Choosing Hospice Early Brought Patient and Family Peace
Over the course of a year, Cammie Grant watched her father, Marshall’s, health steadily decline. Although he lived in an assisted living facility and she or someone in her family visited him daily, she realized he needed more care and support than they could provide. That’s when she turned to Bluegrass Care Navigators (BCN). For five months, Team BCN walked alongside her family prioritizing expert medical care, comfort, dignity and connection.
“Team BCN was always there when I needed them, whether it was to answer questions or offer advice,” Cammie said. “It gave me peace of mind to know we had a team with us every step of the way.”
The extra support BCN provided allowed Cammie to shift from caregiver to daughter and give her father consistent, high-quality medical attention.
“Hospice made everything better for all of us, and I’m going to say that it grew, but that doesn’t mean that it started out very small,” she said. “But the support we received increased as my father’s care needs changed.”
Since Marshall was a veteran of both WWII and the Korean War, BCN connected him with Clark Kidwell, one of BCN’s veteran volunteers. Clark and Marshall visited regularly for several months, sharing stories and life experiences.
“Veterans will tell me stories they can’t or won’t tell anyone else because there’s a shared understanding,” Clark said. “But it’s the honor of spending time with veterans like Marshall that make my days so special.”
BCN is a Level 4 partner in the We Honor Veterans program, a collaboration through the National Alliance for Care at Home and the Veterans Administration. BCN has been specially trained to address the unique needs of our nation’s veterans at end-of-life. As part of the program, BCN trains veteran volunteers to perform Veteran Pinning Ceremonies.
“Dad loved the Veteran Pinning Ceremony, and we learned stories about his time in the Army Air Corps during WWII and Korea,” Cammie said. “Clark had done research about this special division of the military and the entire ceremony was so meaningful and uplifting.”
As part of the ceremony, Marshall received a certificate, a blanket and a flag pin in appreciation for their service.
As Marshall neared the end of his life, he expressed his wish to go home. Because hospice had already been in place, BCN was able to act quickly and make it happen. Although every situation is different, Marshall was able to spend his final 30 hours surrounded by family in the comfort of his home.
“It was clear that the BCN team wasn’t just doing their job,” Cammie said. “They were genuinely invested in my father’s comfort and our well-being, and I’m thankful for the expertise that BCN gave me. With their help, I could give my father what he needed at the end of his life so that I could feel at peace letting him go.”
Established in 1978, Bluegrass Care Navigators provides hospice care in 32 counties across northern, central and eastern Kentucky. As a mission-driven, nonprofit agency, BCN supports those facing serious illness or chronic disease with both long and short-term hospice care, palliative care, transitional care, PACE (Program for All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly), and grief counseling services. For more information on services available by county, visit bgcarenav.org or call 855.492.0812.
