When Stanley Bowman, affectionately known as “Mr. B,” was in his early 70s, he started showing early signs of Alzheimer’s disease. At first, his memory loss was minimal, forgetting names or driving directions, but over time his symptoms worsened.

“It seemed like one day Mr. B was fine and the next, things were different,” said Lawrenceburg resident Bev Bowman as she reflected on her husband’s last few years of life. “It’s so hard to watch someone you love go downhill. I didn’t want to call hospice at first. Mr. B was a private man. I felt like it was my job to take care of him, but when things got too hard to handle on my own, my kids encouraged me to call.”

Hospice care is designed for people who are nearing the end of life. Unlike other medical care, the focus of hospice isn’t to cure patients, but instead control their pain, make them comfortable and ensure the highest quality of life for whatever time remains.

“I can’t say enough about our hospice nurses,” said Bev. “I felt like I’d known them forever. They never overstepped their boundaries. They taught me how to feed him and manage his medications. They helped me understand his needs and how to calm him down when he was frustrated. During his final days, they prepared me for what to expect. They were like angels. I have total respect for them.”

Married for 59 years, Bev has been by her husband’s side through the good and the bad and she’s grateful she could keep him at home with her until the end.

“When we got married, we had very little money, but we always worked together,” said Bev. “We raised our family and built a good life. He called me his sweetheart. You’re never truly ready to let go, but I’m glad I could care for him at home. I would do it all over again.”