FALL 2021
Creating a Bright Path for Families Wylie, 2, was diagnosed with Trisomy 18, a life-threatening
chromosomal disorder that can cause serious developmental issues
leading to various medical complications, causing Wylie to come home with a feeding tube and also develop heart failure within her first few months. Her next six months were spent with a care team from Bluegrass Hospice Care, who helped her family obtain the necessary medical equipment and navigate through many challenges. “Something that was
for her first-year birthday celebration, which was so wonderful and special.” Having reached this huge milestone, Wylie made the transition from hospice to our Bright Path program, a pediatric palliative care program that provides specialized medical care for infants, children, adolescents, and young adults who are living with a serious illness. “One of the first things that the Bright Path team helped us figure out was in-home nursing for Wylie. It has been so helpful having a nurse provide care for Wylie at home,” Karla said, “Without those nurses giving us some respite, it would have
been really hard.”
really special at the end of her
Using a collaboration of care model, our Bright Path
six months with hospice was that
care team works with families to make a plan of
Wylie turned one, which is a very
care, identifying and treating symptoms, medication
big deal with her diagnosis,” said
management, establishing goals of care and
Wylie’s mom, Karla. “Our hospice
implementation, and fostering spiritual support and
team helped coordinate with a
counseling. “Bright Path helped connect us with
team in Florida, so that we could
Pediatric Home Service who provides us with durable
take Wylie to our vacation spots
medical equipment. It’s been huge for us, and they
have even shared tips on how to prime the pump faster, and about water traps in her oxygen line,” Karla said. Our goal with Bright Path is to improve the quality of life of the family, by providing comfort to the child while building
confidence with the caregiver through education and support.
During her time with Bright Path, Wylie has been able to experience the benefits of integrative medicine through our music therapy group, a six-week program designed specifically for Bright Path families. “I realized that Wylie hadn’t ever had that experience, nor the aspect of being with other kids her age. She loved it and loved music. I loved it and loved being able to see the other families. It was virtual, but even without COVID I’m not sure many other families would have been able to bring
Community support for Bright Path is vital to the
program’s success. This important care is not typically
their children to an actual
covered by insurance. We never turn a patient in need away
facility.” Bright Path also offers
for the inability to pay, so your continued philanthropic
a support group specific
contributions are crucial.
for caregivers that Karla has participated in, focusing on coping with having a child with medically complex special needs. Karla shares, “We went through all these different
SPECIAL THANKS TO MAJOR SUPPORTERS:
WHAS Crusade for Children; Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government; and the Thomson R. Bryant, Jr. and Betty R. Bryant Fund.
ways of relieving stress. And it has continued to be really lifegiving and helpful.” Bright Path families have access to our care team through a 24-hour call center for support and guidance. “We just have this general sense of knowing, like if we needed anything—if we were having trouble with anything - we could call Bright Path and it would be welcome,” Karla said. “I always have the sense when they ask, ‘What do you need? What can we do?’, that it’s so genuine. That gives us such wonderful reassurance.” Bright Path has provided Karla and her family a new outlook
on life: “I remember, right before we transitioned to Bright Path,
there was something that shifted in my heart, and it was big. ‘Okay we are not preparing for Wylie’s death, she is not dying, she’s living,’ and to have a group that supports life with your child with an unknown future, I hope that people would be able to see that is huge.” With the help of Bright Path, Wylie has been able to be at home this past year with no hospital admissions or outside appointments. “She’s growing and learning and developing.
To learn more about Bright Path, call us at: 855.492.0812. Our team is available by phone 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
When you think your child is dying you sit beside them, and you wonder are we going to wake up today. But when you begin living, you shift your energies a little bit, and your focus,” Karla said, “And to those who’ve supported us, thank you is always too small. Your donation is not just helping the individual with the medical need, but the family—my whole family.”
Donations provide quality care to seriously ill children and their families. bgcarenav.org/bright-path
CELEBRATING
Buffalo Trace Contribution to the Community Each year Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort gives back to the community by recognizing organizations that make a difference and improve the quality of life locally. Bluegrass Care Navigators is proud to be one of the featured charities this year. Thank you Buffalo Trace Distillery for investing in our mission.
Bluegrass Care Navigators celebrated the 25th anniversary of the Hospice Care Center at Saint Joseph Hospital in Lexington on August 5, 2021. Since 1996, patients and their families have benefited from this dedicated hospital space for hospice care. The Hospice Care Center provides a comforting place for patients and families when symptoms cannot be controlled in the home, or the family needs specialized nursing care for a loved one that they are unable to provide at home. The center enables families to remain involved in the patient’s care while benefiting from the fulltime nursing and physician services available in a hospital setting.
We would like to extend a huge THANK YOU to the
Inpatient hospice care made a difference for Peg and Gordon
wonderful family of Earl Gothard. They held a blanket drive
Munson and their daughter, Donna, in 2005. “I had never had a
in his honor and donated over 200 blankets for hospice
hospice experience before this, and I could not believe all that
patients served by our Barbourville Regional Office.
the hospice team does and provides to the patients and family members,” Peg reflected. “They really got our entire family through
Hazard Radio Day
a very difficult time. It brings tears to my eyes to remember the care that was given to us.” Out of appreciation for the extraordinary care they received, the Munsons have continued to provide annual support to the Hospice Care Center at Saint Joseph Hospital in
Thank you to WSGS
memory of their daughter.
for hosting us again for this year’s Radio Day in downtown Hazard on August 10, 2021. We were
Thank you!
joined by several guests, ranging from employees
Thank you to 3M
to patient family members,
in Cynthiana for
and community partners.
your generous
This year saw a huge
donation! These office supplies will help our clinical and administrative staff continue to bring expert, connected care to our patients and families across the Commonwealth.
outpouring of support
from our Hazard community, raising over $37,000!
Thank you to everyone who called in, donated, and shared in our mission to bring compassionate care to our patients and families in this area.
Painting with Heart
The Gift of Compassion Since April 2020, volunteers Pete and Ann Croswell have been delivering compassion bags to hospice patients in Franklin, Anderson, Woodford, and Owen counties. “I guess we’ve done about 600 of these but I’ve lost count,” Pete said. “These compassion bags are one way we do outreach and Our Provider Liaison, Kimberly Heestand, recently led “Painting with Heart”, a socially-distanced class using art to cope with the loss of a loved one. Paintings are created almost entirely with paper towels, and participants do not know what the finished product will look like until they are finished! Painting has been found to help relieve feelings of grief, stress or anxiety. Thank you to Colonial Heights and Gardens in Northern Kentucky for hosting us!
connect with families and caregivers after a loss and show our support. The standard items provided include a picture frame and insert, forget-me-not seed packet, candle, flyers, and kids items when young children are involved. Early on, I decided that the bags needed a few more items so I’ll get additional things like a night light, healthy snack, lip balm or hand sanitizer.” Frankfort Volunteer Coordinator Jennifer Hubbard, along with Pete and Ann, organize and fill the bags for delivery. “I think we’ve seen about every city street and country road in
Thanks to the generosity of our sponsors, Camp Hope is continuing this fall in a virtual format – and at no cost to participating campers. This free camp is designed for children and teens who have experienced the death of a loved one in the past 2 years. The camp provides participants the chance to connect with others around the state who have had a similar experience and covers topics such as normal reactions to loss, sharing experiences, and learning how to cope with difficult feelings. Currently in our third week, our campers are building strong relationships with peers throughout the Commonwealth, and learning important coping skills that they will take with them for years to come. Thank you to our sponsors for their support!
the region,” Pete said. But the delivery of compassion bags isn’t all that Pete and Ann are giving to patients and families; they are also providing them a chance to share what they are going through and serves as an emotional support, too. “In the majority of cases, I have the opportunity to talk with the person on the phone and/or at the front door with mask and socially distanced. Mainly I listen but try to say some comforting words and indicate our ongoing support for family members and caregivers.” “Knowing there is support and others thinking about
them really does help,” Pete said, “The majority of the
time, those we visit express extreme satisfaction and appreciation for the services they have received from the staff at Bluegrass Care Navigators.” Pete believes that the compassion we share with others, which is central to our mission at Bluegrass Care Navigators, is what can bring us
(Store 4607)
together during these difficult times, despite our differences. “When we go out and extend help and support regardless of who the person is, those divisions disappear—at least that is my experience with those we’ve interacted with.”
A Holistic Approach to Expert, Connected Care Our Integrative Medicine program is enhancing the way we care for our hospice patients. Using a holistic, patientfocused approach to health and wellness, our team members focus on the emotional, spiritual, social and community aspects to treat the whole person. By coordinating the integration of conventional and complementary practices into a patient’s medical care plan, we are able to create a healing environment that provides relief and support for patients and families experiencing serious illness.
Music is Back in My Life
address their changing emotional and physical needs. She can play
Ronn, 81, has a passion for music. He came from
Maggie tuned Ronn’s mandolin, the two musicians instantly bonded.
a musical family that gathered every Saturday night
Ronn wanted to play mandolin again, so Maggie suggested songs she
to play bluegrass and country tunes together. Ronn
knew he could play, while she sang and played along on her ukulele.
learned violin, banjo, guitar and mandolin, and
Although he had some frustrations, Maggie was there with help and
continued to perform and play as an adult. As a Navy
support. Finally, Ronn could play music again!
pilot in the 60’s, he started a string band with his shipmates on an aircraft carrier. “We played all over the world,” he said with a smile. Throughout his years of raising two sons with Carolyn, his wife of 50 years, and enjoying a successful career as a mechanical engineer and inventor, Ronn’s passion for music never wavered.
music to reduce anxiety, or to decrease the perception of pain. Once
“To have Maggie play and sing with me is such a treat,” said Ronn. “For one wonderful hour, Maggie makes me feel better and gives me a break from my everyday routine. Music is back in my life.” As a bonus, Ronn’s determination to play again inspired his social worker Kaitlin to learn the ukulele. They would even practice together during her visits, with Ronn encouraging Kaitlin and loving the opportunity to “play some
However, as his chronic pulmonary disease worsened,
strings” with her as well. He still looks forward to his weekly sessions
it became increasingly more difficult for him to play his
with Maggie, especially when he feels well enough to play mandolin
beloved mandolin. With his ability to play music fading,
and sing with her. Thanks to your generous support of our Integrative
Ronn felt like he was losing an old friend. Then his social worker Kaitlin asked our music therapist Maggie
Medicine music therapy program, they are still making beautiful music together.
to pay him a visit. A classically trained singer who loves to sing and play music with patients, Maggie uses music and the relationship she forms with each hospice patient to
Donations provide holistic relief and support for patients and their families.
bgcarenav.org/integrative-medicine
Guidestar – Platinum Designation We are proud to announce that Bluegrass Care Navigators has earned the 2021 Platinum Seal of Transparency through Guidestar! This designation is only awarded to charities illustrating the highest level of responsible fiscal management and commitment to accountability and transparency.
Bluegrass Care Navigators is the
TOP HEALTHCARE WORKPLACE on Kentucky’s Best Places to Work
Join #TeamBCN: bgcarenav.org/careers
Bluegrass Transitional Care – Medical Respite Program for Homeless Persons Since 2011 Bluegrass Transitional Care has been delivering compassionate care to at-risk frail patients, supporting their transition home or to a nursing facility after discharging from a hospital stay, and preventing avoidable hospital readmissions and emergency department utilization. But what happens when a patient in our community doesn’t have a home to return to when they are discharged from a hospital? Through our Medical Respite Program for Homeless
Persons, Bluegrass Transitional Care provides medical respite for patients experiencing homelessness
Wishlists: 3 Ways Our patients depend on the generous in-kind gifts we receive from our community. Please consider checking off one of the items on our Wishlists and help a patient in need. There are three easy ways to help: 1. AmazonSmile Charity Wishlist: amazon.com/gp/clpf (Search “Bluegrass Care Navigators”) 2. Visit: bgcarenav.org/wishlist 3. Email Us: give@bgcarenav.org to let us know that you provided an item from the list so we can thank you!
by utilizing motel/hotel rooms in the community
immediately following their release from a hospital.
Jamie Cody, our Transitions Program Manager shared, “Recently, we were able to provide hotel medical respite for Ms. H. and her two children. A single mother with a twoyear-old and a five-year-old, Ms. H. didn’t have any options when both her children were infected with COVID-19, leaving the family unable to stay at the homeless shelter. Through our Medical Respite Program for Homeless Persons, we were able to provide her with a 28-day stay at a local hotel while her family quarantined, along with food for her and her children.” Thanks to the generous support from the LexingtonFayette Urban County Government Extended Social Resource Grant, along with community support, we are able to provide medical respite for patients like Ms. H. experiencing homelessness. This model is relatively low cost, easy to implement, requires no licensure or other
patients under treatment for serious medical conditions from
Leaving a Legacy with Bluegrass Care Navigators
shelters that may not have the necessary training, expertise, and
Leaving a legacy through a planned gift to Bluegrass
regulatory conditions, allows families to stay together and is effective in decreasing the spread of infection. It also helps divert
resources to provide the full complement of medical services needed.
Care Navigators will ensure the continued provision
of compassionate care to seriously ill patients and their
“During her stay in their hotel room, we provided daily checkins over the phone from her social worker and nurse to Ms. H. We coordinated with the local shelter to help Ms. H. obtain an emergency housing voucher, which she was able to use to secure an apartment. At the time of discharge, instead of returning to
the shelter, we were able to provide Ms. H. with transportation
families long into the future. We’ve recently updated our planned giving web pages to provide you with information and resources, including a free Personal Estate Planning Kit, to help you organize your estate—saving you time, protecting your assets, and helping you establish your legacy.
directly to her apartment.”
Last year Bluegrass Care Navigators served 81 patients experiencing homelessness through our medical respite program. In the past few weeks, we have seen the need for this program greatly expand due to the COVID-19 surge. We are currently serving the greatest number of patients we have ever served at one time since the program’s inception, stretching both our financial and personnel resources far beyond the budget. 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 and economic distress. Donations provide critical support for families when they need it most. bgcarenav.org/medical-respiteprogram-for-homeless-persons
A planned gift can come in many different forms:
•
Wills and Living Trusts
•
Beneficiary Designations
•
Charitable Gift Annuities
•
Charitable Remainder Trusts
•
Endowment, Real Estate, and IRA Gifts
•
And more
With our Free Estate Planning Kit, you’ll learn how to:
•
Set family goals and create a smart estate plan
•
Lessen tax burdens
•
Use trusts to support you, your family, loved ones and causes
Named after one of Bluegrass Care Navigators’ most generous
supporters, the Sara Kaufmann Society recognizes those who have
included Bluegrass Care Navigators in their will or estate plan or
Already included Bluegrass Care Navigators in your estate plan? Let us know by calling 859.296.6865.
have contributed a life-income gift. To learn more about making a planned gift and information on the benefits of membership, contact Laura Klumb, Vice President of Philanthropy, at 859.296.6865 or lklumb@bgcarenav.org.
Donations provide quality care to seriously ill patients and their families.
plannedgiving.bgcarenav.org
Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID
1733 Harrodsburg Road Lexington, KY 40504
Lexington, KY Permit #199
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
Fundraising Event Goes Virtual with an Online Auction Out of an abundance of caution, the planned fundraising event, Let’s Navigate and Celebrate, will be a virtual event this fall instead of an in-person gathering. But we will still have fun together and raise funds to support the patients of Bluegrass Care Navigators! Please visit us online today to participate in our virtual Let’s Navigate and Celebrate event where you can enjoy a virtual tour of our new Headquarters, bid on amazing and unique items and experiences through our online auction, and navigate through some special experiences where you will Presenting Sponsor:
learn more about the services offered by Bluegrass Care Navigators. The auction will be open Monday, November 1 through Friday, November 19, 2021 — so place your bids and check back often!
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