Improve Quality of Life with Palliative and Hospice Care from Bluegrass Care Navigators

August 14, 2023

When battling a serious illness, you will face complex situations, unpronounceable medical terms, stress and uncomfortable symptoms. Bluegrass Care Navigators (BCN) is here to help guide you through these challenges with Bluegrass Palliative Care and Bluegrass Hospice Care. While both service lines manage symptoms with patient-centered care, each provides different types of support based on the patient’s goals. 

Bluegrass Palliative Care is a consultative service for home-limited patients who suffer from an advanced illness. Our team of experts works with patients and their physicians to understand the patient’s goals, and together they develop a long-term plan to manage the symptoms that often accompany illness or aggressive treatment. These symptoms can include pain management, constipation, insomnia, difficulty breathing, anxiety and others. Our goal is to improve quality of life for patients and caregivers. Research has shown that palliative care can reduce emergency room visits, hospital admissions, improve quality and sometimes even lengthen life. BCN offers palliative care in hospitals, nursing homes and in-home settings. 


“We as a department are very proud to be experts in symptom management so that we can help you deal with a serious illness,” Katherine Lotzer, department of medicine clinical manager, said. “Because palliative care is a consultative service, we collaborate and have built strong relationships with healthcare providers to serve as the eyes and ears for their patients. They trust us to provide expert, compassionate care to treat the whole patient and improve symptoms.” 


In contrast, Bluegrass Hospice Care provides end-of-life care for patients who no longer receive treatments to cure a terminal illness, but instead choose care that improves comfort and quality of life. Many are surprised to learn that hospice is for weeks and months of care, not just for the last days of life. That time often begins when a physician expects a patient to live six months or less if their illness runs its expected course. 


Bluegrass Hospice Care provides patient-centered care wherever the patient calls home, whether a house, apartment, hospital, nursing home or assisted living facility. Our interdisciplinary team of doctors, nurses, social workers, chaplains and personal care aides develop an individualized care plan to meet the patient’s goals, manage symptoms, assist with activities of daily living, offer emotional and spiritual support, manage medication, and provide caregiver support. 


“Hospice and palliative care are a gift to the entire family, not just the seriously ill loved one,” Lizzie Eubank, executive director of the department of medicine, said. “Not only does palliative care help improve one’s quality of life, but it also gives them the resources needed to understand their choices when it comes to medical treatment. Our team provides the best quality of care for our patients and families with such dedication and compassion, and I hope we can serve even more families in the future.” 

 

Throughout our 45 years, BCN has cared for more than 150,000 patients and their families across our service lines, serving almost 15,000 Kentuckians in 2022. Although the patients, services and locations have expanded, BCN has maintained its commitment to continual growth and patient-centered care, serving patients in 32 counties in Northern, Central and Eastern Kentucky. For more information about our services, visit www.bgcarenav.org. 

Women grieving
March 10, 2025
1. Reflect and remember Relive experiences in your thoughts. Allow the details and the emotions that come with them to be fully expressed. Explore memories as they come up. Trust that your system is bringing up these thoughts as part of your healing process. The repetition of painful memories helps flush out the strong emotions attached to them. 2. Share stories Talking about your loss provides a great deal of release. You may need to tell the same stories over and over as part of your healing. Support groups provide a place where you have the opportunity to be heard and can continue to talk about your grief in a supportive environment. 3. Write it down Keeping a journal is not for everyone, but it can be a powerful tool for healing. Writing about feelings and events can help you to identify emotions. Words help constructively channel these emotions and show a record of your progress. 4. Don’t be afraid to cry Tears can relieve a lot of pressure and tension. Learn to trust your body’s need to cry or not. Individuals grieve differently. Tears are not a sign of weakness and do not mean that your emotions are out of control. 5. Make space for your loss People commonly fall out of their routines after the loss of a loved one. Because of this, they may feel they have too much unstructured time in which to grieve. It is OK to take time to sit with a loss. Other days, you may feel the need to be as busy as possible. Make time to create quite moments to work through your feelings. Respecting your needs for healing and creating opportunities to grieve is important. 6. Take care of yourself Do your best to nourish your body and rest. Get outside and enjoy the fresh air. Exercise can release a surprising amount of tension, anger and frustration. It is important to make self-care a priority. Our grief care services are for anyone in the community who has experienced the loss of a loved one. Discover how our team can help you and your family by contacting us through our website or calling 855.492.0812 .
Husband and wife discussing grief.
March 10, 2025
Everyone deals with grief, which can be painful at times. Most grieving people will experience some of the feelings outlined below. Ask yourself the following questions to help determine if you might benefit from grief services. Has your patience level changed? Are you always irritable? Are you always annoyed? Are you always intolerant? Are you always angry? Do you feel numbness or isolation? Are you experiencing an ongoing sense of numbness? Are you experiencing an ongoing sense of being isolated from yourself or from others? Do you feel alone with your grief? Do you usually feel that you have no one to talk to about what has happened? Are you anxious or fearful about death? Since your loved one died, are you highly anxious most of the time about your own death or the death of someone you love? Are these feelings beginning to interfere with your relationships, your ability to concentrate or your ability to live as you would like to live? Are you consumed by thoughts of your loved one or their death? Do you feel that you are always and continually preoccupied with memories or thoughts of your loved one? Do you feel that you are always and continually preoccupied with the death itself? Do you feel that you are always and continually preoccupied with certain aspects of the death even after several months? Do you feel restlessness or the need to stay busy? Do you usually feel restless or in “high gear?” Do you feel the need to be constantly busy beyond what is normal for you? Do you fear intimacy or closeness with others? Are you afraid of becoming close to new people in fear of losing them? Do you think being close with others will cause pain? Are your behaviors becoming harmful? Are you drinking more than you used to? Are you using more prescription or non-prescription drugs? Are you engaging in sexual activity that is unsafe or unwise? Are you driving in an unsafe or reckless manner? Are you considering serious thoughts of suicide? Do you feel overwhelmed with responsibility for surviving family and close friends? Are you feeling heavily burdened or like you are taking on too much? Are you angry or feel like the situation is suffocating? Are you resentful because you feel as though no one is there for you? Are you continually limiting your reactions and emotions? Are you experiencing only a few of the reactions or emotions that usually come with grief? Are you unable to express your thoughts or feelings about your loved one and their death through words and actions? Are you only remembering certain aspects of your loved one or your relationship together? Do you feel like you are going crazy? Are you wondering if what you are experiencing is normal? Do you feel stuck or unable to move on? A helping hand and a listening ear can be valuable while grieving. If any of these feelings continue for a prolonged period of time, or become extremely intense, you may benefit from additional help from a grief care professional. Our grief care services are for anyone in the community who has experienced the loss of a loved one. Discover how our team can help you and your family by contacting us through our website or calling 855.492.0812 .
Mother and daughter discussing grief on front porch.
March 10, 2025
Build a memory box Use a cardboard box and decorate all the sides with markers or paint, drawing memories, messages or pictures in memory of your loved one. Place items like mementos of special times or add notes or drawings for your loved one. Have a balloon release ceremony Choose a special time, like your loved one’s birthday or anniversary for the ceremony. Pick a place like a park, beach, field or burial site, to release the balloons. Use helium-filled balloons and have family members write words of remembrance on them. You can talk about how loss and change are a natural part of life, play music or read verses as the balloons are released. Plant a tree or flowers Tending to a growing plant is a symbol of an ongoing relationship and provides many chances to grieve a loss. The life cycle can help you reflect on the memory of your loved one. Read a children's book about grief There are many age-specific children’s books that address grief. Books are a great way to help children open up and begin sharing feelings after a loss. Create memory pages Use fun scrapbooking paper and include Information about your loved one, such as their name, birthday, date of death, favorite food or activities, words to describe them, or things they enjoyed. Phrases like "I remember you when..." or ''I feel closer to you when..." can help provide inspiration. Draw with sidewalk chalk art Decorate your sidewalk or driveway with pictures or words honoring your loved one. Creativity is a great way to help express your feelings and emotions. Make a bracelet Use a variety of beads with different colors, shapes and letters. Pick out beads that represent a special memory or detail about your loved one. Decorate a jar or bottle Apply paint, decoupage or other materials to a jar or a bottle. You can write messages and place them inside the bottle. These messages can be something that you did not get a chance to say, something that you wish you had done or said differently, a favorite memory, or a life update. Alternatively, you may wish to place a small candle or light inside and use it at times you wish to remember your loved one. Utilize a journal You can use a journal to write about or draw special memories of your loved one. Add photos or mementos to make it feel special. Make a playlist Create a list of your loved one’s favorite songs. Listen to this when you want to think about them. Recreate a favorite recipe Prepare a meal or dessert that your loved one enjoyed or made frequently. While you are making it reminisce about memories associated with the food and favorites that you enjoyed together. Our grief care services are for anyone in the community who has experienced the loss of a loved one. Discover how our team can help you and your family by contacting us through our website or calling 855.492.0812 .
March 5, 2025
Volunteering isn’t just something I do; it’s who I am. My name is Rich Haley, and for me, service is a way of life. I’ve spent years helping others. Even now, as a current hospice patient at Bluegrass Care Navigators (BCN), I continue to find my purpose by volunteering as an 11 th hour volunteer, offering companionship to patients in their final moments when no family is nearby.
February 27, 2025
Bluegrass Care Navigators is pleased to announce its board leadership and welcome new members for 2025.
February 12, 2025
Saint Joseph Hospital and Saint Joseph East have awarded Bluegrass Care Navigators (BCN) $50,000 to support grief services and integrative medicine programs. This funding will help BCN provide essential care to more than 1,000 diverse individuals across Lexington, Frankfort, and Cynthiana and address significant health challenges in 2025.
February 5, 2025
For almost 20 years, Paige Prewitt has embodied the spirit of selfless giving as a volunteer with Bluegrass Care Navigators. From therapy dog visits with Lilly to sewing masks during the pandemic, Paige has consistently found ways to meet others’ needs and give back to her community. Recently, she volunteered her time to handcraft 28 stoles to honor and celebrate our chaplains at Bluegrass Care Navigators.
February 5, 2025
Ron Reaguer has devoted his life to helping others, but in 2016, the tables turned when his wife, Joyce, suffered the first of three falls that left him needing help to care for her.
Image of Dr. Martin Luther King Statue
January 10, 2025
Health equity at Bluegrass Care Navigators (BCN) is more than just a concept—it’s our commitment to ensuring that all individuals, regardless of their background, have the opportunity to achieve their best possible health. This commitment means actively addressing systemic barriers such as discrimination, unequal resource distribution, and limited access to quality care. By embracing tailored approaches that address each person’s unique needs, BCN strives to create fair opportunities and equitable outcomes for all.
December 12, 2024
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 the Pikeville Volunteer and Community Liaison, 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.
More Posts
Share by: