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Choosing Hospice Sooner Gave Grandmother More Time with Loved Ones

Ruth Krigbaum Rich knows it sounds counterintuitive when she says that starting VNA Care’s hospice services early actually prolonged her mother Virginia Stone’s life.

By the time hospice began, Virginia’s health had been steadily declining. Dementia with Parkinsonian symptoms had gradually taken her mobility, and a series of what appeared to be transient ischemic attacks, often called mini-strokes, led the family to make a difficult decision. Rather than continue hospitalizations and aggressive interventions that could not change the course of her illness, they chose to focus on comfort.

When VNA Care’s hospice team began visiting Virginia (pictured) in her home, something shifted. 

Nancy Borgatti-Krouse, RN, BSN, carefully monitored every aspect of Virginia’s health, watching for subtle changes and addressing potential problems before they escalated, from managing pain to preventing skin breakdown. With expert symptom management and consistent oversight, crises were avoided. Emergency room visits stopped. The rhythm of Virginia’s days grew calmer.

“To have that level of proactive care improved everything,” Ruth said.

Patients who begin hospice care earlier often live longer with greater quality of life than those who wait. By prioritizing comfort, stabilizing symptoms, and removing the physical and emotional strain of repeated hospitalizations, hospice can ease an enormous burden for both patients and families.

Ruth said she could “trust implicitly” in Nancy’s medical knowledge and clinical skills, and valued her compassion, empathy and ability to truly listen. Nancy also brought “an unusual capacity for balancing a lot of moving parts with total patience,” coordinating seamlessly with Virginia’s private duty caregivers so Virginia could remain where she most wanted to be — at home.

VNA Care’s hospice services extend beyond nursing support. The interdisciplinary hospice team also includes physicians and nurse practitioners, social workers, spiritual and bereavement counselors, hospice aides, and trained volunteers.

Timothy Aznavourian, a hospice spiritual counselor, and Marc Reiss, a hospice volunteer and retired nurse, became steady presences in Virginia’s final months. As her ability to speak had faded, they met her where she was. Knowing she loved music, Timothy played gentle harp instrumentals on his tablet during his visits. Marc read aloud from her books twice a week, filling the room with familiar words and companionship.

The team’s care honored a woman who had lived fully for 92 years. A graduate of Wellesley College, Virginia built a life defined by intellect, leadership, curiosity, and devotion to her three children and four grandchildren. Her career included serving as president of C.B. Fisk, Inc., the Gloucester-based pipe organ building company, fostering a culture where skilled craftspeople and staff felt valued in their work. In retirement, she embraced travel, family gatherings, her beloved golden retrievers, and her many special interests. Her love of genealogy even led her to self-publish a book about her Mayflower ancestry.

But in the final chapter of her life, what mattered most was simpler.

“She was content,” Ruth remembered. “She was very grateful and happy to be at home.”

Because of the proactive, compassionate care provided by VNA Care’s hospice team, Virginia’s end-of-life journey was not defined by crisis, but by comfort and dignity. She passed peacefully at home on Jan. 19, 2026.