The Family Caregiver Blog

When a loved one begins hospice care at home, families often have one very practical question: Will someone from hospice be here 24 hours a day? It's an important question, especially when your loved one can no longer safely be left alone. The short answer is usually no. Hospice provides support and access to care 24 hours a day, but that does not normally mean a hospice nurse or aide stays in the home around the clock. Understanding that difference can help families know wha

For some people, retirement means slowing down. For Peggy Gaines, it meant finding a new way to serve. After spending 31 years as an educator in the St. Joseph School District, Peggy could have easily settled into a quieter life. Instead, she became a volunteer with the American Red Cross and began a second chapter that would take her from house fires in Northwest Missouri to some of the largest disasters in the country and beyond. Today, Peggy Gaines is the August 2026 recip

Some people spend a lifetime building products. Bill Edwards has spent his building people. For more than 40 years, Bill has dedicated his career to Altec Industries, where he has become known not simply as a skilled welder, but as a teacher, mentor, and visionary. While many people count the years until retirement, Bill smiles and says he has no plans to retire at all. He still loves going to work because every week brings new opportunities to meet people and help them succe