Palmer Family Story

Ridgeview Hospice Team Helps Patients Move to a Place of Comfort with Dignity and Respect, Simultaneously Providing Comfort and Peace to Family

Kari Palmer: “We’ve had the distinct pleasure of helping both of my parents, Joan and Gary, finish their last miles with the help of the Ridgeview hospice team.”

When Kari and Kevin Palmer moved into their Delano home in 2010, they knew it was the perfect place to raise their children, Sam and Claire. The home turned into so much more when Kari’s aging parents moved in with them.

“It was the logical thing to do – take care of aging parents,” said Kevin.

The family had an unbreakable bond.

“My grandparents were a huge part of my life,” said Sam. “They helped raise me and I was super close with both of them.”

Being able to provide support and comfort to Joan and Gary through their respective end-of-life journeys was of utmost importance to the entire Palmer family.

Choosing Ridgeview hospice over rehab.

Joan’s end-of-life journey was fast, which the family considers a blessing. She was only in hospice with Ridgeview for four days before she died. Gary’s experience was different. He remained independent until his last year of life when his heart issues worsened. Then, he finally reached a tipping point.

“My dad was just sort of done with the medications and the feeling terrible and all the side effects,” Kari said. “So instead of going to rehab, we were faced with another hospice situation.”

A beautiful gift.

When the Ridgeview Hospice team of clinicians, music therapists, massage therapists, chaplains and social workers started showing up at Kari and Kevin’s Delano house for Gary on a regular basis, the family felt incredibly reassured. The hospice team was experienced, calm, kind and compassionate, and Gary was so grateful to be at home with “his people.”

“All of them had such a sweet demeanor,” said Claire. “All of them were so nice, which was awesome, and they were so nice to all of us, as well.”

“The word that comes to mind is ‘compassion.’ Every person who came through here was so compassionate to us,” said Sam.

Kari describes her experience with the Ridgeview hospice team as a beautiful gift. They helped move my dady to a place of comfort, while giving the family the opportunity to focus on him, love him and tell him all the things they wanted to say before he passed away.

No regrets.

According to Kari, the last two weeks of Gary’s life wiped out all the frustration the family felt for the last two years preceding Gary’s death because Ridgeview made the end-of-life journey so incredibly bearable and humane.

“Absolutely I would recommend home hospice and Ridgeview,” Kari said. “You can’t do this without their help. We’re just grateful they were able to help our family. I have no regrets.”

Ridgeview is honored to care for patients and families through our hospice program, but it’s only possible due to the generosity of the community. Donate to the hospice program today and ensure end of life care for our community.

Make an Online Donation Here

Thank you for your generosity and compassion.