At HopeWest, we often say, “We meet you where you are.” If you’ve experienced our care, you’ve likely heard this phrase. But what does it really mean?
When you choose to trust HopeWest, whether for yourself or a loved one, our goal is to understand your needs, honor your wishes, and create a plan of care special to you.
For more than 30 years, HopeWest has had the privilege of serving western Colorado. Thanks to the support of our community, we’ve been able to grow, adapt to the ever-changing landscape of healthcare, and respond to the needs of those living here. Yet through all of this, one thing has never changed: we care for you in the ways you want to be cared for.
Until you’ve been in the shoes of a caregiver for a loved one with dementia, a family member searching for support for an aging parent, a spouse cherishing the last months with their life partner, or a parent guiding a child through unimaginable loss, “meeting you where you are” is hard to describe.
Jenni Neil, Director of HopeWest programs in Delta, has had the honor of witnessing countless examples of HopeWest’s mission in action. But one memory, even after nearly a decade, still stays with her today.
One Saturday in December, Jenni’s teenage son, a volunteer at HopeWest, spent the day visiting patients with her. With his guitar slung over his shoulder, he joined her as they stopped at
several homes.
During each visit, he would play Christmas songs. Some patients tapped their feet, others hummed along, and some closed their eyes as the gentle music filled the room.
She vividly remembers visiting one particular hospice patient who listened quietly, soaking in every note. After a few songs, the woman softly asked, “Do you know this hymn?” and began to sing. Though Jenni’s son didn’t recognize the hymn, he smiled and strummed along, finding the chords to match her voice.
Tiny streams of joyful tears began to stream down the patient’s cheeks. For the patient, this music was a gentle opportunity for reflection on her beautiful life, as well as many of the happy moments that shaped her.
Something as simple as playing a song for someone at the end of her life demonstrated how powerful music truly is. It wasn’t just a beautiful song; it was a gift.
That is what “meeting you where you are” looks like. Sometimes it’s the steady hands of a nurse offering reassurance. Sometimes it’s a CNA tenderly providing personal care. And sometimes, it’s a teenager strumming his guitar, providing comfort in a way words cannot.