TRU

Caring For Our Community Since 1976.

  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube

(303) 442-0961 | (877) 986-4766

  • Home
  • About TRU
    • Contact TRU
    • Mission, Vision and Values
    • History and Milestones
    • TRU News
    • TRU Leadership
    • TRU Events
    • Videos
    • Blog
    • Contact Us
  • Our Services
    • Hospice Care
    • Palliative Care
    • TRU PACE
    • Grief Services
      • Individual and Family Counseling
      • Adult Grief Support Groups
      • Youth and Family Grief Support
      • Grief Services Resources
    • Memory Care
    • The Conversation Project
  • Resources
    • Volunteer with TRU
      • Volunteer Overview
      • Apply to Volunteer
      • TRU Internships
    • Caregiver Resources
    • Education and Outreach
    • Want to thank your hospice nurse? Nominate them for a Daisy Award!
    • For Physicians
      • Online Referral Form
      • Assessment Guidelines
    • TRU Tele-Care
    • TRU Heroes
    • TRU Online Memorial
  • Careers
  • Donate
    • Ways to Donate
    • Legacy Circle
    • Attend an Event
    • Why Give?
    • Your Impact
    • A Donor’s Story
  • Thrift Shop

A Change in Leadership, Not a Change in Direction

February 15, 2022 by TRU Community Care

Michael McHaleToday is a sad day for many in the TRU community. Michael McHale, TRU’s President and CEO since July 2017, is stepping down from his position at TRU to pursue the role of President and CEO for St. Paul’s Senior Services in San Diego. Michael began his healthcare administration career at St. Paul’s in 1999, and he sees this as a unique opportunity to return to St. Paul’s mission, bringing his career full circle. Michael stated, “I can honestly say that I would never consider leaving TRU if it wasn’t for the chance of a lifetime.”

In his time at TRU, Michael has been an inspiration and brought about tremendous growth. In partnership with the leadership team, he helped to nearly double the impact of our programs and the size of the staff and annual revenue. Michael played a crucial role in building TRU’s tele-care program, and he added Landmark Memory Care to TRU’s continuum of care. The leadership team, board, staff, volunteers, families, and supporters at TRU have helped to get us to a place where we are caring for nearly 1,000 people at a time in our community. This does not begin to capture our reach, which is expanded exponentially by our grief services. TRU is in a strong financial position, achieving stability and growth year-over-year since Michael’s arrival.

Scott Gresser, Chief Financial Officer for the past ten years, has been named interim President and CEO. Before joining TRU as a staff member, Scott served for five years on the board of directors. His loyalty and devotion to TRU span two decades, and he has been an integral part of our success and transformation. Prior to joining TRU, Scott served in leadership roles for 20 years in the publishing and broadcasting industries. “Scott and I have worked side by side for nearly five years, aligned in mission and vision, and working together with other leaders to develop a strategic plan to guide TRU in the coming years. I know the organization is in great hands,” said Michael.

“It is an honor to continue the important work of leading this organization and serving our community. Over the past several years, we have made tremendous strides to become who we are today, continuing to evolve over the past 46 years in an ever-changing healthcare industry. I am humbled by the opportunity to keep us moving forward, and I am proud every day to come to work at TRU,” said Scott.

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Finding TRU changed everything for my family

December 23, 2021 by TRU Community Care

There have been occasions throughout my career when I’ve had the opportunity to connect with someone deeply impacted by the organization I serve – occasions that touch my heart, remind me why I’ve chosen this work, and fill me with gratitude. I had one of these occasions a few weeks ago, and my conversation with Judy will stick with me for years to come.

When Judy first learned of her dad’s cancer diagnosis, it was already terminal. He briefly pursued treatment but quickly came to terms with the fact that the end was near – likely only months away.

Read more about one family’s experience with TRU and consider making a year-end donation to ensure that everyone has access to the care received by the Laschingers.

Donate Now

Dad is the pillar of our family – our strong and unwavering patriarch. His diagnosis was terminal from the start, and his decline was so drastic, so fast. Even though we had resources and knowledge at our fingertips (I’m a nurse, my sister a CNA), we felt totally out of control. We wanted to honor our dad’s wish to be at home, but circumstances were different than we’d imagined, and we realized that we had to be open. You can’t plan for everything. And we needed help.

The day came when Dave (Judy’s father) experienced unmanageable pain, as well as irritation often referred to as terminal agitation. A friend of the family told Judy that she’d always heard wonderful things about TRU Community Care and that TRU has an inpatient hospice care center. She gently suggested that Dave would benefit from that level of care. Judy said of her subsequent conversation with Matthew, our admissions intake supervisor:

Matthew listened and he truly heard me. He knew we had to discuss our options first as a family, and he told me, “I’ll wait for you. We will be here.” He just knew. He anticipated our needs even before I could fully articulate them. Matthew went above and beyond to get Dad into TRU Hospice Care within hours of our first phone call. His compassion for this work was evident, and his efforts will not be forgotten. I hung up feeling like the stars were aligning, and the coordination of care from that point forward was remarkable.

Dave was admitted to a room at the Care Center that night. His pain and irritability were brought under control, and he was able to rest peacefully. The sentiments shared by Dave’s spouse and children speak volumes about his short but powerful stay there:

One of the first things a TRU team member said to me when observing that my sister and I were tending to our Dad was, “It’s time to take a step back from your role as caregivers and just focus on loving your Dad. We’ll take care of the rest.” – Debbie (Dave’s daughter)

The Care Center was filled with spirituality and love. Everyone there was calming and nurturing, and they treated us like their own family. They also had answers, and they let us know what we could expect every step of the way. They turned a terrible situation into a beautiful and loving one. – Chris (Dave’s son)

I had all the confidence that he would be taken care of – beyond what we could do at home – and I was able to allow myself a little rest. The staff took a load off of our shoulders in the most compassionate way possible. – Liz (Dave’s wife)

Judy told me through tears about a few meaningful moments from her family’s time with TRU:

Even though Dad was not alert and hardly made a movement, he seemed to just know when nurse Berta was in the room. She managed a playful and genuine tone with him, and we could feel him relax when she was around. At one point Berta joked with him about his appearance in the 70’s film “Airport,” and Dad broke his long stillness to bring a finger to his lips, as if to say with a coy wink, “Shh, we don’t make a fuss about that.”

We can now look back on an excruciatingly painful time and see it as a beautiful, peaceful, loving experience. When we look back, we can still feel the warmth, love, and protection provided by our team at TRU.

After Dad passed, we gathered as a family to ring the memorial bell – a sacred Care Center ritual. It was only fitting that the staff members joined in our circle with their arms around us, just as it felt to us since the moment we’d arrived. The whole team had such a presence. They made us feel like we were the only people there, even when every room was full. It seemed like Dad was their only patient, and we were their only concern.

Laschinger family with TRU Care Center Staff


I will forever be grateful for Judy sharing so vulnerably with me, and now with you, about the end of her dad’s life. My wish is that everyone I love and everyone you love will receive the compassionate care experienced by Dave and his family when it is needed most. When you support TRU with a contribution, you help to ensure that my wish comes true.

With gratitude and hope,

Jen Thomas
Director of Development and Communications

Donate Now

Filed Under: Uncategorized

TRU PACE Hosts Art Show

November 16, 2021 by TRU Community Care

Copyright 2021 Mary Beckman.

TRU PACE was thrilled to host an exhibit of paintings by Boulder artist and TRU PACE participant, Mary Beckman, earlier this week. Mary curated ART RECALL exclusively for TRU PACE, and the selections for the show convey the depth and breadth of work in Mary’s fine art background both as an illustrator and a painter.

“I paint what I see—both in my imagination and in my community. I have my own vision,” said Mary. “I’m most proud of the work I did for Caravan International—an original collection of artwork for notecards and journals. The paintings for that series were about powerful women. The Native American images in this body of work were sanctioned by the Chairman of the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska.” Mary’s landscapes lean towards abstraction, and her still life compositions can be whimsical and bold, influenced by folk art and traditional fabric and quilting patterns.

Now in her 70’s, Mary has painted and created for most of her life. She enrolled in the TRU PACE program in April of 2020, in the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Mary’s daughter, Jessica, shared that PACE saved her mom and their entire family. Mary’s healthcare needs and expenses were increasing, and the financial burden was becoming too much. Jessica learned about PACE (Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly) and thought it sounded too good to be true. One program that would coordinate all of her mom’s healthcare needs – physical, social, and emotional – at no cost to their family? How could that be?

A signature feature of PACE is an interdisciplinary team (IDT) representing every aspect of a participant’s well-being. From physical therapy, medical disciplines, social work, recreational therapy, nutrition, transportation, and more, PACE takes care of the whole person. In Mary’s case, the IDT knew how much art means to Mary. She has thrived at PACE and has enjoyed participating in the Purple Art program, an expressive art program for seniors. She spoke often of her work and how it motivated her throughout the pandemic to look toward the future. Her care team discussed the idea of hosting an art show for Mary as part of her plan of care. They knew that sharing her talent with her caregivers, friends, and family would do her a world of good. Jill Bilek, PACE Recreational Therapist, took the idea and ran with it.

When asked about their favorite things about Mary, members of her care team shared, “her openness and sense of humor, her honesty and spunk, the great energy she has about her, that she doesn’t let anyone or anything get in her way.” When asked how they think PACE impacted Mary and her family they shared, “it alleviated Mary’s need to lean on her kids and helped them return to being a family. PACE has helped her stay as healthy as possible and helped her psychosocial well-being. We’ve helped her daughter feel supported in caring for her mom, and we’ve helped Mary to feel that she has healthcare advocates.”

In addition to having worked in commercial illustration and toy design, Mary holds a Masters of Divinity in Practical Theology, Art, and Spirituality and has spent more than 15 years in the ministry, working with diverse inner-city populations and the Native American community. Currently, Mary spends her time on private commissions and connecting with the community, through art workshops and gluten free baking.

Works here are © 2021 Mary Beckman.

Filed Under: TRU PACE

TRU Cares 2021 Virtual Luncheon Hits Fundraising Goal

October 29, 2021 by TRU Community Care

TRU’s fourth annual and second virtual TRU Cares Fundraising Luncheon took place on October 21. During this hour-long event, we celebrated the ways in which TRU cares for our community and heard heartfelt stories from family members of two individuals who benefited from TRU’s services.

Thank you to everyone who was able to attend the virtual program and support our mission. If you weren’t able to attend, you can view the full program here. If you still wish to make a donation, you can contribute here.

We are pleased to share that we raised approximately $84,000 through the luncheon, exceeding our goal of $80,000. This amount is comprised of $50,000 in sponsorship, $4,000 in donations before the event, $15,000 in donations the day of the event, and a generous $15,000 matching gift from Bob Von Eschen, Jr.

Thank you also to all of our sponsors, founders, board members, volunteers, staff, advisory council members, patients, participants, and families. We are grateful for each and every one of you.

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Fall 2021 Newsletter is Out Now!

October 25, 2021 by TRU Community Care

Fall 2021Our TRU Talk Fall 2021 edition should have hit your doorsteps by now and is also available for you to download at the link below. This issue brings you a heartfelt story from the TRU Care Center, the remembrance of a World War II Veteran we had the opportunity to honor while in lockdown, a Hiking Support Group participant’s note from the trail, and a PACE participant’s appreciation of the technology that has brought much-needed connection to the homebound.

Read the Fall 2021 Newsletter (pdf).

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Perfect Peaches 2021 Wrap-Up

August 27, 2021 by TRU Community Care

Thank you to everyone who participated in our Perfect Peaches fundraiser!

TRU staff and volunteers spent a fun morning greeting customers, loading cars with fresh Palisade peaches, and sharing stories about our connections to TRU Community Care. Thank you to all of our staff and volunteers who helped out! With your help, we were able to put 400 boxes of peaches into peach-hungry hands, and we had a pretty great time doing it!

View our Facebook Photo Album from the day!

A big thanks to all of you who purchased peaches by the box or half box to take home to your families and friends! It was a real pleasure seeing all of you on Saturday, and, by enjoying the peaches we bring in from White Orchard in Palisade, Colorado, you’re helping to support TRU hospice, palliative care, PACE, memory care, and grief services.

And finally, we greatly appreciate the crucial support of our sponsors without whom this event would not be possible. Thank you!

Filed Under: Uncategorized

2021 Butterfly Release & Memorial Recap

July 1, 2021 by TRU Community Care

Thank you for participating in this year’s Take Flight Butterfly Release & Memorial. Whether you made a donation, joined the virtual program, released a butterfly for a loved one, or all three – we hope you had a meaningful experience.

View the montage of photo and video submissions of this year’s butterfly releases on YouTube.

Over 360 beautiful painted lady butterflies were released in memory of loved ones! Many participants gathered with families and friends they had not seen since the beginning of the pandemic. Some honored loved ones at cemeteries and memorial sites, and others found comfort in their own backyard, in the mountains, and elsewhere. One participant shared, “It was a joy to be part of celebrating the memory of my dad and friend – and especially spending time with all of you who make a difference!.” Another said, “Wow, what a beautiful event! Thank you for putting this together, and thank you for all you do.”

You can also view this year’s virtual program here at your convenience.

Thank you to our sponsors – Horan & McConaty Funeral Service, Ewing-Leavitt Insurance Agency, the Daily Camera, the McHale Family, and Marty Coffin Evans and Robert Trembly II – for their support, and thank you all
again for participating in this special event!

Filed Under: Uncategorized

TRU Talk: Spring 2021 Newsletter

April 2, 2021 by TRU Community Care

Check out TRU’s Spring 2021 Newsletter for some of the latest news on TRU’s services.
In this issue, we feature the GrandPads program that has helped eased the isolation of our PACE participants, the New Grad Nursing Residency Program being piloted at the TRU Care Center, a new Creative Expression Grief Support Group, and more.
The Spring 2021 Newsletter can be found here.

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Faces of TRU: Judi

December 29, 2020 by TRU Community Care

We want to continue to share with you the stories behind some of the faces of TRU. This year’s focus is on a few of our staff and volunteers who have gone above and beyond to care for our community during the pandemic. and today we feature a TRU volunteer.

We hope you will consider making a gift in support of our work and the people we serve. Make your donation today in support of the faces of TRU.

In 1995, my husband and I were living in a small town near Durango where I volunteered for a rural hospice. I also worked for them as a grant writer and volunteer coordinator, and while there, I realized I had a hospice mentality. Later, when we settled in Longmont, I took a job at TRU as an executive assistant. I did this for five years before retiring, but I continued to volunteer at TRU and also worked part-time in scheduling and then finance.

Volunteering has allowed me to make a difference each day. I get to stay engaged, connect with others, and meet our patients where they are during crucial times in their lives. Before the pandemic, I volunteered at the TRU Hospice Care Center, where I did comfort touch, aromatherapy, and pet therapy with my dog Molly, helped the nurses, and made care shawls.

When COVID hit, volunteers were no longer allowed at the Care Center. I was able to return there in early Fall, though volunteers were still not permitted to enter patient rooms. I’ve been able to help out at the Care Center front desk, stock cabinets, and order meals for patients. It’s such a stressful time and hard to see patients and families isolated and unable to take advantage of all the services volunteers usually provide due to COVID restrictions.

TRU staff and volunteers positively impact the people in our community daily. Even during a pandemic, TRU continues to help those living with illness and loss. I’m grateful for my health and the opportunity to be a part of this work.

Volunteers are an essential part of TRU Community Care. More than 300 volunteers assist in providing patients and families emotional, spiritual, and practical support. Complementary therapy volunteers perform energy work, aromatherapy, music, visits with certified pets, and more. Highly-trained volunteers facilitate many of our grief support groups and staff the TRU Thrift Shop.

Please consider supporting TRU with a donation today.

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Faces of TRU: Tim

December 22, 2020 by TRU Community Care

We want to continue to share with you the stories behind some of the faces of TRU. This year’s focus is on a few of our staff and volunteers who have gone above and beyond to care for our community during the pandemic. and today we feature TRU CNA, Tim Lopez.

We hope you will consider making a gift in support of our work and the people we serve. Make your donation today in support of the faces of TRU.

As a young man, I had an accident while working on a dairy farm that landed me in the hospital with severe burns. While there, I was inspired to pursue a career in health care and have been working in the field on and off for nearly 30 years.

As a CNA, my job is to help patients with activities of daily living – like bathing, grooming, toileting, eating, and moving. But I also see it as my job to make them laugh. I’m here to make somebody happy and to make their dying process as comfortable as I can. I’m here to help people through this journey.

When I meet a new patient I ask, “Where are you from and how did you get here?” I love getting to know them as people. I recently lost a patient I’d gotten really close to. It hurt so much when he passed away that I questioned if I could keep doing this work. I talked to his son about a week after and he made me feel so good about what we do. He kept me going.

During COVID, I’ve worked at a senior living facility with strict limitations on visitors. I see families standing outside of first-floor windows talking to their loved ones and I think, “What about the people on the second floor?” It has to be so hard on them. It’s been nine months like this.

It’s hard for me when I see people not wearing masks and not doing their part. We wear our masks all day, every day, along with additional PPE. It’s hot and it’s uncomfortable, but it’s part of taking good care of our patients and ourselves. I have my parents nearby; I have my grandkids; I have my wife. I need to stay safe and healthy, too.

What am I most thankful for? I’m thankful for work. Especially work at TRU. Of all the jobs I’ve ever had, I’ve never had anybody pat me on the back and tell me so often that I’m doing a good job the way the people at TRU do. Every time a patient’s family member sends in a note of thanks, I get a note from our CEO thanking me. I’ve never had so much affirmation and support.

Please consider supporting TRU with a donation today.

Filed Under: Uncategorized

« Previous Page
Next Page »

Sign Up For Our Newsletters

Sign up to receive more information about TRU programs.

Newsletter Sign-Up

Job Opportunities at TRU

See available jobs on our Indeed page.

View Jobs

Donate

Help us continue to support our community.

Donate

About TRU

TRU Community Care (TRU) affirms life at every step of your journey with illness and loss. Our vision is to lead a healthcare transformation by engaging with our communities and offering innovative, meaningful care for those living with illness and loss.

Founded as Boulder Hospice in 1976, TRU is a Colorado-licensed, Medicare and Medicaid-certified, nonprofit health care organization serving Boulder, Broomfield, Adams, Jefferson, Arapahoe, Denver, and Weld Counties and beyond. With a focus on providing a continuum of care for members of our community living with advanced illness and loss, TRU’s programs include TRU Hospice, TRU PACE (Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly), TRU Palliative Care, Landmark Memory Care, and TRU Grief Services.

TRU Hospice is proudly accredited by The Joint Commission and is a five-star-level hospice in NHPCO's We Honor Veterans program created in collaboration with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). TRU is a member of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO), the National Partnership for Healthcare and Hospice Innovation (NPHI), the Center to Advance Palliative Care (CAPC), Nurses Improving Care for Healthsystem Elders (NICHE), and the National PACE Association (NPA).

Our Services

TRU Grief Services
& Administrative Offices
2594 Trailridge Drive East
Lafayette, CO 80026

TRU Hospice Care Center
1950 Mountain View Avenue
4th Floor South
Longmont, CO 80501

TRU Thrift Shop
5565 Arapahoe Avenue
Boulder, CO 80303

TRU PACE Program
2593 Park Lane
Lafayette, CO 80026

TRU Memory Care
1744 S Public Road
Lafayette, CO 80026

  • Home
  • About TRU
  • Our Services
  • Careers & Volunteers
  • Giving Back
  • Privacy Policy
  • Discrimination Policy
  • Contact
  • Thrift Shop

TRU Community Care, 2594 Trailridge Drive East, Lafayette, CO 80026

© Copyright TRU Community Care · All Rights Reserved · Website development by Ramblin Jackson