Person-Centered Care Makes a Difference for the Hoffstedder Family

February 17, 2026

Team BCN brought compassionate, personalized care to Tim and Helen Hoffstedder during a challenging chapter in their lives. After receiving a dementia diagnosis almost seven years ago, Helen’s family did their best to care for her at home. When she required additional support, they moved her to ColdSpring Transitional Care where she could receive high-quality care around the clock. In February 2024, she began retaining fluid and had difficulty breathing. The team at ColdSpring Care referred the family to Bluegrass Hospice Care and that extra support brought her husband Tim immense reassurance. 

Time and Helen Hoffstedder on their wedding day

“We genuinely love working with Bluegrass Care Navigators,” Tammy Walwark, Director of Nursing at ColdSpring Care, said. “The relationship we share is special, and the collaboration between our teams is something we’re really proud of. When patients and families face some of the most challenging moments of their lives, we come together, lean on one another, and work through them as a team, even when it isn’t easy. That partnership is rooted in doing what’s right for the patient, always. And that shared commitment makes all the difference.”


As of January 2026, Helen receives regular visits from BCN’s team of doctors, nurses, CNAs, social workers and chaplains, in addition to the services provided by ColdSpring Care. Both organizations focus on surrounding the Hoffstedder family with empathy, compassion and dignity.


“I see her once per week, and more as needed,” Brea Storms, BCN RN in the Northern Kentucky region, said. “Because ColdSpring referred this family to our services early in the journey, we have been able to help improve her quality of life and allowed the family more time to create memories with her.”


BCN’s expert interventions improved her quality of life.


"Peace of mind is everything. Bluegrass Care Navigators truly understands what Helen is going through, and they communicate like real people, listen to our needs, and recommend the right equipment to keep her comfortable,” Tim said. “I’m so grateful knowing she’s getting the best care possible thanks to the relationship between ColdSpring and BCN."


As her symptoms eased, her mental status improved. Now, when Tim visits, he is sometimes rewarded with a precious smile from Helen.


“At the end of the day, everyone shares the same goal, to do what’s right for the patient,” Walwark said. “When organizations work together with that mindset, we can create something truly meaningful for both patients and their families during a time of real need.”

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