Massage Therapy Helps with Shortness of Breath
Andrea Soltan • June 28, 2023
I specifically don't quantify results from my massages because I want the experience to be far removed from the other medical visits where the patient might be poked and prodded. I have been working on some techniques that really help with shortness of breath. After giving one of these treatments, I excused myself to the bathroom to wash my hands. When I came back, the patient had found her pulse oximeter and was holding it up for me to see. Her breathing was much better, and it made her curious about her oxygen saturation and heart rate.
She said, "I can’t believe it! My O2 is never this high and my heart rate is never this low." Our patients have been so helpful with feedback on my techniques to help with their breathing. It was exciting to see concrete results after lots of learning and tweaking my protocol for shortness of breath.
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.
