NEWTON, NC—In a powerful demonstration of its mission to support compassionate, whole-person care, Carolina Caring Foundation has awarded a $1,000 Gift Back grant to fund cardio-pulmonary equipment for patients served through Carolina Caring’s Palliative Care program.
This grant was born after program leaders identified a critical gap among palliative patients who faced serious health challenges but could not afford the basic monitoring tools vital to their symptom management. While hospice patients often receive these medical supplies at no cost, palliative patients do not qualify for those same benefits—causing barriers to care.
The Gift Back grant closes that gap.
Carolina Caring Foundation used the $1000 to fund numerous medical devices: 19 scales, 12 electronic blood pressure cuffs, and 10 pulse oximeters, all provided at no cost to the Palliative Care program or its patients. The supplies are available to care teams on-site at the hospice house, ensuring that patients can access this vital equipment without worry.
“It’s a good feeling knowing that we can help patients monitor their symptoms and give them more control over their health, even if they cannot afford the medical equipment for their home,” said Cathy Lewis, Director of Serious Illness Clinical Team, Carolina Caring.
Patients and their families report a new sense of confidence and empowerment as they use the equipment to track weight, blood pressure, and oxygen levels, which are key indicators of cardio-pulmonary symptoms.
Sherry Revis, Nurse Navigator, Carolina Caring, has witnessed the grant’s impact firsthand. “I have had three patients so far that have needed scales,” Revis shared. “They appreciate this new access to devices that could very well save their lives, and I see more of their excitement as they tell me they have lost weight.”
Behind this simple act of giving is a powerful message: palliative care goes beyond expert medical attention to see the whole person, ensuring that patients are equipped with the knowledge, support, and resources that can help them maintain quality of life.
“Our Foundation wanted to show, in a tangible way, how donor dollars directly support our patients,” said Tara Bland, Executive Director, Carolina Caring Foundation. “By listening to our clinical teams and identifying what would make the greatest difference for patients, we were able to provide a practical solution that reflects the heart of what we do: ensuring that all patients can obtain the full benefits of compassionate, holistic care.”
Each scale, cuff, and oximeter represents the generosity of donors who believe that everyone deserves the chance to live better and feel cared for.
The Gift Back grant is just one way that Carolina Caring Foundation helps the organization serve its patients with compassion and dignity. To learn more about the mission of Carolina Caring Foundation, opportunities to get involved, or how your gift can support patients and families in your community who face serious illness, visit carolinacaring.org/our-foundation/.
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ABOUT CAROLINA CARING
Founded in 1979, Carolina Caring is an independent, community-based, nonprofit healthcare provider. It specializes in programs that offer relief from chronic conditions, serious illnesses, and the challenges they bring, including palliative medicine and hospice care for all ages, primary care, and grief counseling. Carolina Caring serves 12 counties across western North Carolina and the Charlotte Region. For more information about the organization and its mission, please call (828) 466-0466 or visit www.carolinacaring.org.
ABOUT CAROLINA CARING FOUNDATION
The Carolina Caring Foundation is a 501c3 nonprofit which supports Carolina Caring by securing funding, cultivating community partnerships, and connecting donors to the needs of patients and families. We serve individuals who may otherwise go without care through the diligent effort of our philanthropic goals: Grief & Healing, Innovation, Life Enrichment, Cardinal Kids, Charity Care, and Capital Expenses.
