved ones who have passed away.

“Events like Hike for Hope bring our community together around what matters most, ensuring that every person facing serious illness receives compassionate, dignified care, regardless of their circumstances,” said Anthony Lupian LCSW, Senior VP of By the Bay Health’s Health South Care region, which includes Hope Hospice. “As the need for care continues to grow, community support enables us to be there for patients and families when they need us most.”

Hope Hospice serves more than 2,000 residents each year across the Tri-Valley and neighboring East Bay, providing home-based palliative and hospice care, as well as pediatric services through its affiliation with By the Bay Health and By the Bay Kids. As an independent nonprofit, Hope Hospice delivers care wherever a patient calls home, regardless of ability to pay. Proceeds from Hike for Hope support essential programs including grief counseling, dementia education, and caregiver support.

Demand for these services continues to grow. Adults aged 65 and older are the fastest-growing population in Alameda County, projected to increase by 70% to 80% between 2019 and 2040. At the same time, approximately 9% to 11% of older adults in the county live below the federal poverty level, and an estimated 36% fall below the Elder Index, a local measure of income needed to cover basic expenses, highlighting significant financial vulnerability.

Nonprofit hospice providers like Hope Hospice play a critical role by reinvesting resources into patient care, caregiver training, and bereavement services, while helping close access gaps for underinsured and low-income residents.

Hike for Hope is more than a fundraiser; it reflects Hope Hospice’s role as a vital safety net for the community. As the population ages, the need for compassionate, accessible care and the support that sustains it will continue to grow.

For more information or to register for Hike for Hope, visit www.HopeHospice.com

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