MOMENTS OF
Compassion V
Donors Quilt Together Stories of Care, Community, and Giving Back When Delores Jones was diagnosed with cancer in 2024, her family was determined to care for her with love and dignity. As the physical and emotional demands of caregiving grew, they found support and comfort through Bluegrass Care Navigators.
“They made us feel like family,” said daughter Emily Jones Hudson. “Our mom was at home with hospice for a couple of days before she moved to the Greg and Noreen Wells Bluegrass Hospice Care Center. Our whole family was able to visit, and that was such a gift.” During her time in care, staff learned that Delores loved quilting. They gave her family a quilt that had been donated by a previous supporter, a gesture that deeply touched them. In return, the family donated one of Delores’ quilts, which now hangs at the Greg and Noreen Wells Bluegrass Hospice Care Center. Inspired to continue her mother’s legacy, Emily and her sister, Sandra, incorporated a special quilt project into a quilting workshop at the Southeast Kentucky African American Museum and Cultural Center, which Emily founded in 2020. “I grew up watching our mom quilt,” Sandra said. “Making things together was just part of growing up.” Workshop participants created a quilt for a Care Center patient, selecting colorful fabrics and tying each section together with knots. “We prayed over every knot and over the quilt as a whole,” Sandra said. “We hope the quilt becomes a living symbol of comfort.” Today, the sisters continue sharing their mother’s love of quilting while bringing their community together through creativity, generosity, and remembrance.
The Gift of Staying Home For nearly 30 years, Dick and Barbara Wilkins called the same house home. But as mobility challenges increased and falls became more frequent, their family began to worry whether they could continue living there safely. Through Bluegrass Care Navigators’ Home Modification Program, delivered in partnership with Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government, an occupational therapist evaluated the Wilkins’ home and recommended changes to improve safety and accessibility. The program provides qualifying older adults with modifications such as grab bars, handrails, improved lighting, ramps, and other safety features that help them remain independent at home. For the Wilkins family, the impact was immediate. Handrails were installed on the front porch, grab bars were added in the shower, and automatic night lights made moving around the home safer.
“Since the grab bars have been installed in the shower, my husband has gone from 2-3 falls a week to none,” Barbara shared. Their son and daughter-in-law, Ken and Sara, say the improvements have provided peace of mind. “Our parents are now safer in their own home,” they said, “and our hearts no longer pound when the phone rings.” The work that provided the basis for this publication was supported by funding under an award with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The substance and findings of the work are dedicated to the public. The author and publisher are solely responsible for the accuracy of the statements and interpretations contained in this publication. Such interpretations do not necessarily reflect the views of the Government.
See more of the Wilkins’ story in their own words by scanning the QR code.
Pawsome Volunteer Brings Comfort When It Matters Most by Callie, volunteer therapy dog (and very good girl) Hi. I’m Callie. Most days, my job is simple: walk into rooms with my human, Mary, wag my tail, and let people know they’re not alone. I’ve been doing this therapy dog work with her for a while now, and I take it very seriously, even if I’m small and fluffy. One morning, we visited a hospice patient at a care facility in Lexington. As soon as we entered her room, I could tell something special was happening. The patient smiled right away and reached out to pet me. She told Mary that I reminded her of her own little dog, Domino, who had passed away a few years earlier. Something told me this woman needed me in a different way. So, I climbed up to the foot of her bed, curled into a small ball, and went to sleep. I don’t usually do that. In fact, Mary says I’ve never done that before on a therapy visit. But sometimes, you just know when a person needs something only a dog can give, the gift of presence. Later, Mary spoke with the patient’s daughter, who said something that made my tail wag all over again: “You and Callie have just made my day. Mom was so happy.” That’s why therapy dogs do what we do. And it’s why the humans who volunteer with us matter so much. One visit can bring comfort, spark memories, and remind patients and families that joy and connection are still possible, even during the hardest moments.
Finding Family Through PACE Bluegrass PACE Care, or Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly, keeps adults aged 55+, who need help with activities of daily living, such as meals, dressing, bathing or toileting, living safely at home. PACE provides a dedicated healthcare team including a primary care provider, an all-inclusive care plan and all services to support that plan, and transportation to and from the Bluegrass PACE Center and all authorized medical appointments. Participants also receive meals and can engage in social activities at the Bluegrass PACE Center.
Learn more about the PACE program by scanning the QR code.
Offering Hope, Support and Connection to a Grieving Family In 2024, the Coleman family’s world was turned upside down by Jessica’s cancer diagnosis and unexpected death. Suddenly, Kyle was navigating life as a grieving husband and father to three young daughters while trying to help his family heal.
Through Bluegrass Care Navigators’ grief care program, the family found compassionate support, guidance, and a safe space to navigate their loss together. Bereavement counselor Susan McVey (MSW, LCSW) helped the family develop tools for expressing emotions, asking difficult questions, and communicating openly. With Susan’s support, Kyle learned how to have honest, age-appropriate conversations about grief, while his daughters gained confidence in sharing their feelings. During individual sessions, the girls participated in memory-making activities, read stories and poems, and practiced coping skills such as journaling, coloring, and breathing exercises. The family also attended Camp Hope, Bluegrass Care Navigators’ free bereavement camp for children and teens who have experienced the death of a loved one. There, they found connection, understanding, and additional tools for healing. While grief remains part of their journey, the Coleman family has found hope along the way. “Susan and the team helped me navigate this first year as a dad, husband, and person,” Kyle said. “We miss Jessica dearly, but thanks to the grief care we received, our journey doesn’t end here.” 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, holiday workshops, and individual grief counseling. The grief care program is only possible due to the kindness and generosity of grant funding, community partners, and donor support.
See the Coleman family share their story in their own words by scanning the QR code.
Helping Jen Become a Daughter Again Like many adult daughters, Jen was doing everything she could to care for her mother at home.
She balanced appointments, daily responsibilities, and the growing demands of caregiving, determined to be there for her mom every step of the way. “I was taking care of Mom, and her care became too much for me,” Jen recalled. “I couldn’t do it by myself anymore. It was a little frightening.” After she called Bluegrass Hospice Care, Jen discovered she didn’t have to carry that burden alone. With Bluegrass Care Navigators, she found a team of compassionate professionals who provided guidance, support, and reassurance during a challenging time. “This team of people came in, and they helped me in ways I didn’t know were available,” she said. “They made my mom feel better, which made me feel better. It was such a relief to have such wonderful people on my side.” As her mother’s comfort improved, so did the quality of the time they were able to spend together. Family meals, conversations, laughter, and treasured moments returned. “Once her pain was better managed, she became part of our family again,” Jen said. “She started being able to come to the table, eat with us, and laugh with us.” Perhaps most importantly, Jen was able to step out of the role of full-time caregiver and simply be a daughter again. Together, she and her mother spent hours looking through family photographs and sharing memories. “It’s not end-of-life care,” she said emphatically. “They do so much more than that.”
See more of Jen’s story in her own words by scanning the QR code.
Flower Program Volunteers Create and Deliver Joy to Patients For Donna Repenning, volunteering is simple: it’s about making the world a little brighter for someone else. That spirit blooms each month through Bluegrass Care Navigators’ Northern Kentucky Flower Program, where Donna and a dedicated team of volunteers create floral arrangements that bring comfort, encouragement, and joy to patients and families. Many of the volunteers are members of the Boone County Garden Club, and together they gather monthly at BCN’s Northern Kentucky office to create 60 to 70 arrangements that are delivered to nursing homes and care facilities throughout the region. Handmade cards, created by local children and teens, add an extra personal touch. The impact of their efforts was recently recognized at the Garden Club of Kentucky Annual Convention, where the Boone County Garden Club received the prestigious Club of Honor for its
partnership with Bluegrass Care Navigators. The award reflects the compassion and commitment that define the program. “Our flower program ladies pour so much heart into serving BCN patients,” Donna, leader of the flower program, said. “This award is a beautiful affirmation of their compassion, teamwork, and commitment.” For more than three years, Donna has guided the program’s growth, welcoming new volunteers and finding new ways to serve others. She also volunteers on BCN’s Visit Team and mentors young people who create cards for patients. While the flowers brighten rooms, the true gift is connection. Each bouquet is a reminder that someone cares and is a small act of kindness that offers comfort, dignity, and compassion when it is needed most.
See more from volunteers of the NKY Flower Program by scanning the QR code.
Stock photo for illustrative purposes
Hope Arrived at Troy’s Door by Dee Bowling, MSN, APRN Advanced Practice Provider When people hear the words “palliative care,” they often think it means there is nothing left to do. Recently, I met a patient named Troy, a Vietnam veteran and a paraplegic, who thought that was exactly why I was there. Troy felt forgotten. He felt discarded by a healthcare system that had spent years treating diagnoses but not always seeing the person behind them. He expected me to tell him there were no more options. Instead, we started addressing his pain. We connected him with resources. Through our home modification program in partnership with Lexington Fayette Urban County Government, he will have a ramp and other supports installed to make his home safer and more accessible. During my palliative care visit, Troy told me that for the first time in a long time, he feels hopeful. His pain is better controlled, he’s more comfortable in his home, and he’s been able to spend more time playing with his grandchildren. Palliative care isn’t about what we can’t do. It’s about finding what we can do. It’s about listening, advocating, and helping people reclaim the moments that matter most. Troy reminded me that hope doesn’t always come from a cure. Sometimes it comes from being seen, being heard, and knowing that someone is still fighting alongside you. The work that provided the basis for this publication was supported by funding under an award with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The substance and findings of the work are dedicated to the public. The author and publisher are solely responsible for the accuracy of the statements and interpretations contained in this publication. Such interpretations do not necessarily reflect the views of the Government.
New Beginnings: From Medically Fragile to Safely Housed For many individuals experiencing homelessness, medical emergencies and housing instability are deeply intertwined. BCN’s Medical Respite program, with its expanded winter capacity, bridges that gap by providing a short-term, hotel-based emergency shelter offering compassionate care to unhoused individuals who need a safe place to heal and receive medical care. Jane was able to access BCN’s Winter Weather Program, along with her 18-year-old son who was also her caregiver. The family was experiencing homelessness while Jane also managed significant health challenges and mobility limitations. Despite their circumstances, her son continued working part-time while completing his GED, determined to help create a better future for them both. After months of uncertainty, Jane was approved for disability benefits and secured an accessible
two-bedroom apartment where she and her son could finally begin rebuilding their lives. However, moving into housing was only the first step. Like many individuals emerging from homelessness, Jane entered her apartment with very few belongings and no resources to purchase the items needed to live safely and independently. One of her greatest needs was a shower transfer bench that would allow her to bathe safely, but the equipment was not covered by insurance and was financially out of reach. With support from donors like you, private grants from The Copia Foundation, and public funding from Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government, BCN provided the bench along with other furnishings and everyday items that helped transform the space into a home. Your gifts provide dignity, independence, and peace of mind. Instead of worrying about how she would safely navigate daily living tasks, Jane could focus on her health while supporting her son as he worked toward completing his GED. For the first time in a long time, they were able to simply be a family again.
Support from our Caring Community of donors, volunteers and community partners make these and countless more moments of compassion possible. Thank you for helping Bluegrass Care Navigators bring comfort and care to our patients and families.
JOIN OR DONATE AT: bgcarenav.org/caringcommunity
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