By: Kansas City Hospice & Palliative Care
When Carolyn Novak’s husband, Al, was living with frontotemporal lobe dementia, her family faced one of the most painful seasons of their lives. In his final weeks, Kansas City Hospice & Palliative Care provided care that brought comfort, dignity, and peace — not only for Al, but for everyone who loved him.
Al Novak’s granddaughter dances while
his son plays the violin.
Like many, Carolyn didn’t initially understand what hospice care truly offered. She associated it with a hospital setting and the very last days of life. Instead, hospice care met Al where he was most comfortable: at home. Because services were available when their doctor recommended them, the family was able to say “yes” at the right time — easing Al’s symptoms, relieving the strain of constant caregiving, and allowing his final weeks to be filled with their loving presence rather than exhaustion.
That support extended to the entire family, including Al’s young grandchildren. In the familiarity of home, they were able to sing, dance, share artwork, and say goodbye in loving and natural ways. These moments, Carolyn reflects, were only possible because compassionate hospice care surrounded them.
What Carolyn didn’t realize at the time was that donor-supported care wouldn’t end with Al’s death.
In the months following, grief arrived quietly — and then all at once. A simple check-in call from a Kansas City Hospice social worker became a turning point, reminding Carolyn that she didn’t have to navigate loss alone. Through individual grief counseling and later a support group, she found understanding, connection, and space to heal — without timelines or expectations.
Programs like Hope Through the Holidays and Circle of Lights continued to offer comfort during especially tender moments. Standing among thousands of glowing luminaries at the annual Circle of Lights event, Carolyn felt surrounded by a community that understands loss and honors
every life.
Al with his son while receiving care at home from Kansas City Hospice & Palliative Care.
Stories like Carolyn’s reflect why Kansas City Hospice & Palliative Care exists. Donor generosity ensures expert, compassionate care is available when families need it — in the place patients call home — and that grief support continues long after the funeral, when the loneliness can
feel deepest.
These services are deeply personal. They matter. And they’re possible because our community chooses to care.
If you’d like to learn more about the Novak family’s hospice experience or to make a gift to help provide compassionate care and healing support for families across our community, please
click here.
Posted in Compassionate Care, Kansas City Hospice, Stories of Support