Category: Stories

Vern’s Challenges At 80-years old, Vern was hospitalized for chest pain. He also suffered from mild dementia and hearing loss. He was told he would most likely lose his independence and never live on his own again. All he wanted was to go home and ride his lawn mower. Thankfully, Vern and his family turned […]

Baking cookies for the holidays is a family tradition for many. But it was a struggle for Lifespark client Elizabeth, who has Lewy body dementia, a brain disease that causes progressive loss of memory as well as spatial problems and falls. She never thought she’d be able to enjoy that special tradition again. Lifespark had the […]

When Bob and his wife Meg were referred to Lifespark, their physician felt every day was a struggle for them. On the roller coaster of crises, Meg had been in and out of the hospital multiple times, with each hospitalization adding to their mounting health care costs and emotional trauma while slowly robbing Meg of […]

Sparking lives doesn’t happen overnight. There’s a process that takes place before you open yourself up to another person and trust them with your wishes, goals and fears about aging. Mary Schenach has formed a bond with her nurse, Vicki, that has changed their relationship from nurse to ‘surrogate daughter.’ Mary says of Vicki, ‘she’s […]

Rollie and Doris are husband and wife, an active couple throughout their 68 years of marriage. Ping pong games, swimming, faith, love – these are what motivated them to be a strong team together. At 91 and 93, they are discovering that some of the activities they used to love are still possible with a […]

Erna Collins had a health scare that nearly cost her life. Three years later, Erna is getting ready to celebrate her 98th birthday in October and attended a family reunion this past summer. How? Lifespark, helped create a new pathway. Mary, a nurse who is Erna’s Life Care Manager, visits Erna weekly, monitoring her health […]

At 96, Evelyn Macy sparked her life by getting her ears pierced. But getting there was not a straight path. Kristine, a registered nurse who has been Evelyn’s nurse for the past three years, shared that Evelyn is a stoic and serious woman. As part of the regular Lifespark Experience discovery, Kristine learned that Evelyn lost […]