By Lindsey Buddelmeyer
Leadership Education & Training Specialist, Human Resources – Blanchard Valley Health System
It was the last meaningful conversation that I would have with my grandfather. It involved a deeper level discussion about what it means to be a caregiver for a loved one facing Alzheimer’s disease. He looked at me with his pale blue eyes and said, “Now take our story and do something great. If anyone can take our pain and do something to help others, it is you.” As a granddaughter, educator and an occupational therapist, I have taken these words to heart. I think of my grandparents daily in the work that I do and the privilege I have had in serving others as a healthcare provider and educator. A critical and important part of health care I learned about during our journey with Alzheimer’s disease involved two different models of care: palliative and hospice care. While many believe palliative care and hospice to be the same, they are actually quite different.