Team BCN Provides Compassionate Care at the 11th Hour
Our team goes above and beyond to provide expert, compassionate care at just the right time to our patients and families. But we provide more than compassionate healthcare. At Bluegrass Care Navigators, we believe that no one should pass alone.
Our 11th Hour Volunteer Program epitomizes our commitment to deliver the right care at the right time. These dedicated volunteers are trained to be by the side of patients without family nearby who might otherwise face their final moments alone.
“Each one of our patients, they are my friends, and they are my neighbors, and I think we ought to take care of each other,”
Milly Burkhart, a volunteer in our Barbourville region, said.
Volunteers in each of our regions choose to answer the call, no matter the time of day, to provide a caring presence when it’s needed most.
Jenny Brown, a dedicated 11th-hour volunteer in our Northern Kentucky region, has spent 13 years volunteering with BCN in a variety of ways, but her favorite is 11th hour. For Jenny, these moments are a way to use her own journey for good and a testament to the power of love and companionship at the end of life.
“Being able to do this for other people makes me feel that I’m repaying the good things that have been given to me,”
Connie Miller, a volunteer in our Frankfort region, said.
Many of our 11th hour volunteers serve in other roles as well. Vicky Schriml, a volunteer in our Lexington region, sat
with a couple that she had spoken with regularly during her weekly care calls. When she arrived at the patient’s house, the husband immediately recognized her voice and thanked her for coming to sit with him while his wife passed.
“This moment made me realize how deeply connected “Everything we do is important, whether it be volunteering at the 11th hour, making care calls, writing anniversary notes or working administratively, everything works together to provide
After serving as a chaplain for 13 years with BCN in our Cynthiana region, Rick Snyder chose to become an 11th hour volunteer in retirement. For him, it is a way to provide comfort, dignity and a reminder that each person is known and loved. Many volunteers believe this is one of the most meaningful things they have ever done.
“I hope others will consider volunteering their time or their resources to support the work we are doing to help make such an important difference for future patients of Bluegrass Care Navigators,” Jill Conway, volunteer in our Hazard region and Director of Provider Strategy and Community Engagement, said.
Every day, we bring comfort, dignity, and expert care to patients facing serious illness, but we don’t do it alone - we have you by our side! Scan this QR code to watch our volunteers share their amazing stories!
Honoring Sara Kaufmann Society at Donor Appreciation Concert
On October 1, Bluegrass Care Navigators gathered to celebrate the generosity of our Caring Community and honor the members of the Sara Kaufmann Society. The evening featured a special performance by Kentucky musician and composer Ben Sollee, and a heartfelt message of gratitude from Liz Buckles, mother of one of our Bright Path patients.
“Our Caring Community of donors, volunteers and community partners is vital to our mission at BCN and allows our team to deliver expert, compassionate care to patients and families across our 32 counties in Kentucky,” Laura Klumb, Vice President of Philanthropy & Marketing, said. “Your generosity is the reason we never turn anyone away from hospice care and can go above and beyond for our patients and families every single day. We are grateful for the many ways you help continue to be a resource for individuals facing serious illness today and for years to come.”
We appreciate our corporate partners Netsmart, Green & Halliburton and Assured Partners for sponsoring this event.
The Sara Kaufmann Society is named after one of BCN’s most generous supporters and recognizes those who have included BCN in their will or estate plan or have contributed a life-income gift.
If you have included Bluegrass Care Navigators in your will or estate plan, please let us know by contacting us at 859.296.6865 or scan the QR code. We would be honored to thank you and welcome you into the Sara Kaufmann Society.
Bluegrass Care Navigators Ranks 6th
Among Largest US Hospices
Bluegrass Care Navigators has been ranked sixth in Overall Quality among the 50 largest hospices in the United States, according to a recent study published in the American Journal of Hospice & Palliative Medicine. The ranking is based on three key quality indicators: caregiver surveys (CAHPS scores), caregiver and employee satisfaction scores, and sentiment scores from Google reviews and Glassdoor ratings. The study assessed both non-profit and for-profit hospices across the nation. Notably, all top ten hospices recognized for quality care are non-profit, which the study correlates with higher quality care and greater employee satisfaction. Congrats to Team BCN on this prestigious ranking, which is a testament to our team members’ commitment to providing compassionate, high-quality care every day to our patients and families!
To read more, visit bit.ly/3Z0gQCD or scan the QR code.
Bluegrass Grief Care Helps Child Find a Brighter Outlook
Alice, a young bereavement client, experienced profound loss at a very early age. Alice herself had been diagnosed with leukemia at just 2 ½ years old and underwent more than two years of treatment before her cancer went into remission. Then, at the age of 10, Alice’s mother passed away under the compassionate care of Bluegrass Hospice Care after her own prolonged battle with cancer.
In the aftermath of her mother’s death, Alice’s father sought grief counseling support for both him and Alice. During Alice’s first session, she was tearful and withdrawn, struggling to cope with the overwhelming emotions. By the second session, there was a glimmer of change. Alice brought a family photo, including her mom and their dog. Together, the counselor and Alice decorated a photo frame. During the activity, she excitedly shared the memories encapsulated in the photo, and by the end of the session, she was eager to show her creation to her dad and siblings.
Alice continued to progress each session. She began sharing her feelings more openly, reflecting on cherished stories with her mom, and learning to distinguish between healthy and unhealthy coping mechanisms. Through relaxation and breathing exercises, journaling, art, and memory-making activities, Alice found new ways to navigate her grief. She created a memory bracelet and a memory box, filled with items that remind her of her mom, treasures she will hold dear for years to come.
After six months of dedicated grief counseling with BCN, Alice transformed remarkably. She evolved from a withdrawn, quiet child to one who eagerly attended her sessions, filled with smiles, laughter, and a willingness to share both past and present memories. Talking about her mom became easier, and Alice’s resilience and strength shone through. Bluegrass Grief Care guided Alice through this season and is helping her emerge with a lighter heart and a brighter outlook on life.
Camp Hope Helps Children Integrate Grief and Find Resilience
This fall more than 25 children gathered at Camp Hope sessions in central and southeast Kentucky for a day of healing. Bereavement counselors, social workers, volunteers and integrative medicine specialists provided an opportunity for participants to express their grief and develop effective coping strategies in a fun, safe and supportive environment.
Camp Hope is a free one-day children’s bereavement camp for ages 6-17 that helps children and their caregivers know they are not alone. Campers start the day together with family activities before being divided into peer groups. Each age-appropriate activity is tied to a grief support objective, such as sharing their personal grief story, learning healthy coping strategies, developing communication skills to share feelings, and understanding the importance of remembering loved ones.
The Bluegrass Grief Care program is available to anyone in the community who has experienced the loss of a loved one, and offers various programs, including Camp Hope, support groups and individual grief counseling. The Grief Care program and Camp Hope are possible thanks to the kindness and generosity of donors, including the Berea College Appalachian Fund, Hearst Foundations, Steena Charitable Fund and the Appalachian Arts Alliance who support the program.
Hazard Volunteers Bake Birthday Joy!
BCN Donors Host NKY Garden Party
Thank you to Donna and Dennis Repenning in our Northern Kentucky region for hosting a lovely garden party earlier this year. We appreciate their generosity in opening their home to friends and neighbors to learn more about Bluegrass Care Navigators and the variety of services we provide to our patients and the community. It was an enchanting afternoon in a beautiful setting, and we are always grateful to share the impact that our care can have through the support of our donors!
If you are interested in hosting an event to support BCN or help raise awareness in your community, please contact us at give@bgcarenav.org.
Share Your Story
This September, BCN Volunteer and Community Liaison Karen Back (Hazard) and Nathan Little (Pikeville) partnered with the Crusaders in Action at Alice Lloyd College to share volunteer opportunities with students. This group is led by BCN’s own Hospice and Palliative Physician, Kassi Marshall, MD, and is comprised of students from Alice Lloyd College and the June Buchanan School. This group is making a meaningful impact locally while fundraising for a mission trip to Guatemala. During the visit, the students enthusiastically assembled birthday kits for our patients, which include cake mix, frosting, balloons, candles, plates, napkins, and a fun recipe for a simple, 2-ingredient cake made with a can of soda. Their energy and generosity were a true delight.
We love to hear how our services have touched your family’s life. Please take a quick moment to tell us how our staff, our services or our support has made a difference in your life or the life of someone you love.
Elizabeth Mitchell, patient of Bluegrass Care Navigators
Bluegrass Care Navigators Helps Daughter Fulfill Mom’s Wish to Stay Home
Ceci Mitchell recently shared this letter of appreciation with the Frankfort State Journal and the Lexington Herald Leader. We are grateful for her kind words, support and for having been part of her family’s journey during a difficult season.
Dear Editor,
This is an overdue public letter of appreciation and support for Bluegrass Care Navigators’ hospice program. It’s been nearly a year since my mother died at 92+ years of age, and BCN helped our family keep my mom in her home through the end of her life.
BCN provided us with wonderful medical care, advice, compassion, assistance and understanding from every member of the hospice team we encountered. Visiting nurses and in-home aids were focused on the patient while also being concerned and attentive to the caregivers. These professionals explained and taught us “lay” people techniques for care and coping which we weren’t aware. They made what could have been a terribly traumatic experience remarkably tolerable for all involved.
I hope that whenever someone in our community needs support to keep a loved one at home in their final years that BCN is still available to help. They are a worthwhile organization, deserving of monetary donations and support from volunteers willing to help others in their greatest time of need.
I doubt many deaths are “easy,” but I believe Bluegrass Care Navigators made my loved one’s inevitable passing the best it could have been. I am genuinely deeply grateful to them and urge others to support the organization.
Ceci Mitchell (daughter of Elizabeth Mitchell) Franklin County
By donating to Bluegrass Care Navigators, you can make a meaningful difference in your community. To explore our various options for giving, visit bgcarenav.org/ways-to-give or scan the QR code.
Integrative Medicine Team Offers Healing Hand Massages to Veterans at Thompson Hood Veterans Center
Our Integrative Medicine Team, along with one of our dedicated volunteers, visited Thompson Hood Veterans Center in Wilmore to offer hand massages to the residents. These therapeutic massages promote relaxation, alleviate pain, and enhance overall comfort. During the visit, our team had the privilege of engaging in heartfelt conversations with veterans, who shared memorable stories from their lives. This special event was made possible through the generous support of the Disabled Veterans National Foundation.
Team BCN Conjures Up a Spooktacular Night at the Howlin’ Halloween Bash!
Team BCN and friends gathered at The Perfect Place in Hazard on November 2 for a spooktacular night of frights and fun at our annual Howlin’ Halloween Bash! Guests enjoyed a fang-tastic evening filled with a devilishly good dinner, ghoulishly groovy dancing, and a spirited costume contest. With all proceeds benefiting the Greg and Noreen Wells Bluegrass Hospice Care Center, the event was truly a “monster” success!
Howlin’ halloween bash
We’re incredibly grateful to all who joined in the festivities and extend our eerie-sistible thanks to all of our event sponsors and to our presenting sponsors Laura Feltner-State Farm Insurance and Fugate Family Chiropractic!
High School Senior is a Hero for Hope for Hospice Patients
Shelby Valley High School senior Mahala Honaker discovered the hope found in hospice care through her involvement with Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA). After attending a presentation at her high school with our volunteer and community liaison in Pikeville, Mahala and her peers recognized an opportunity to raise awareness about the importance of hospice services in their community and felt a strong calling to care for those in need.
“When people hear about hospice, they often think of death,” Mahala said. “But there’s so much more—comfort, peace, and support for families.”
As part of her FCCLA chapter’s community service project, titled Heroes for Hope, Mahala surveyed the community to find out what item would bring the most comfort. The overwhelming response was blankets. Mahala led her group in creating more than 50 fleece tie blankets for BCN hospice patients. One particularly touching moment came when a blanket was given as a 99th birthday gift. The recipient couldn’t believe such a thoughtful item came from local high school students.
The project resonated even more deeply with Mahala after her own grandmother entered hospice care during the FCCLA competition season. She realized firsthand how meaningful hospice services are and how the care that the hospice team provides eases not only a patient’s suffering but also the emotional burden on families.
“It means a lot not just for me but for the people in my community,” she said. “I hope this project helps them get the love and comfort and support they need.”
After earning silver at Nationals in 2024, Mahala hopes to continue advocating for hospice care and wants FCCLA chapters across the state to join in supporting this vital cause. By combining her passion for community service with hospice care, Mahala is making a lasting difference for patients and families.
Providing Care for All, Thanks to Our Donors
Bluegrass Care Navigators walks hand in hand with the community to ensure that every individual receives the care they deserve, regardless of insurance status, ability to pay, ethnicity, gender identity, language proficiency, religion, cultural background or sexual orientation. As you’ll see in the story below, we recently provided care to a hospice patient who had no insurance, Medicare or Medicaid. Thank you for changing lives daily through your generosity.
Recently, a patient arrived at the Greg and Noreen Wells Bluegrass Hospice Care Center. He was unresponsive, without immediate family nearby. Despite the distance, our team communicated daily with the patient’s sister to ensure she was updated on his condition, actively involved in his care, and supported emotionally.
After his peaceful passing, Team BCN guided the patient’s sister through burial plans and affordable cremation options. We are proud to have delivered the same level of care to him that everyone deserves - at no cost - all thanks to the generosity of our donors.
Scan the QR code to view a patient story from Northern Kentucky.
Scan the QR code to view a patient story from Central Kentucky.
Lt. Governor Jacqueline Coleman Speaks at AFP Bluegrass
Chapter Lunch & Learn
Bluegrass Care Navigators was honored to host the October Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Bluegrass Chapter Lunch & Learn for nonprofit leaders with special guest speaker Lt. Governor Jacqueline Coleman. The Lt. Governor led a discussion focusing on public trust, transparency and other ethical situations and solutions in the nonprofit and political arena.
Andy Barr Visits Bluegrass PACE Center
Kentucky. Bluegrass PACE Care allows participants aged 55+ to age in place wherever they call home with support from the PACE Center. PACE provides comprehensive healthcare and a customized plan for your individual needs. PACE participants receive medical and personal care, meals and social activities at the PACE Center, along with transportation to and from the PACE Center and all authorized medical appointments.
As the year draws to a close, you have the chance to go above and beyond for the patients and families we serve. Whether it’s through fulfilling needs from our Amazon wish lists, making a year-end gift, or transferring appreciated stock, your generosity at the 11th hour can make a profound difference. Together, we can ensure that no one faces life’s final moments without the compassionate care they deserve.
Visit bgcarenav.org/ways-to-give or scan the QR code to discover how you can still make an impact in 2024.