Bothwell Foundation Donates to Area Hospices

The Bothwell Regional Health Center Foundation recently presented grants to two area hospices to help them serve the needs of terminally ill patients and their families.

The Bothwell Foundation, which works to develop private resources to improve access to quality health care in the region, presented grants of $1,900 each to Crossroads Hospice Charitable Foundation in Warrensburg and Benton County Hospice in Warsaw.

The grants were made from hospice-specific funds donated to the Bothwell Foundation. The funds previously were used by Bothwell Home Health & Hospice, but the hospital discontinued those services in fall 2015.

“Because these funds are from donors, we want to ensure we continue to use them as the donors intended,” said Lauren Thiel, director of the Bothwell Foundation. “The Foundation Board of Directors adopted a policy specifying that each year we will make a grant to the hospice or hospices serving the majority of patients from this area. It was stipulated that the funds have to be used to benefit local patients.”

Debbie Joy, administrator of Benton County Hospice, said several clients from Sedalia have come to Benton County Hospice since BRHC closed its program. “Our organization prides itself on taking care of our clients like they were our own family,” Joy said. “We also use community resources for medications, supplies and equipment as much as we possibly can. Therefore, we are supporting local businesses.”

“We hope these grants will help Benton County Hospice and Crossroads serve patients and their families at a time when they need it most,” said Thiel.

In the photo above: Bothwell Foundation Director Lauren Thiel presents a check for $1,906 to employees of Crossroads Hospice.

In the photo below: Bothwell Foundation Board President Stafford Swearingen presents a check for $1,906 to employees of the Benton County Hospice.