Hospice Care at Bluegrass Care Navigators Highlighted on Lexington’s WKYT-TV
December 10, 2024
When it comes to care that truly matters, November's National Hospice and Palliative Care Month shines a light on the difference Bluegrass Care Navigators (BCN) makes every day. In an exclusive interview with WKYT, Liz Fowler, President and CEO of BCN, shares how this organization, founded over 45 years ago by compassionate volunteers, continues to honor its roots while embracing innovative ways to provide comfort and dignity. Watch the video below to discover why their mission matters and how it could touch your life or the lives of those you love.
In the interview, Liz highlights the difference between hospice and palliative care and the benefits that each can provide a patient and family. Hospice care is for patients who have chosen to focus on quality of life rather than curative treatment and provides a team of nurses, social workers, aides, and chaplains to support hospice patients and families wherever they call home. Family members are educated on the best way to care for family members and have access to 24/7 support from their clinical team, including virtual doctor visits and advanced in-home treatments to enhance the care experience.
Palliative care focuses on pain and symptom management at any stage of illness, whether dealing with a new diagnosis or the side effects of treatment. Our palliative care team works with your doctors to understand what’s most important to you and develops a plan to help manage your most troublesome symptoms. Our goal is to reduce emergency room visits, hospital admissions and improve your longevity and quality of life.
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.
For the women holding it all together—until it’s too much.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Expansion will improve access to care and chronic disease management for high-risk patients across Laurel, Jackson, and Whitley Counties
