Our stories about meaningful experiences are written as they unfold. Therefore, most stories are in the present tense. Some of the patients in these stories are no longer with us. They, and their families, gave us permission to share their experience with you. For those who have since passed, we share these in their memories with deep appreciation for what they have taught us about life and living.
Anthony is a young man under our care. His home-hospice team worked to manage pain and symptoms and to support him and his family. As they got to know him, they were reminded that, even in the midst of crisis, children want to feel “normal.”
All he wanted, he told his family, was a Super Mario game. It was October, and our team immediately set out to make sure he got the game he wanted. We asked the local Walmart to partner with us. They did, donating the game along with dozens of Mario-branded toys, clothes, and bedding.
With a cartload of wonderful gifts, we had an idea: would Anthony’s family be interested in making this an early Christmas? Yes, they told us. Anthony still believed wholeheartedly in Santa, and he loved Christmas.
A local Santa agreed to help. On Halloween day, he and Anthony’s Hospice Care Plus team drove to Anthony’s home in a car filled with Christmas gifts wrapped by our volunteers. One team member remembers that, when Anthony first spotted Santa, he could think of nothing to say about this unexpected, magical moment except, “Santa. I love you.” For the next hour or so, Anthony and his parents—we made sure they had gifts, too—shared a small family celebration of Christmas on Halloween afternoon.
Magical moments like these are possible because our community of donors, businesses, and volunteers understands that, in hospice and palliative care, every moment matters. We believe that making these moments possible is every bit as essential to quality of life as the medical management of pain and symptoms.
How can you honor life during National Hospice & Palliative Care Month? Visit the #WeHonorLife campaign page to learn about all the ways you can help, from volunteering and shopping to helping us increase access to specialized care for the seriously ill and their families. Questions? Contact us at hospice@hospicecp.org or 859-986-1500 or visit our website.
Hospice Care Plus empowers those we serve to enjoy the highest quality of life, respecting their values, beliefs, needs, and goals through specialized care, education, resources, and grief support.
Our Service Area:
Our Home Hospice and Home Palliative Care programs serve you, wherever you call home, in the Kentucky counties of Estill, Jackson, Lee, Madison, Owsley, and Rockcastle.
Our inpatient care facility, the Compassionate Care Center, and administrative offices are located in Richmond, Kentucky.
Recent News:
Print & Online Resources for Caregivers
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News & Events
Urgent Need: Help for Patient Comfort
Can you help meet an urgent need for comfort? If you have ever visited our Compassionate Care Center, you know it offers a comfortable, peaceful environment for patients and families at a challenging time. Our Center gives comfort in many ways: 24-hour pain and symptom management, pet therapy, no visitor restrictions, large rooms that allow…
HCP Wins Hospice Honors Award
Hospice Care Plus has been named a 2024 Hospice Honors Award recipient by Healthcare First. Hospice Honors is a prestigious program that recognizes hospices across the country that provide the highest level of quality as measured by patients and families. Hospice Care Plus was one of only 12 hospices in Kentucky to earn the award…
Volunteer Training June 8
Hospice Care Plus is hosting an in-person training for new volunteers on Saturday, June 8, from 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM, at the Madison County Public Library in Berea. Register today to secure your spot!
Volunteers Honored for Years of Service
At our annual volunteer appreciation dinner on Tuesday, April 23, we were proud to honor the dedicated volunteers who choose to dedicate their time and skills to help Hospice Care Plus serve those with serious illness and their families. Numbers alone can’t show the value of the time and skills our volunteers bring to our…