News

TRU Community Care Hospice Awarded Home Care Certification from The Joint Commission

January 22, 2020 by TRU Community Care

TRU Community Care’s hospice program has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval^® for Home Care Certification by demonstrating continuous compliance with its performance standards. The Gold Seal is a symbol of quality that reflects a health care organization’s commitment to providing safe and quality patient care.

The certification recognizes TRU Community Care’s efforts to provide patient and family-centered care and to optimize the quality of life for patients with serious illnesses. Hospice care addresses a patient’s physical, emotional, social and spiritual needs, and facilitates patient autonomy, access to information, and choice.

“The Home Care Certification recognizes health care organizations’ commitment to fostering continuous quality improvement in patient safety and quality of care,” says Mark Pelletier, RN, MS, chief operating officer, Accreditation and Certification Operations, and chief nursing executive, The Joint Commission. “We commend TRU for using certification to reduce variation in its clinical processes and to strengthen its program structure and management framework for hospice care patients.”

In preparation for accreditation, TRU Community Care performed an in-depth analysis of crucial clinical delivery systems. Opportunities for improvement were identified and “best practices” were updated and implemented. As a result, TRU is able to improve care delivery and outcomes for patients and their families and comply with the highest national standards for safety and quality care.

“Achieving Joint Commission accreditation demonstrates that TRU meets the highest standards for the safe delivery of hospice care. We are proud of this accomplishment and look forward to better serving our community in the years to come,” said Jim Woodard, Chief Operations Officer for TRU Community Care.

For more information, please visit The Joint Commission website.

TRU Community Care and The Conversation Project Join Forces

September 6, 2019 by TRU Community Care

Two local organizations providing important end-of-life resources are coming together to better serve the Boulder County community. Acknowledging that end-of-life planning should be done far in advance of developing a serious or terminal illness, TRU Community Care (TRU) recognized that The Conversation Project in Boulder County (TCPB) approach and materials would be a welcome addition to their community education efforts.

TRU, founded in 1976 as Boulder Hospice, has been providing hospice care, palliative care, and grief services for 43 years. In 2017, TRU PACE (Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly) began in order to offer comprehensive care services designed to help people continue to live as independently as possible. The Conversation Project in Boulder County formed in 2013, based on the nationally-acclaimed work of Boston Globe columnist and author, Ellen Goodman, with a mission to foster meaningful and effective conversations around care at the end-of-life, resulting in the appointment of an informed decision-maker.

Over half of us will be unable to speak for ourselves at the end of life. Choosing and documenting your choice of a decision-maker is an important first step. Talking to that person and your family is equally important. Starting the conversation is never easy, but families and health care professionals report that it is a relief when the subject of how we want the end of our life to look is brought into the open and our choices can be honored because of careful forethought and conversation.

TRU Community Care is excited to build on the work of The Conversation Project and to help community members, palliative care and hospice patients, and PACE participants begin to have these critical conversations earlier in their journey. The Conversation Project will retain its name, volunteers, and identity and looks forward to being part of TRU’s community offerings.

According to Michael McHale, CEO of TRU Community Care, “We are looking forward to joining forces with The Conversation Project to better serve our community.” Constance Holden and Jean Abbott, Co-founders of the Project, “welcome this partnership with Boulder County’s leader in end-of-life care.” Michael, Constance, and Jean feel that the organizations’ missions complement one another beautifully.

Jean Abbott, Michael McHale, Constance Holden

TRU Community Care, founded as Boulder Hospice in 1976, is a Colorado-licensed, Medicare and Medicaid-certified, nonprofit health care organization serving Boulder, Broomfield, Adams, Jefferson, and Weld Counties and beyond. TRU affirms life at every step of your journey with illness and loss, offering PACE, hospice home care, inpatient hospice services, palliative care, grief services, and community education and outreach. Visit www.trucare.org for more information.

The Conversation Project in Boulder County fosters meaningful and effective conversations about end-of-life care. It has been fiscally sponsored by The Community Foundation Serving Boulder County since it was founded in 2013. That sponsorship has now been transferred to TRU Community Care. Visit www.theconversationprojectinboulder.org for more information.

TRU Community Care Names New CEO

August 8, 2017 by TRU Community Care

For Immediate Release – August 8, 2017

(Lafayette, CO) – TRU Community Care, founded as Boulder Hospice in 1976, has named a new President and Chief Executive Officer. Michael McHale from Arlington Heights, Illinois, most recently President and CEO of Rainbow Hospice and Palliative Care, will begin his leadership of TRU Community Care, TRU Hospice of Northern Colorado, and TRU PACE (Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly) on September 11, 2017.

Michael McHale TRU Community Care's <br>New CEO

Michael McHale
TRU Community Care’s New CEO

McHale has dedicated his professional career to health care with more than 17 years of management, marketing and customer service experience within the hospice and long-term care industry. He has held various leadership positions with hospices in California, Michigan and Maryland prior to joining Rainbow Hospice and Palliative Care in Chicago. Michael holds a Masters of Health Care Administration from National University in San Diego. As a board member of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) in Washington, DC, he is committed to improving quality of care, regulatory oversight and patient and family satisfaction in hospice, palliative medicine and PACE.

This new chief steps in at a critical time in the organization’s history. With over 40 years’ experience in the delivery of end-of-life care, TRU is continuing to grow its programs, having launched TRU PACE in March 2017.

TRU has an outstanding reputation of being a leader in caring for those living with advanced illness. It is an honor for me to join this organization to continue to build on this reputation and find new ways to care for our community.

About TRU Community Care

TRU Community Care provides end-of-life hospice and palliative care as well as grief services to those residing in Boulder, Broomfield, Adams, Jefferson, and southwest Weld counties. TRU now offers TRU PACE, a Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly. TRU Hospice of Northern Colorado serves Greeley and extends to Weld and Larimer counties. Additional services include grief support groups, which are available to anyone in the community free of charge. It is a privilege for us to help those who are grieving regain their balance and resume healthy living. Grief groups include adult, teen, and child as well as equine therapy. At TRU Community Care, we add life to days, because that’s what TRUly matters. The sooner you call, the more we can help – 303.442.0961 or visit trucare.org.

Contact:
Annette Mainland, Vice President of Philanthropy
TRU Community Care
303.604.5261
annettemainland@trucare.org

TRU PACE Social Worker Honors Boulder Senior Reach Program

July 6, 2017 by TRU Community Care

In honor of Elder Abuse Awareness Day on June 15, TRU PACE social worker Leslee Hecht recognized Boulder Senior Reach employees Jenifer Fischer and Janaki LeFils for their valuable contributions and concern for the well-being of elders in our community.

Boulder Senior Reach social workers Janaki LeFils and Jenifer Fischer receive their awards from TRU PACE social worker Leslee Hecht on
Elder Abuse Awareness Day June 15.

Here is Leslee’s story.

I nominated the Boulder Senior Reach Program because I learned about this tiny gem when I worked alongside their dynamic staff for a year at Mental Health Partners. I met with them again when I moved to TRU PACE and invited them to tour our center for a new resource for their clients, and more recently, when they referred a prospective participant to TRU PACE.

Senior Reach is a home-based support service that reaches out to our county’s most vulnerable elderly residents, including those in isolated mountain communities and those in rural areas, downtown Boulder, Longmont, Lafayette, and other urban areas.

Often, these folks have the added challenges of behavioral health concerns as well as fixed income and lack of resources. Senior Reach offers home visits to provide brief counseling, support services and referral to resources to assist seniors to remain in the community and improve their lives and psychological functioning.

At a training last year I learned about their role in helping to expose a financial exploitation scheme targeting vulnerable adults and their work with the District Attorney to prosecute the perpetrators who preyed on these trusting elders.

In my work at PACE, they referred a struggling couple who were isolated with only meager in-home support to combat their medical challenges and increasing depression.

Senior Reach meets these clients where they are, accepting their choices about how they want to live but offering many resources and supports they may be unaware of to improve their lives and help them function in the challenging world they face now.

Many of these folks have no family, or no one close by, and have outlived their friends and loved ones, which make them vulnerable to those who could take advantage of their situation. The Senior Reach staff are often called angels, and I would agree their work is heroic and often stems the tide of abuse and neglect in the home.

Greeley Tribune Honors TRU Community Care Employee in Who’s Next

March 13, 2017 by TRU Community Care

Maria Thomas, our Communications Coordinator, was recently named one of 13 honorees in the Who’s Next series by The Greeley Tribune. Each month, The Greeley Tribune and Business Connect will publish a list of Who’s Next, presented by Advantage Bank, that focuses on honoring young leaders (under 40) from different industries or fields. This month they are focusing on education. These winners were nominated by their peers as people who are making a positive impact at work and in their communities. The winners are working every day to improve education in Weld County and are shaping our youth with incredible passion and leadership.

Here is Maria’s bio, excerpted from the full list of Who’s Next in Education honorees.

Maria is an educator in two capacities. For one, she educates the community about hospice care through her role as communications coordinator for TRU Hospice of Northern Colorado. Secondly, she educates and spreads awareness about hyperhidrosis through her blog, “My Life as a Puddle,” where she says she raises awareness “one drop at a time.” Thomas put herself through college working as a certified pharmacy technician where she gained a medical background while earning an English degree. She spends her time educating on hospice and grief services while building relationships. “I’m creating personal connections and making people feel like they’re not alone. There are people they can talk to and resources they can access.”

Get your spot reserved at the FREE March 14th Who’s Next event honoring these Education leaders for what they have accomplished and what they are doing to improve our community and their industry with a short presentation followed by networking, food and drinks.

TRU Community Care Bids Farewell to Outgoing Board Members

January 10, 2017 by TRU Community Care

Outgoing TRU board members Diana Slough, Tim Schafer, and Dr. Peter Steinhauer (seated)

Three of TRU Community Care’s Board members have reached their term limits. It is with great admiration and appreciation for all they have done for our organization, and for our patients and their families, that we bid a fond farewell to Diana Slough, Tim Schafer, and Dr. Peter Steinhauer.

Diana Slough

Diana Slough, Senior Advisory in the Wealth Management Department of First National Bank, has served as a member of the TRU Community Care Board since 2011. Diana was a driving force in fundraising, chairing the signature TRU event, PIZZAZ!, and bringing a community of supporters together each fall to celebrate the good work of the hospice organization. During the six years Diana served, much patient census growth, program expansion, and capital campaign work took place with her guidance. TRU is grateful for her service, and staff look forward to nurturing the many contacts brought to the work of the organization thanks to Diana.

Tim Schafer

Tim Schafer is a native of Broomfield, Colorado, and a partner in the law firm of Schafer, Thomas, Maez, PC. His legal practice specializes in trust, estate, probate, business, and tax planning services, from fundamental wills, trusts, estates, and business organizations to sophisticated tax planning, estate planning, wealth preservation, executive compensation, and business succession strategies. Tim served on the TRU Community Care Planned Giving Committee from 2009 to 2010, and the TRU Community Care board of directors from 2011-2016. He served as board chair in 2015. Tim’s help with strategic planning, new programming, fundraising, and community support will be missed. Join TRU in thanking Tim for his dedicated service to the patients and families served by TRU with hospice, palliative care, and grief support.

Dr. Peter Steinhauer

Peter Steinhauer, DDS, is a retired Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon from Boulder who served as a member of the TRU Board from 2011-2016. Pete, a former CU Regent, and U.S. Navy officer who served with the 3rd Marine Division in Vietnam, has been serving his country since the 1960s. Pete is an exemplary volunteer both locally and abroad. He has returned to Vietnam 27 time since 1989 using his skills as a surgeon and dentist to provide critical care to people of all ages and walks of life in need of medical and dental attention. Pete has been honored repeatedly for his generous spirit, and the patients and families of TRU were fortunate to receive a portion of his volunteer time in support of our quality and compliance work, and with support of our special events. Thank you Pete! Your impact on your world, both locally and globally, is appreciated!

Hospice Helps Patients and Families Focus on Quality of Life

November 3, 2016 by TRU Community Care

For Immediate Release: November 3, 2016

Contact:
Maria Thomas, Communications Coordinator
303.624.5245
mariathomas@trucare.org

TRU Community Care Makes More Meaningful Moments Possible

(Lafayette, CO) – November is National Hospice and Palliative Care Month and hospices across the country are reaching out to raise awareness about the highest quality care for all people coping with life-limiting illness.

“Every year, nearly 1.6 million people living with a life-limiting illness receive care from hospice and palliative care providers in this country,” said J. Donald Schumacher, president and CEO of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization. “These highly-trained professionals ensure that patients and families find dignity, respect, and love during life’s most difficult journey.”

Hospice is not a place. Hospice and palliative care programs provide pain management, symptom control, psychosocial support, and spiritual care to patients and their families when a cure is not possible.

Hospice and palliative care combines the highest level of quality medical care with the emotional and spiritual support that families need most when facing the end of life. Through this specialized quality care, we see many patients and their families experience more meaningful moments together. Hospice helps them focus on living despite a terminal diagnosis.

Although the word ‘hospice’ may carry a heavy weight, the weight seems lighter when you have good people on your side. That has been our experience with TRU. Their kindness has made this very difficult window of our lives just a little easier to cope with. We are very grateful. – Ciara, daughter of a TRU patient

Throughout the month of November, TRU Community Care will be joining organizations across the nation hosting activities that will help the community understand how important hospice and palliative care can be.

More information about hospice, palliative care, and advance care planning is available from TRU Community Care at trucare.org.

Stories showing the many ways hospice makes more special moments possible can be found at www.momentsoflife.org.

TRU Community Care serves Boulder, Louisville, Lafayette, Broomfield, Erie and beyond. TRU Hospice of Northern Colorado offers services in Greeley and extends to Weld and Larimer counties. Additional services include grief support, which is available to anyone in the community free of charge. It is a privilege for us to help those who are grieving regain their balance and resume healthy living. Grief groups include adult, teen and child as well as equine therapy. At TRU Community Care, we add life to days, because that’s what TRUly matters. The sooner you call, the sooner we can help – 303.442.0961 or visit trucare.org.

TRU Hospice Thrift Shop Wins Best of Boulder County

September 27, 2016 by TRU Community Care

The people of Boulder County have spoken. TRU Hospice Thrift Shop, located at 5565 Arapahoe Ave. in Boulder, won Best Recycled Goods/Thrift Shop in the Boulder County Gold People’s Choice Awards this year.

Members from the Board of Directors—along with interim CEO Pat Mehnert and Vice President of Philanthropy Annette Mainland—greeted customers on Sunday, September 25 with free donuts and coffee.

The thrift shop exists to support the mission of TRU Community Care: to ensure that everyone in our community can live with advanced illness as comfortably, confidently, and fully as possible.

“Its sole purpose is to support what we do in our hospice program. We bring them peace, and space, and the ability to say goodbye in the way they want to.” said Annette Mainland.

For each item purchased at the thrift shop in Boulder proceeds are filtered directly back to TRU Community Care. Thanks to our loyal customers, the work of TRU is extending to the local community with each treasure that leaves our store.

We are grateful to our customers for their continued support, and we thank you for voting us Best Recycled Goods/Thrift Shop in Boulder!

We’re always looking for volunteers in our thrift shop! In as little as two hours per week, you can make a difference in our community and meet new friends. Contact the thrift shop for more information: 303.604.5353 or email store manager Lynn McCullough.

TRU Hospice Thrift Shop Promotes Zero Waste With Eco-Cycle

August 23, 2016 by TRU Community Care

Last week, Mel Gilles of Eco-Cycle pulled into the parking lot of TRU Hospice Thrift Shop eager to pick up not the first, but the second large donation of boxes containing used T-shirts. Why so many shirts, you ask? Eco-Cycle is celebrating its 40th birthday this year, and as part of the celebration they are printing shirts with their logo and other messaging. Rather than purchase brand new shirts, Eco-Cycle reached out to TRU Hospice Thrift Shop Manager Lynn McCullough to see if there was an opportunity to partner and rescue used items before they hit the landfill. As luck would have it, there was!

Both Eco-Cycle and TRU Community Care are celebrating their 40th anniversaries this year. You can get in on the fun by purchasing tickets to TRU’s annual gala, Peace, Love & PIZZAZ! This year is a 70s-themed disco party!

The thrift shop has donated a total of 400 shirts to Eco-Cycle over the summer. First, at Eco-Cycle’s birthday bash, and now for their upcoming event in September. We’re thrilled to be partnering with such a great organization that is committed to reducing waste in our environment. Bonus? They’re located just right down the street from our thrift shop on Arapahoe Road. We’ve seen Mel sneak in to shop several times during the week. 😉

Mel from Eco-Cycle (left) with Lynn, TRU Hospice Thrift Store Manager (right) with the T-shirt donations.

The TRU Hospice Thrift Shop truck. Got donations? We’ll pick them up!

About the Author

Maria Thomas is the Communications Coordinator for TRU Community Care and TRU Hospice of Northern Colorado. She is a lover of the written word and also is a Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT). With over 15 years’ experience in the health care field, Maria has worked as a medical editor and as managing editor at National Jewish Health in Denver.

Celebrating Four Decades of Service

July 1, 2016 by TRU Community Care

A huge thank you to all that attended our 40th Anniversary Celebration! The celebration was this past Sunday, June 26 and we enjoyed seeing so many of TRU’s supporters attend. The celebration also included the grand opening for our new PACE (Program of All-Inclusive Care of the Elderly) and Grief Services building. PACE is a comprehensive program that helps nursing-home eligible seniors live as independently as possible.

Guests at the event were also able to get a first look at our 40th Anniversary video! We are so grateful for everyone who made the video possible including, Boulder County Hospice founder Beau Rezendes, staff, volunteers, and Blue Mesa Media – thank you all for making this extraordinary video happen!