“It’s not a number. It’s very much a personal experience.”

That’s the attitude the folks at Aspen Hospice and Palliative Care in Quitman say they maintain. Haven’t heard of them? That’s OK; Aspen is new to Quitman. However, it isn’t a new company. In fact, Regional Director of Business Development Kayla Howard says that Aspen has 24 branches across the nation. What the local branch might lack in antiquity, it makes up for in a professed desire to serve the elderly and vulnerable in Wood County.

“My ‘why’ is that moment of vulnerability, when no one else is around but me and that person (who needs care),” said Howard. “The human side of everybody comes out at that point; and it’s very personal, and it’s very sacred. And every time I go do it, I leave there thinking, ‘OK. I’m where I’m supposed to be.’”

Aspen is a company that does not have an in-patient office. Rather, they say, they want to meet people “where they are,” literally. That looks like sending an aide, a nurse, a chaplain and whoever else is needed to a resident’s home or care facility a few times a week to be there for and with them.

“Whatever the need is, (we do),” said Howard. “So if that’s changing bedding or bathing them or just sitting with them and talking to them, get to know them, that’s important to us. We try to make sure our aides don’t have too many patients (each), because we want them to spend that time with them.”

In addition to caring for the elderly or those on hospice care, Howard says they also want to be there for those who are grieving in Wood County, whether they are associated with Aspen or not. That’s why they’re beginning Heart Huddle, “a safe place to grieve, heal or just breathe.”

“A ‘come-as-you-are’ space – no pressure, no performance, no pretending,” says the bulletin for the new group. “Holidays hit different when you’re grieving…. Whatever version of you we get that day is enough. You don’t owe anyone ‘strong.’ You don’t have to be OK to be welcome.”Come one, come all, they say: whether it’s someone in need of hospice care, a little bit more help physically, or just someone grieving, they have something to offer. Check out Aspen’s Facebook page for details.