On Thursday, October 30, TRU Community Care will join Boulder County and community partners in supporting those who have served our country at the annual Veterans Stand Down & Resource Fair. The event will take place from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the American Legion John Harold Buckley Post 32 in Longmont.

Expanding Support for All Veterans

This year marks an important evolution for the Veterans Stand Down event. While previous years focused primarily on veterans experiencing homelessness, the 2025 fair welcomes all veterans seeking resources and support, along with their spouses and dependents. This inclusive approach reflects the community’s commitment to serving every veteran, regardless of their current circumstances.

TRU Brings Critical Resources

TRU  is proud to participate in this countywide initiative organized by the Boulder County Veteran Service Office. Our team will bring several vital services to help veterans and their families plan for the future and access the care they need.

The Conversation Project in Boulder County (TCPBC), a program of TRU, will offer advance care planning support throughout the event. From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., a volunteer lawyer and notary will be available on-site to assist veterans with important legal documents related to their healthcare wishes. This is an invaluable opportunity for veterans to ensure their voices are heard regarding their future care preferences.

Additionally, representatives from TRU’s PACE (Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly), Grief Services, and Hospice & Palliative Care programs will be available to share information and answer questions. These programs provide comprehensive support for veterans and their families, addressing both medical and emotional needs during challenging times.

A Community Coming Together

The Veterans Stand Down & Resource Fair represents a true community effort, bringing together nonprofit agencies, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs services, supplies for those experiencing homelessness, and much more. Attendees will also have access to meals and a wide range of services designed to support veterans’ wellbeing.

For veterans who need transportation to the event, Mobility for All is available at 720-564-2218 or mobilityforall@bouldercounty.gov.

Event Details

When: Thursday, October 30, 2025
Time: 9 a.m.–2 p.m.
Where: American Legion John Harold Buckley Post 32, 315 S. Bowen St., Longmont

Download and share the event flyer

Questions? Contact Lindsay Neville at lneville@bouldercounty.gov

At TRU Community Care, we believe in honoring those who have served by providing compassionate, comprehensive support when they need it most. We look forward to connecting with veterans and their families at this important community event.

TRU Community Care’s We Honor Veterans program is dedicated to ensuring veterans receive the respectful, dignified care they deserve. Through advance care planning, hospice and palliative care, and grief support, we honor the service and sacrifice of our nation’s veterans.

Two Unique Journeys, One Shared Calling

Nina and Katrina started with TRU one year ago and have completed at least 62 contact hours of education in our residency program, along with over 2,000 on-the-job learning hours. As Rachel Stackhouse, Clinical Educator Supervisor, notes, “Few new graduates want to begin their career with hospice, but both Nina and Katrina clearly have the hospice calling and have found their niche within TRU.”

Getting to know them over this year has revealed their unique strengths. “Nina is a practical soul who is so eager to help and wants things to make sense,” notes Rachel. “Katrina is a helper at her core, always happy to assist her team, her patients, and keeps all her ducks in a row. ”

For Katrina, the path to hospice nursing was intentional from the beginning. “What initially drew me to nursing was actually my deep interest in hospice care,” she shares. “I went into nursing school knowing this was what I wanted to specialize in. From early on, I’ve been drawn to this specialty because of the intimate, one-on-one patient care it allows. There’s something profoundly meaningful about being present with someone during such a vulnerable and sacred time in their life.”

Program Evolution and Growth

Since we featured our first residency graduate in August 2023, the program has undergone significant refinement and expansion. We’ve learned that successful resident support requires regular touchpoints with residents, managers, and preceptors. One of our most valuable additions has been monthly lunch meetings where new graduates share both personal and professional experiences while receiving tips and guidance from each other.
These gatherings have proven instrumental in building connections between new graduates and fostering a sense of community. The lunches also strengthen relationships with educators, creating accessible support systems for moments when residents might question their judgment or simply need another nurse’s perspective.

Remarkable Achievements and Milestones

The completion of TRU’s residency program positions these nurses for Board Certification, with the option to pursue Geriatric Board Certification—an additional credential recognizing mastery in specialty nursing. Throughout their first year, both residents have developed crucial skills including autonomous assessment, advanced nursing techniques, physician collaboration, patient advocacy, family education, needs anticipation, time management, and the ability to identify and palliate the various stages of the dying process.

Making Lasting Contributions

Both residents have left their mark on TRU through significant University of Iowa projects. Katrina tackled the complex challenge of antibiotic stewardship in hospice care, developing infection control protocols that balance appropriate treatment with hospice philosophy. Her research has already changed her own practice approach, making her more mindful of prescription stewardship and collaborative infection prevention strategies.
“Through this research, I gained a deeper understanding of how frequently antibiotics are prescribed and how we might better prevent infections through non-pharmacologic means and proactive care,” Katrina explains. “I can say with confidence that the project changed the way I practice. I’m much more mindful now of prescription stewardship and collaborative approaches to infection prevention.”

Nina created a spiritual care guide to help staff navigate different belief systems and values at end-of-life — a project that addressed a need we didn’t even realize existed until she brought the idea forward. Many staff members have already benefited from this valuable resource.

Looking Forward

With Nina and Katrina’s graduation, we’re transitioning from supporting four residents to two, but expansion is on the horizon. This fall, we’ll welcome two additional residents at TRU, and we anticipate an additional 1-2 new graduates from our affiliation with St. Paul’s Senior Services.

The Rewards of Mentorship

“When we start residency, we meet nurses who are hopeful, eager and unsure,” Rachel reflected. “As we move through their first year, we get to experience their growing confidence, coach them through some of their first mistakes, and support them in times when they’re not sure they want to do this work.”

She notes that both Nina and Katrina fully committed to the program and placed their trust in Rachel and Clinical Educator Chloe Brown to guide them effectively. “To see them grounded and growing by the end of the first year is life-giving to us as educators, but also to their preceptors and colleagues,” Rachel says. “They remind all of us how much time it takes to hone the skills in nursing and draws us back to the reason why we wanted to do this work in the first place.”

Despite inevitable challenges, both residents maintained their sense of purpose and emerged stronger. “They held onto their ‘why’ and came through some hard days, stronger and ready to face new challenges,” Rachel observes. “It is so much more rewarding to teach a person to fish, than it is to give them the fish. Thanks to Nina and Katrina’s commitment to this year long journey, that is what we have succeeded in as a team.”

For Katrina, the most meaningful aspect of her work remains the human connection. “What brings me the most satisfaction is being able to truly see and treat people as individuals in a system that too often reduces them to numbers,” she reflects. “I believe our healthcare system frequently overlooks the humanity of patients, and I take pride in doing the opposite—taking the time to understand each person, respect their autonomy, and tailor their care to their unique needs and goals.”

A Foundation for Excellence

As Nina and Katrina officially graduate this July, they carry with them not just the technical skills and clinical knowledge gained through the residency program, but also the confidence and competence that comes from being thoroughly prepared for the challenges and rewards of hospice nursing. They represent the future of compassionate end-of-life care.

Their success reinforces TRU’s belief in the value of the nurse residency program and the organization’s commitment to supporting new graduates who feel called to hospice care. When nurses find their professional home in hospice with proper support and mentorship, patients and families benefit from the dedication and expertise that comes from professionals who have chosen this specialty with intentionality.

Congratulations, Nina and Katrina, on this significant achievement. Your dedication, growth, and contributions to TRU and the broader nursing community exemplify the very best of what the nursing profession has to offer.

Today marks a significant milestone in TRU Community Care’s nearly 50-year journey of serving our community. We’re proud to announce the completion of our strategic affiliation with St. Paul’s Senior Services, a leading nonprofit senior care provider based in San Diego, California.

Strengthening Our Foundation While Expanding Our Reach

Since our founding as Boulder Hospice in 1976, TRU Community Care has remained steadfast in our mission to affirm life at every step of the journey with illness and loss. This affiliation with St. Paul’s Senior Services represents a natural evolution of that commitment—allowing us to strengthen our local presence in Colorado while contributing to expanded care opportunities across the western United States.

“TRU Community Care has served Colorado for over four decades with a focus on compassion, trust, and respect,” said Scott Gresser, who has transitioned into the role of Chief Financial Officer for the affiliated organization while maintaining his deep ties to TRU’s Colorado operations. “Partnering with St. Paul’s Senior Services opens new opportunities to further our mission and invest in the future of community-based senior care.”

What This Means for TRU and Our Colorado Community

This affiliation preserves everything our community values about TRU Community Care. We maintain our nonprofit status, our name, our mission, and most importantly, our strong local presence in Colorado. Samantha Black, our former TRU PACE Executive Director, now serves in an expanded role as Executive Vice President and TRU’s top local executive leader, ensuring continuity in our Colorado-focused leadership and operations.

The partnership brings together two organizations that share remarkably similar values and approaches to care. Like TRU, St. Paul’s Senior Services has decades of experience serving middle- and low-income older adults with compassion and dignity. Together, we now serve more than 5,000 people annually across both states, with approximately 1,130 dedicated staff members.

Building on Shared Leadership and Vision

Our affiliation is led by Michael McHale, formerly TRU’s President and CEO and now President and CEO of the newly affiliated organization. This continuity ensures that TRU’s culture, values, and commitment to Colorado communities remain central to our future direction.

“Our organizations share a deep commitment to dignity, quality of life, and meeting the needs of aging adults with compassion,” said McHale. “This affiliation allows us to extend our reach and strengthen the support systems available to seniors, individuals facing serious illness, and their caregivers across California, Colorado, and beyond.”

Enhanced Services, Greater Impact

The affiliation creates exciting opportunities for TRU to enhance our existing services while developing new healthcare delivery models. Together, we’re focused on expanding telehealth capabilities, investing in person-centered care innovations, and developing approaches that adapt to the evolving needs of aging populations.

Our comprehensive continuum of care—TRU Hospice, TRU PACE, TRU Palliative Care, TRU Grief Services, and Landmark Memory Care—remains unchanged, but now benefits from the financial strength and collaborative opportunities that come with this strategic partnership.

Looking Forward

This affiliation positions TRU Community Care for continued growth and innovation while preserving the local, personal approach that has defined our service to Colorado for nearly 50 years. We’re excited about the opportunities ahead to serve more families, develop new care models, and continue our mission of affirming life at every step of the journey.

For nearly five decades, Colorado families have trusted TRU Community Care during some of life’s most challenging moments. That trust remains at the heart of everything we do, now strengthened by our partnership with an organization that shares our values and commitment to compassionate, nonprofit healthcare.

Setting the Table for Life’s Most Important Conversations

On April 24th, something remarkable happened in TRU’s Louisville conference room. The ordinary meeting space was transformed into an intimate dining area where strangers became community through the simple act of sharing a meal and discussing one of life’s most avoided topics: death.

This special evening was the centerpiece of our recent **Get Around TRUit (GATI)** initiative, a month-long campaign hosted by The Conversation Project of Boulder County (TCPBC) that encouraged TRU employees and volunteers to engage with advance care planning.

More Than Just a Dinner

The Death Over Dinner event brought together a diverse group of TRU staff and volunteers from various roles and age groups. What united us was a shared willingness to explore the nuanced topics of death and dying within a supportive environment. The atmosphere struck a beautiful balance between depth and lightness—there were tears, plenty of laughter, and genuine moments of human connection.

TRU Palliative Care Social Worker Rebecca Cohen shared her reflection on the experience:

 “Death Over Dinner was such a wonderful experience for so many reasons. The people were amazing; there was so much wisdom from multiple generations in the room. It was a gift to learn from others about death and dying in such a supportive, respectful, intimate setting. I appreciated the opportunity and sacred space for my own personal reflection and growth. I left with some real shifts in my ideas and beliefs. I also loved connecting in such a human, heart-centered way. There was a beautiful balance of laughter and tears. You and your team helped create a comfortable space for honesty and curiosity. What an incredible group. Thank you for offering this, and I hope many more people get to benefit from the experience in the future.”

The Power of Shared Stories

The evening reinforced what we at TCPBC have always believed: time spent at the table truly matters—especially when shared with people who are willing to show up, speak openly, and listen with care. Death Over Dinner was a beautiful reminder of the gift of hearing one another’s stories. It was time well spent.

Looking Forward

While the April Death Over Dinner event filled quickly, we’re excited to announce that TCPBC plans to host at least three of these gatherings each year. If you’re interested in participating in a future event, please reach out to Becki Parr, TCPBC Project Coordinator, at beckiparr@trucare.org.

More Than a One-Time Event

The Death Over Dinner event was part of our broader GATI initiative that ran from April 1st to May 1st, coinciding with National Healthcare Decisions Day on April 16th. Though the formal GATI initiative has concluded, the valuable advance care planning materials and free coaching options remain available year-round. To access these resources, visit theconversationprojectinboulder.org and click “Schedule a Free Appointment”

As Ellen Goodman, founder of The Conversation Project, reminds us, “It’s always too soon to start the conversation… until it’s too late.”

Death Over Dinner participants, pictured above

Standing (L-R): Ana Lamarque (volunteer), Laura Rhea (volunteer), Ashley Huck (PACE Home Care Coordinator), Janet Denny (volunteer), Abby Howard (volunteer), Connie Clancy (volunteer), Annyce Mayer (volunteer), Taryn Archer (Admissions Coordinator)

Seated (L-R): Rebecca Cohen (Palliative Care LCSW), Geoff Galbraith (volunteer), Cindy Forsblad (volunteer), Becki Parr (TCPBC Project Coordinator)

Libby has dedicated 21 years to hospice care, with the last 4½ years as a charge nurse at TRU’s Inpatient Unit (IPU). Her days revolve around ensuring comfort for patients and visitors while supporting her team. From managing symptoms to providing emotional support and end-of-life education, Libby approaches each responsibility with deep dedication.

“The power and beauty that exist at the IPU made me feel as if I had found my way home. After 21 years of hospice work, I still feel the same way. Even on the most challenging of days, I can’t see working anywhere else.”

What makes the work special for Libby is the unique environment at the IPU, which she describes as “magical.” She values the family-like bond with her colleagues and appreciates how their diverse skills allow everyone to grow professionally. “I feel supported and heard by all levels of management,” she notes, highlighting TRU’s responsive and approachable leadership.

When asked what she wishes people understood about hospice nursing, Libby offers a profound perspective. While people often call hospice nurses “angels” or “special people,” she sees her role differently: “I am here because I was called and because I was invited.” For Libby, the privilege of being present in life’s most intimate final moments is “beautiful, life-changing, sacred, exhausting, and often mind-blowing soul work.”

Outside of her nursing role, Libby leads a richly creative life as a professional dog photographer at www.furdogruffur.com. She also volunteers at the Colorado Kitty Coalition, enjoys road biking, writes as both a novelist and playwright, reads “endlessly,” and creates “ooooodles of origami.” As she puts it, “This is one beautiful life we are livin’, my friends, and I feel so very blessed.”