Every day, hospice teams witness extraordinary acts of love.
A daughter leaves her home and family behind to care for her mother. A son takes time away from work to sit at a bedside. A spouse spends sleepless nights making sure their loved one is comfortable. In life’s most difficult moments, families make sacrifices without hesitation because being present matters more than anything else.
But while love is freely given, the practical realities of caregiving can create enormous financial strain. That is where the Heart to Heart Foundation makes a remarkable difference.
Foundation grants can have a profound impact on patients and families facing financial hardship. What may seem like a modest amount of assistance can become a lifeline during an incredibly emotional time. It can relieve stress, ease burdens and allow families to focus on what truly matters: spending precious time together.
The Heart to Heart Foundation’s grant program is unique to Heart to Heart Hospice and reflects a deep commitment to caring for the whole family, not just the patient. For many, that support arrives exactly when it is needed most.
—
One family’s story illustrates this perfectly. A patient’s daughter relocated from Colorado to Peru, Indiana, leaving her spouse and family behind so she could become her mother’s primary caregiver. To do so, she had to take unpaid time away from work. Further complicating the situation, since her mother is bedbound, daily care responsibilities quickly became physically demanding, causing significant back pain for the daughter.
Through the Heart to Heart Foundation’s assistance, this family was able to obtain a lift chair and an indoor camera system. The lift chair helps reduce the physical strain of caregiving, while the camera allows the daughter to step outside for a few moments of self-care while still keeping a watchful eye on her mother. These items may seem simple, but they provide comfort, safety and peace of mind during an incredibly difficult chapter.
—
Another patient had been experiencing homelessness and entered care with very few personal belongings. Most of his clothing had been donated, and at one point
even his slippers had been misplaced, resulting in him having no shoes of his own.
When told that Foundation assistance would allow him to purchase shoes and clothing, tears filled his eyes. He was excited to go shopping with his brother and select items that fit properly and helped restore a sense of dignity. What many of us take for granted became a source of joy and hope.
—
For another patient, Foundation support helped provide both comfort and the opportunity to fulfill a deeply personal final wish. Through a Foundation grant, this
patient received a lift chair that made daily life easier and more comfortable. When it arrived, she expressed her gratitude by saying, “I’ve never had something so nice in my life before.”
The patient also hoped to honor her late father by spreading his ashes at a special location he had requested. Unfortunately, there were not enough funds remaining on the Foundation Visa card to cover transportation costs for the trip.
Determined to help make this special journey possible, a transportation company agreed to provide services at a reduced cost. Together, the Foundation’s support and the generosity of a community partner allowed the patient to fulfill her father’s final wish and create a meaningful memory during an incredibly important time in her life.
—
These stories remind us that hospice care extends far beyond medical support.
Sometimes compassion looks like a daughter getting a much-needed moment to catch her breath.
Sometimes it looks like a patient receiving a pair of shoes that fit.
Sometimes it looks like helping someone honor a loved one’s final request.
Sometimes it looks like easing a family’s financial burden so they can spend less time worrying about bills and more time holding a loved one’s hand.
That is the impact of the Heart to Heart Foundation.
Every grant tells a story. Every dollar helps carry a family through one of life’s most challenging journeys. And every act of generosity helps make compassionate care possible when it is needed most.
How You Can Help
The Heart to Heart Foundation relies on the generosity of donors who believe that no family should have to choose between financial stability and being present for a loved one at the end of life.
Your support can provide practical assistance, comfort and peace of mind to patients and families facing extraordinary challenges.
To learn more about the Heart to Heart Foundation or make a contribution, visit the Heart to Heart Foundation website and help us continue making a difference, one family at a time.
