Sylvie Belmond 
Free support, compassionate care and a hand to hold—right here in our community. Someone is ready to walk beside you
(CLAIR | Simi Valley, CA) — Not everyone knows where to turn when loss takes hold. It can feel overwhelming or disorienting or just plain heavy. But in this corner of Ventura County, there’s a place offering steady support and real human connection.
Based in Thousand Oaks, Hospice of the Conejo serves residents across southeast Ventura County—Thousand Oaks, Moorpark, Simi Valley, Oak Park, Agoura, Calabasas and surrounding communities. Since 1977, the nonprofit has helped people through life’s hardest moments with free services that blend compassion, dignity and practical support.
Grief doesn’t always arrive with shock. Sometimes it’s slow and expected. Other times it hits out of nowhere. Either way, it leaves a mark—and healing doesn’t happen in isolation.
Welcoming people from all walks of life and all stages of loss, Hospice of the Conejo offers more than 50 therapist-led support groups each month. Whether the loss is recent or years in the past, participants are met without judgment. Some come ready to talk. Others just need to sit in a room with people who understand.
“One-on-one counseling isn’t for everyone, and often it’s cost-prohibitive,” said Kyle Jorrey, executive director of Hospice of the Conejo. “Our group members frequently tell us how their attendance is life-changing, and how they create meaningful friendships that persist long after they’ve stopped attending.”
Jorrey, who joined the organization recently, said he was struck by how much more Hospice of the Conejo offers than he initially realized. Beyond grief groups and in-home volunteer visits, the nonprofit helps families navigate the complex and emotional shift from medical treatment to hospice support. “Our nonprofit truly is a one-stop shop for families facing the difficult decision of transitioning from medical to hospice care,” he said. “When we commit to a patient, we are all in, walking them step by step through the process.”
He also shared what it was like to sit in on one of the grief groups—a moment that stayed with him. Nearly everyone in the room told him they didn’t know where they’d be without it. “There’s something incredibly powerful and irreplaceable about sharing one’s grief with others who truly understand,” Jorrey said. “The bonds formed in these groups extend far beyond the end of each weekly meeting.”
Hospice of the Conejo’s care also extends to individuals facing critical illness. Through its Legacy Hospice Program, specially trained volunteers visit people in their homes or assisted living facilities. They help with errands, offer companionship and support family caregivers—many of whom are going through this for the first time and feeling overwhelmed.
They meet people where they are—whether that’s in a private home, an assisted living room or a hospital bed—and offer presence, comfort and care when it’s needed most. Through the No One Dies Alone program, volunteers sit with people in their final hours when family can’t be there. A quiet presence, a held hand, a promise that no one has to face the end alone.
Other volunteers support patients in simple but powerful ways—brushing hair, preparing meals or walking a beloved pet. A free Lending Closet offers walkers, wheelchairs and other equipment to anyone who needs it. And for those with questions about care or grief, the staff is there to help—no referral needed, no insurance required.
Because Hospice of the Conejo is a non-medical hospice, they can step in long before a formal prognosis is given. They can help while someone is still seeking treatment. And everything they do is free of charge.
Hospice of the Conejo does not receive any funding from Medicare or private insurance. Every service they offer—from support groups to bedside vigils—is made possible through private donations, grants and local fundraisers. It’s the community that keeps their work going, helping ensure that no one has to face illness or loss alone.
Training is offered year-round for those who want to help. Whether serving patients, supporting grieving families or lending a hand in the office, volunteers are seen as vital to the work. No medical background is required—just a willingness to show up with compassion.
If you or someone you love is grieving, caregiving or preparing for what comes next, Hospice of the Conejo is here. Learn more at hospiceoftheconejo.org or call (805) 495-2145.
