HDR Foundation Awards $18,000 Grant to Bluegrass Care Navigators for Bluegrass PACE Care

August 6, 2024

The HDR Foundation has awarded an $18,000 grant to Bluegrass Care Navigators (BCN) to support Bluegrass PACE Care.

This grant will be used to acquire two mobile and four portable wheelchair stairlifts, supporting the safe transportation of medically frail seniors with mobility restrictions and allowing participants to age safely in their homes for a longer time.

"We are excited to support Bluegrass PACE Care with this HDR Foundation grant,” said Mark Day, board chair at BCN and Senior Aviation Consultant/Office Principal at HDR, a global firm specializing in architecture, engineering, environmental and construction services. “BCN's unwavering commitment to compassionate and culturally sensitive care is truly inspiring. These funds will allow PACE to greatly reduce transportation challenges for participants."

In our central Kentucky community, there is a shortage of housing that is both affordable and accessible for senior adults with mobility issues. Senior adults that are wheelchair bound or face other mobility limitations often find themselves restricted to their homes without the ability to leave for medical appointments or other healthcare related activities, including socialization for their mental health well-being.

The HDR Foundation grant focuses on promoting healthy living at the community level by funding initiatives that encourage active lifestyles, wellness education, and preventative care. The purchase of mobile wheelchair stair lifts and portable stair lifts will provide PACE drivers and team members with essential tools to safely transport participants from their homes to medical appointments and the PACE Center.

“Bluegrass Care Navigators is incredibly grateful to organizations like the HDR Foundation that award funding to support our services to seriously ill or medically frail individuals,” Liz Fowler, President and CEO of BCN, said. “This grant will greatly improve accessibility and mobility for our PACE participants, enhancing their quality of life and enabling them to receive the care they need.”

Bluegrass PACE Care, or Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly, keeps adults aged 55+, who need help with activities of daily living, such as meals, dressing, bathing or toileting, living safely at home. PACE provides a dedicated healthcare team including a primary care provider, an all-inclusive care plan and all services to support that plan, and transportation to and from the Bluegrass PACE Center and all authorized medical appointments. Participants also receive meals and can engage in social activities at the Bluegrass PACE Center.

For more information about Bluegrass Care Navigators and Bluegrass PACE Care, visit bgcarenav.org.

About HDR

HDR is a 100% employee-owned professional services firm. Founded over a century ago to bring electricity to a changing world, we are now a global company specializing in architecture, engineering, environmental and construction services. Our success in built and natural environments continues as we collaborate to solve our clients’ and communities’ most complex challenges.

About the HDR Foundation
The HDR Foundation provides grants to qualified organizations that align with HDR’s areas of expertise: education, healthy communities and environmental stewardship. As an employee-funded and employee-driven foundation, preference is given to organizations located in communities in which HDR employees live and work, and those with strong employee involvement. Since its inception, the HDR Foundation has provided more than $9 million in grants to over 350 organizations.

About Bluegrass Care Navigators
Established in 1978, Bluegrass Care Navigators is a nationally recognized, leading nonprofit provider of expert care for the frail and elderly in 32 counties across northern, central, and eastern Kentucky. Our compassionate team of over 700 employees and 300 volunteers supports more than 16,000 patients annually with transitional care, home health, PACE (the Program for All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly), palliative care, integrative medicine, hospice care, and grief counseling services. For more information on Bluegrass Care Navigators’ services, visit www.bgcarenav.org or call 855.492.0812.

< Older Post

Newer Post >

Bluegrass Care Navigators Partners with God’s Pantry to Address Patient Food Insecurity

June 29, 2026

Bluegrass Care Navigators has partnered with God’s Pantry to provide food boxes to patients experiencing food insecurity across its service lines. In the first month alone, team members and volunteers delivered 50 boxes to medically frail older adults. By addressing barriers like transportation, mobility, and limited income, this collaboration extends patient care beyond clinical needs to better support overall health and quality of life.

When Caring for Mom Gets Too Heavy: Jen’s Story

June 11, 2026

For the women holding it all together—until it’s too much.

How to Honor His Memory on Father's Day

June 4, 2026

For many, Father’s Day can be particularly challenging day after the loss of a father or paternal figure. This day often brings back waves of grief—even if you thought you had already worked through those feelings. Everyday moments, like passing by Father’s Day displays in a store or participating in one of your father’s favorite activities, can unexpectedly trigger emotions and memories. As you navigate this difficult day, it is essential to give yourself permission to grieve. Take time to reflect on the joyful moments and cherished traditions you shared with your father.

From Medically Fragile to Safely Housed: How BCN Provides New Beginnings

May 26, 2026

For many individuals experiencing homelessness, medical hardship and housing instability are deeply intertwined. BCN’s Medical Respite Program bridges that gap by providing a short-term, hotel-based recovery program that offers compassionate care to unhoused individuals who need a safe place to heal and receive medical care.

Team BCN Provides Memory-Making Art Activities in Inpatient Units

May 26, 2026

Supported by a grant from the CommonSpirit Health Community Health Improvement Grants program, BCN’s Integrative Medicine created memory-making kits now used by social workers and volunteers to support patients and families in hospital settings.

How To Honor Her Memory on Mother's Day

April 30, 2026

For many, Mother’s Day can be a particularly challenging day after the loss of a mother or maternal figure. This day often brings back waves of grief—even if you thought you had already worked through those feelings. Everyday moments, like passing by Mother’s Day displays in a store or seeing flowers, can unexpectedly trigger emotions and memories. As you navigate this difficult day, it is essential to give yourself permission to grieve. Take time to reflect on the joyful moments and cherished traditions you shared with your mother.

Bluegrass Care Navigators Supports Families Through Every Step

March 24, 2026

Marla Sowers was never defined by titles though she held many. A pianist and Miss Morehead State University, a valedictorian, a beautiful singer, and an excellent writer, she carried the practical wisdom of her farming family into everything she did. As a public school elementary music teacher, Marla shaped hearts by inviting students to see kindness as strength. When a dementia diagnosis altered the rhythm of her days, her husband Richard cared for her at home and then with the help of an assisted living facility for as long as he could. After several years, the facility referred her to Bluegrass Care Navigators (BCN) for hospice services.

Bluegrass Care Navigators Provides Family with More Moments

March 24, 2026

When Bill Papania thinks about Bluegrass Care Navigators, he doesn’t just remember the end of his mother’s life, he remembers the time, comfort, and connection Team BCN made possible.

Bluegrass Care Navigators Offers Hope, Support and Connection to Grieving Family

March 19, 2026

In 2024, the Coleman family’s world was shattered with a devastating cancer diagnosis and unexpected loss of Jessica, devoted wife and mother. Kyle and his three daughters were overwhelmed by grief and the daily reminders of life without her. They connected with Bluegrass Care Navigators’ (BCN) grief team whose compassionate support and counseling helped the family find comfort, connection and the tools to heal together.

Bluegrass Care Navigators Expands Bluegrass Transitional Care Program with Grant Award in Partnership with Saint Joseph London

March 17, 2026

Expansion will improve access to care and chronic disease management for high-risk patients across Laurel, Jackson, and Whitley Counties

Email us

855.492.0812