SPRING 2022
Quicker Access to Hospice Services in Southeast Kentucky with USDA Telemedicine Grant Bluegrass Care Navigators is dedicated to providing seriously ill
Patients identified through our Telecare program will
care that all our patients receive. However, there are often
patient monitoring equipment that can be used to
patients in southeast Kentucky with the expert, compassionate
challenges in this region that slow access to patients, such as the mountainous terrain that can make response time greater for patients living in remote areas due to extensive travel time. In January 2022, Bluegrass Care Navigators began implementing new
be equipped with tablets in their home, along with assist in examination and monitoring of symptoms. Using these videoconference tools, our expertly trained hospice care teams will have enhanced connection with more than 400 patients and their families each day, enabling them to interact and
Telecare services within 16 counties located in southeast Kentucky that
communicate remotely, and will result in quicker
will help to minimize these challenges. Thanks to the support from a
access to care for our patients. These new tools will
USDA Telemedicine grant, this program will facilitate quicker access to
assist the care team in providing assessment and
our healthcare services for seriously ill patients, and when needed, will
treatment leading up to the clinical team members’
assist these patients and our providers in meeting virtually between
arrival in the home.
in-person visits. Monica Couch, Vice President and Chief Hospice Officer notes that, “Each day Bluegrass Care Navigators delivers hospice services to well
“Residents in these 16 counties will see tremendous benefits by having greater access to our healthcare services,” Monica added. “This technology will
over 400 patients in this region. By far, most of our hospice patients are
provide patients with quicker coordination and
served in their homes throughout a 16-county area. Our clinicians who
delivery of care because they will have more timely
serve patients in southeast Kentucky encounter a variety of obstacles
access to physicians and clinical staff, while still
that will be mitigated with the implementation of this robust Telecare
maintaining all of the in-person visits that they
program supported by the USDA.”
currently receive.”
Kentucky Grandpa Some of the most rewarding moments we share at Bluegrass Care
care for,” she said. “As time went on, Joe became
Navigators involve hearing family members express their sincere
someone who brought happiness and laughter
appreciation for the care that their loved ones receive.
into my life, although I was supposed to be the one
Recently, we heard from Cheri, whose father, Joe, was in our care.
uplifting him.”
She spoke about the compassionate and professional service that
Cheri’s experience with us is exactly why our mission is
was provided to her family—but also how a special bond formed
so important. “Because of the care that Dad received,
between her father and his nurse Anja, that can only be described as
his quality of life remained high until the end. Anja
“family”.
gave the entire family emotional support and comfort
Cheri recalled being impressed from the start, not only with Anja’s expertise and skill as a nurse, but the warmth and compassion shown to her father and mother. “My father looked forward to each of
Anja’s visits as she would engage him in thoughtful conversation, laugh at his jokes, and showed a genuine appreciation for his
and helped make a difficult transition something of beauty and peace”. Whether it’s spending more quality time with loved ones, creating lasting memories together, or grieving after a loved one is gone—Bluegrass Care Navigators
many stories and songs.”
is here to stand alongside all of it, like family.
When Anja began caring for Joe, she had recently moved to
Thanks to the support of our caring community,
Kentucky from Texas. “Joe had the sweetest soul and a jovial personality with the voice of a radio spokesperson. He and his wife Mary made me feel very welcome in their home,” she remembers. With each visit, Joe and Anja continued to develop a special connection to one another. “Anja told me that she thought of him as
Bluegrass Hospice Care provides that same level of compassionate care to nearly 1,000 patients daily
throughout northern, central and eastern Kentucky. This is only possible with the help of generous donors like you.
her ‘Kentucky Grandpa’, and I believe he considered her to be like family too,” Cheri told us. For Anja, being a hospice nurse isn’t just about providing care. “The most rewarding part for me is forming relationships with those I
Your donations directly impact the lives of other Kentuckians when they need it most. bgcarenav.org/newsletter
THANK YOU! Mimi Glass — Harlan We are truly grateful to the co-founders of Mimi Glass — Aimee Cupp and her twin daughters, Gracie and Maggie — from Harlan, KY. Their
passion and impact on our mission through the holidays and beyond has been a true blessing. From donating sheets and towels for those in need to hosting their own fundraiser to benefit Bluegrass Care Navigators, we are thankful for their compassion for our hospice patients and their families.
Shamrock Bar and Grille — Lexington A special thank you to CO and Heather Trump, owners of Shamrock Bar and Grille, for their generous donation to support Bluegrass Care
Navigators. For 27 years, the Trump/Shamrock family has organized a golf outing to support our important services, and for Heather it’s truly a passion. This past year’s outing raised over $15,000 to benefit our Hospice Care and Grief Care programs.
Save-A-Lot — Hazard The Save-A-Lot at the Grand Vue Plaza Shopping Center in Hazard, KY hosts several food drives during the year for our in-home and Hospice Care Center patients. One of our biggest community supporters, they’re tremendous compassion for our mission helps bring comfort and food security to our patients in need. We are so appreciative of everything they continue to do!
A “God Wink” Andy Soltan, Massage Therapist
One of the exciting parts of my job is going to our Hospice Care Center inpatient units at UK Health and Saint Joseph Hospital in Lexington. If I have a little extra time during a visit, I’ll sometimes get to work on family members who need a little “TLC” after sleeping in the hospital room or have aches and pains from caregiver duties. One day, a nurse pointed out a family that had been at the patient’s bedside for a long time and asked if I could offer them a massage. The patient’s daughter-in-law was so surprised by the offer and mentioned that she had just canceled a massage to be there in the hospital. The tension in her shoulders was about a 7 out of 10, but she thankfully got some good relief from the treatment. As I was leaving, she and her husband said to each other that this was a “God wink.” She explained to me that when surprises come along like this that it feels like a wink to her from God. I am so grateful to have met this family and been a little part of their journey.
DONOR SPOTLIGHT:
Legal Services for Patients in Need Another beneficiary was a patient with cancer, who began to decline rapidly. Her primary caregiver was her granddaughter, who had two young children of her own. Other family members were not involved, and the granddaughter was concerned because she could not afford court fees and other fees to obtain guardianship. She wanted to carry out her grandmother’s wishes and through this program was able to receive assistance to become her grandmother’s legal guardian and help fulfill her grandmother’s wishes of passing comfortably at home. The
granddaughter told our hospice team
members after the patient passed that she
would not have been able to do this without the assistance with legal services made
possible by these grants. Our hospice patients experience a multitude of
On behalf of these patients and their families,
symptoms, not the least of which is anxiety about
Bluegrass Care Navigators is extremely grateful to the
Thanks to generous grants from the Kentucky Bar
Foundation for their generous grant support.
how their family members will fare after they die.
Kentucky Bar Foundation and the Fayette County Bar
Foundation and the Fayette County Bar Foundation, we have been able to provide patients a measure of comfort and peace of mind in their final days—relieving worries, fears, and anxieties so that these patients could spend more quality time with family and friends. This funding enabled our social workers to directly connect 30 patients in central and southeast Kentucky with a local attorney to make sound decisions and complete the necessary steps to ensure that their wishes were honored after they passed. In addition, these local attorneys kindly agreed to reduced fees to help hospice patients with tasks such as executing a power of attorney, completing a last will and testament, and finalizing guardianship. One patient at our hospice care center had very limited time left and a small window to make decisions. This patient requested to speak to an attorney to put their affairs in order. Because of the relationship we had cultivated with a local attorney, our patient was able to complete the power of attorney and last will and testament the same day, while they were still cognitively able. This brought peace to the patient and their family.
National Healthcare Decision Day
April 16, 2022
National Healthcare Decision Day exists to inspire, educate, and empower the public and providers about the importance of advance care planning. We support this initiative to encourage patients to express their wishes regarding healthcare and for providers and facilities to respect those wishes, whatever they may be. Learn more:
bgcarenav.org/bluegrass-carenavigators-encourages-familyconversations-on-national
Help Support Those Experiencing Homelessness During the Pandemic Throughout the last two years of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have all faced moments of fear, uncertainty, heartache, frustration and loss. Imagine going through all of that without the comfort of your home. That is exactly what nearly 700 individuals, including children, who experience homelessness in Lexington face daily.
So what happens when someone in this already difficult situation tests positive for COVID-19? In order to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, these individuals are not able to remain in a congregate setting
those experiencing homelessness are seen, heard, and
that typical shelters provide. Instead, what is normally an
protected. The Lex End Homelessness Continuum of Care
already challenging situation, becomes a daunting position
and the Lexington–Fayette Urban County Government are
for someone experiencing homelessness, with few options
incredibly grateful for the partnership formed through the
left. That is when Bluegrass Transitional Care and our
medical respite program and look forward to the future.”
Medical Respite Program steps in to care for and monitor the health and well-being of these vulnerable individuals. Through our Medical Respite Program, we provide
COVID-positive patients experiencing homelessness with temporary safe shelter in a local hotel where they can isolate. While there, the individuals receive medical and
emotional care to assist them in recovering from the illness and guidance about community resources available to them after their recovery.
How can you help support those experiencing homelessness during the pandemic? Community support is critical for this program’s success
in supporting individuals who are in the most need. Your
generosity will help to ensure that we are able to continue to provide medical respite to every qualifying patient in our community, especially those who are impacted by homelessness.
We work closely with community partners in Lexington, like Polly Ruddick, Director of Homelessness Prevention and Intervention. “Those living without a home are often forgotten during a crisis like the COVID-19 pandemic,”
Polly said. “During this pandemic Bluegrass Care Navigators
Make a donation:
bgcarenav.org/medical-respiteprogram-for-homeless-persons
has worked and continues to work tirelessly to ensure that
Donations of the following items are also helpful for our patients: • Shelf-stable microwavable meals. • Gatorade/Powerade or other individual drinks. • Soup/canned pasta/canned meat (pop-top lids are ideal). • Plastic utensils, paper plates/bowls/cups, napkins. • Snacks (cookies/crackers/chips/pudding cups/fruit snacks). • Peanut butter. • Puzzles/games/coloring books for children and adults. To coordinate the donation of in-kind gifts, please contact Paige Proctor: pproctor@bgcarenav.org or 859.296.6868.
Hospice Volunteer Celebrates 20 Years of Caring for Patients and Families “I truly believe in what hospice does for people and everyone should do
something.” As a volunteer with Bluegrass Care Navigators, MaryAnn Perrault
understands why hospice volunteers are so important. For over 20 years, MaryAnn has been a volunteer in the Cynthiana area. As a former nurse, she saw firsthand how hospice can be a valuable resource for patients living with a serious illness. For many of those years, she visited patients in their home providing companionship and respite care for their caregivers and 11th hour visits. “I visited patients weekly for many, many months. Some visits were much more to help the caregiver than the patient,” says MaryAnn. “So often the caregiver just
needs someone to talk to, to connect with, and that’s what I try to give. I try to help them find peace.”
MaryAnn recalls one special patient she connected with. “We connected because he was from New York, and that is where I am from. I used to sit with him while his wife went to work or went shopping. He was the nicest gentleman. Most of the time he slept, but we would talk occasionally.” “One day, his nurse called me to let me know that he did not have much time left before he passed. I drove out there, and he had been unresponsive. I walked into the house, and when he heard my voice he sat up in bed and said “MaryAnn, come give me a hug,” she said. “He raised up, said hi and gave me a big hug. He passed a couple of days later. He was a sweet man and I really liked him.” Hospice volunteers are a valuable part of the patient care team. Volunteers work with a clinical team of a doctor, nurse, aide, chaplain and social worker. Because they spend time with the patient, volunteers who provide direct patient care can often give the team valuable feedback about issues that may arise during their visits. Medicare-certified hospice programs requires providers to use volunteers for at least five percent of their patient care hours. Volunteers are required to undergo training to gain understanding of the goals for hospice care and their role and function as a volunteer. “After my husband Albert passed away around 2006, it became too difficult for me to continue visiting patients, but I really miss it. I started then doing bereavement and care calls. I try to do anything I can,” said MaryAnn. As a Community Engagement Coordinator for the BCN Cynthiana office, Pam Rowe recruits, trains and matches volunteers with organization needs. “MaryAnn is always willing to take the time to provide much needed support, care and compassion to patients and their families,” said Rowe.
In 2021 alone, MaryAnn volunteered over 120 hours. This includes over 800 care calls to patients as well as over 300 bereavement calls to family members who lost their loved one. She even took the time to learn how to use an iPhone to be able to reach more patients through care calls from home. MaryAnn said, “If there’s something I can help with, I want to do it. I have always approached each day and each volunteer activity with the mindset that it is in the hands of the Lord. I will start each day and pray: Help me help someone today.”
A Great Way to Give Back to Your Community Learn about Volunteering with Bluegrass Care Navigators:
bgcarenav.org/volunteer/communityengagement-coordinators
Among the many opportunities we have available, we are in special need for individuals interested in volunteering their time and talents as:
• Hairdressers. • Massage Therapists. • Companionship & Respite Visitors.
• Transportation. • 11th Hour Volunteers. • Compassion Bag Delivery. • Veterans to serve Veterans.
COVID Memorial at Thomson Hood Veterans Center Bluegrass Care Navigators was pleased to assist with a memorial service in December at the Thomson-Hood Veterans Center to
honor those Veterans lost to COVID. On December 9, the special
service memorialized the Veterans and recognized the THVC team members who have been working so hard during the pandemic. Caitlin Gross, the center’s Director of Nursing, recognized that her staff were hurting and needed extra help and support to get through this ongoing pandemic. “I can’t begin to express how much THVC needed that time to come together to share and remember. Since the service, we’ve had an outpouring of gratitude and an incredible sense of relief from our staff. We were all carrying around more COVID-related grief than I think any of us realized. I am forever grateful for BCN’s part in helping my staff begin to heal. We will not forget it,” said Caitlin. Through a generous grant from the Jessamine County Hospice Charities, we were able to purchase beautiful lit stars to hang from the trees in the courtyard. Thirty-four stars in all – one for each veteran lost to COVID – now hang where the THVC residents can enjoy them year-round through their windows.
President’s Award Winner Adrienne Carmack, RN, from the Cynthiana regional office,
was recently presented the President’s Award for 2021! The
President’s Award recognizes and celebrates one outstanding team member for their commitment to our organizational core values. Adrienne was nominated by her manager for exemplifying many of those core values: “Adrienne (“AD”) exemplifies multiple core values: compassion, excellence, respect and dignity, and integrity. She can warm up the chilliest of personalities with her humor and kind-heartedness. She is frequently the subject of praise and appreciation from patients and families under her care. AD frequently accompanies ‘her’ HCAs to assist and better assess. She is an excellent mentor to new staff of any discipline. Always willing to flex and bend to meet needs. I can trust AD to give her all – all the time. She works hard for excellent patient outcomes. She works with integrity and confronts change and problems with a positive attitude. She is passionate about our mission and has provided BCN with 24 years of service — never faltering. She has earned this recognition.” “Adrienne Carmack is one of the most loving, caring, and dedicated nurses that I have worked with. The patients and families love her and so do her coworkers.”
Congratulations to all the other 2021 Nominees for the BCN President’s Award: Diane Munoz (LEX CHPL): Compassion
Alyson Roth (LEX RN): Compassion, Excellence
Cara Smith (CYN CNA): Compassion, Excellence,
Respect & Dignity, and Teamwork
Tracy Stacy (HAZ HCC RN): Compassion
Kathy Smith (BBV RN): Compassion, Excellence Chuck Teter (LEX HCC APRN): Excellence,
Compassion, Teamwork
Claudette Wickers (FFT Hospital Liaison): Compassion,
Teamwork
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1733 Harrodsburg Road Lexington, KY 40504
Care That’s Right for You or Your Loved One. Bluegrass Extra Care Bluegrass Home Primary Care Bluegrass Adult Day Health Care Bluegrass Transitional Care Bluegrass Palliative Care Bluegrass Hospice Care Bluegrass Grief Care
Endow Kentucky Tax Credit – Begins July 1, 2022 With tax season upon us, you might be thinking about both how your future charitable contributions can help support Bluegrass
Care Navigators, and how you can take advantage of tax benefit
opportunities. Did you know that gifts to our endowed charitable fund at
Blue Grass Community Foundation are eligible for up to 20% in state tax credits? Unlike tax deductions, tax credits are subtracted from a donor’s tax bill, dollar for dollar. Depending on how you file, a gift of $5,000 could reduce what you owe in state taxes by $1,000; a gift of $50,000 could reduce your tax bill up to $10,000. These credits can be carried forward up to five years on your income tax return. And this is in addition to your federal and state charitable tax deduction. BUT THESE CREDITS GO FAST! The Kentucky Department of Revenue
begins accepting applications for the $1 million pool of available Endow Kentucky Tax Credits on July 1. Contact Laura Klumb, Vice President of Philanthropy at 859.296.6865 or lklumb@bgcarenav.org to discuss how you can take advantage of this opportunity!
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