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 received grant funding from Truist Foundation and the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government (LFUCG) to purchase an additional transportation van for Bluegrass PACE participants in Fayette County. The new van will expand Bluegrass PACE Care’s existing transportation fleet, helping meet growing demand and ensuring participants can reliably access the care and services they need.
The dedication of Bluegrass Care Navigators’ Northern Kentucky Flower Program volunteers was recently recognized at the Garden Club of Kentucky Annual Convention, highlighting the powerful impact of their service to BCN patients. In addition to celebrating 22 awards earned for a wide range of gardening projects throughout Boone County, the Boone County Garden Club was also honored with the prestigious Club of Honor for its outstanding partnership with Bluegrass Care Navigators. This recognition reflects the heartfelt commitment of our volunteers and the meaningful difference they make in our community.
Grief arrives without warning. For Crystal Huddle and her children, it came in an instant, through a car accident that took her husband’s life and forever changed their family.
Bluegrass Care Navigators is proud to expand access to Bluegrass PACE Care with the opening of a new PACE Alternative Care Site in Frankfort, celebrated with a ribbon cutting and open house on May 14. As Kentucky’s first provider of the Program of All‑Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE), BCN continues to grow its innovative model that helps adults age 55 and older with complex health needs live safely at home.
After 12 years of leading Bluegrass Care Navigators (BCN) as President & CEO, Liz Fowler has determined it is time to move towards retirement. Liz shared her news with the Board of Directors last year, and together, they have conducted a nation-wide search for BCN’s next President.
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.
