Philanthropy and Community Impact | Nevada County Nevada County’s philanthropic community gathered at North Star House for an inspiring conversation with Kay Sprinkle Grace about the values, practices, and shared responsibilities that make philanthropy a powerful force for stronger communities around the world. Philanthropy begins with a simple idea: we can make a difference in […]
Tom’s Uncommon Journey of Volunteer Companioning By Meredith Melgar, Volunteer Coordinator, Foothills Compassionate Care In hospice care, time is precious. Most patients are only on service for a matter of months, sometimes just days. Volunteers often join families for a brief but meaningful chapter. That’s why Tom’s relationship with one of our patients is something […]
For the West family, hospice and palliative care once felt uncertain. But when both of Gene West Jr.’s parents faced serious illness, Foothills Compassionate Care turned fear into a story of dignity, love, and peace. In 2023, Gene’s mother, Linda West, entered Hospice of the Foothills. She suffered from a painful skin condition that caused […]
Michael “Mike” Menegazzi began painting at age 13, inspired by his mother’s ceramics and oil landscapes. He pursued art alongside a lifelong career in terrazzo and masonry—craftsmanship that eventually took him all the way to the Smithsonian. Later in life, encouraged by a fellow painter, Mike returned to the canvas with a new approach: plein […]
“I’m not sure I’d say much at all, not at first. I would just try to listen.” This in response to the question of how a hospice nurse should respond if patients or family members make demands that seem unreasonable, unwise, or downright impossible. “Patients and family members in end-of-life situations need to be heard.”
This is a story not just about loss but about love, resilience, and the immeasurable impact of compassionate care.