For 14 years, Tom and Carol Hanson called Cedar Community’s independent living apartments home, building friendships and enjoying an active life together.
When Tom became seriously ill, their needs changed. Through Cedar Community’s relationship with Commonheart Home Health and Hospice, Tom and Carol were able to access hospice support while remaining surrounded by the community and people they knew.
For Carol, that support brought comfort during one of the most difficult chapters of their lives.
Finding a Home at Cedar Community
Tom and Carol moved to Cedar Community after Tom began experiencing health concerns while they were living in Florida.
At Cedar, they found new friendships, activities, and a strong sense of belonging.
Carol also continued sharing her love of music, playing piano for services and gatherings throughout the community.
As Tom’s health needs became more serious, the couple entered a different stage of their journey together.
Turning to Hospice Care
When Tom’s oncologist recommended hospice care, Carol reached out to Commonheart Home Health and Hospice, which has a referring relationship with Cedar Community.
From their first meeting, Carol says she was grateful for the compassionate and professional support Tom received.
Commonheart uses a team approach to hospice care, with the patient and family at the center of an individualized care plan.
The hospice team may include the patient’s physician, a hospice physician, registered nurses, social workers, chaplains, certified nursing assistants, and volunteers working together to support physical, emotional, and spiritual needs.
Help When the Family Needed It
From the beginning, Carol was reassured that help was only a phone call away.
She needed that help within days.
At three o’clock one morning, Carol called Commonheart. Within 30 minutes, someone arrived to assist the family.
“I was so amazed at the care that anybody who walked in from Commonheart provided. They wanted us to know them, and they wanted to know our family,” Carol says.
From that first experience, Carol felt confident in the decision.
The hospice team visited twice each week to check on Tom and help ensure his comfort.
But hospice support extended beyond Tom himself.
“It meant everything to our family,” Carol says. “When they realized the caregiving was wearing on my daughter Bonnie and me, Commonheart helped us move Tom to Cedar Community’s respite care.”
Tom spent five days in respite care and passed away two days later.
Support That Continues After Loss
Today, Carol continues to call Cedar Community home.
Life without Tom is different, but she remains surrounded by neighbors, friends, and team members who continue to support her.
Though participating in activities without Tom by her side is not always easy, Carol continues to take part in community life and stay connected with the friendships they built together.
She describes those friends and neighbors as an extended family.
“Commonheart and Cedar Community offer peace, comfort, and love when you need it most,” Carol says.
Carol’s story shows that support at Cedar Community is not limited to a particular service or stage of life. It can also mean having familiar people, relationships, and resources nearby when life changes unexpectedly.
Expanding Care Through Partnerships
Cedar Community began its referring relationship with Commonheart Home Health and Hospice in 2023 as part of an ongoing effort to expand care and service options available to residents.
Cedar Community also partners with Curana Health to provide primary care services for residents.
Through Curana Health, services may include preventive care, chronic disease management, sick and injury visits, care coordination, and access to care teams.
These services are available within assisted living and memory care residences, as well as through Cedar Community’s Cedar Ridge Campus for independent living residents.
Care Through Every Chapter
Tom and Carol’s experience reflects something families often discover as needs change: care is about more than clinical services alone.
It is also about knowing who to call, having support nearby, receiving help as a caregiver, and remaining connected to a community through illness, loss, and the chapters that follow.
For Carol, Cedar Community continues to be home, surrounded by the people who shared life with both her and Tom.
Originally published in the Winter 2026 issue of Live More magazine.
