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heartstrings quartet playing at the agrace madison campus

HeartStrings, a symphonic quartet, entertains patients at Agrace in February.

Musicians, Volunteers Lift Spirits with Concerts at Agrace

A brisk January afternoon grew measurably warmer as a handful of hospice patients, family members, volunteers and staff took in the shimmering, tropical sounds of steelpan drums at Agrace in Madison. A few weeks later, they were treated to classical favorites from HeartStrings, a Madison Symphony Orchestra quartet that plays here monthly. On St. Patrick’s Day, it was The Kissers’ lively Irish folk songs.

For our patients and their visitors, concerts can brighten difficult days with moments of connection and joy. A core group of trained volunteers helps ensure that any patient on site who wants to attend can get there, whether in a wheelchair, recliner or their own movable bed.

Agrace volunteers at concert for patients

Jim Drury, Mary Haefner, Peter Knight and Marchelle Mertens volunteer to help patients attend concerts at Agrace.

Before each concert, the volunteers coordinate with Agrace staff, going room to room in our inpatient unit and memory care suites to see which patients and visitors are feeling up for a concert. Less than an hour later, an audience is assembled in the dining room and the music can begin.

And so it was on the day Chad Bartell delighted listeners with steelpan drum songs from The Beach Boys and Jimmy Buffet. Some patients had family alongside them, holding their hands or stroking their hair. Others were accompanied by volunteers.

“Music touches everyone, even when it’s hard to come up with words,” explains Marchelle Mertens, who’s volunteered at Agrace since 2017.

the kissers band performing at Agrace in Madison

The Kissers are a St. Paddy’s Day tradition at Agrace.

“Some of the memory care patients are particularly sweet,” Marchelle notes. “I remember one lady who liked to whistle to everything, and she used to whistle to all the concerts. She liked to hold my hand and whistle. It was touching.”

“It’s good medicine,” adds Peter Knight, a longtime companionship volunteer. “It’s relaxing and you can escape.”

“”

Volunteers can bring patients to concerts
in their movable beds.

“You can watch the patients relax,” observes Barb Graham, inpatient unit volunteer coordinator. “Sometimes they’re anxious about going to a concert, especially if they have dementia. Some get very animated and clap to the music and get very vocal.”

“The HeartStrings concerts are breathtakingly beautiful,” she adds. “For a lot of our patients, it’s the last concert they’ll ever hear.”

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Peter recalls, “HeartStrings always does a Christmas program. It’s one of those times when patients and families may realize ‘this could very well be our last Christmas.’  At times, it has been very emotional, in a very peaceful way, with that beautiful music, like when they play ‘Silent Night.’”

“We don’t come into this world alone, we shouldn’t have to go out alone, either,” Marchelle believes. “We should have people around to connect and bring some energy, some distraction. We have people to help with babies and new moms, and we need people to help with the other end of life as well. It’s that circle of life.”

 

""Can Hospice Care Last More than Six Months?

When Jimmy Carter started hospice care at age 98, the former president’s choice raised awareness of this valuable service—and reminded us that he had supported its creation in America. When he died in December at 100, he had been in hospice care for about 19 months.

The window of hospice eligibility opens when a person has a prognosis of six months or less. But some patients, once enrolled, have a slower decline. Every few months, we must certify that they are still medically eligible for hospice. If so, they can keep receiving Agrace’s compassionate care, even after six months have passed.

Tom, a patient’s husband, recently told us he wishes others knew what he learned: hospice care was available to his wife, Julie, sooner than he realized. Agrace has now helped her for a whole year, and he is relieved that she has access to this specialized care.

When a hospice patient has months rather than days of care, it can benefit the whole family. Sally wrote to us in December about her mother, Nancy, who was an Agrace patient for 21 months, which included a move from one care facility to another. Sally wrote: “Through all this time, we were assured that Agrace staff would be with her—and there for us and our families. Your care for Mom was professional and compassionate; your communication to Mom, and to me and my siblings, was clear and thorough. We were able to honor her and meet her wishes with the help of Agrace.”

On behalf of Tom, Julie, Sally, Nancy and so many others, thank you for supporting hospice care and recommending Agrace.

Lynne Sexten photoLynne Sexten
President & CEO

 

2024: See Agrace’s Impact, by the Numbers

Agrace’s Health Care Services

Hospice Care  •  Supportive Care  •  Age at Home  •  Adult Day Center  •  Grief Support

18 Counties Served

In 2024, we served residents of 18 Wisconsin counties (covering about 11,000 sq. miles), through five regional offices.

4,526 Hospice Patients

We cared for a total of 4,526 hospice care patients in 2024 and had an average daily census (patient count) of 1,275.

1,790 Supportive Care Visits

In-home Supportive Care consultations helped people live better while they continued treatment for a life-altering illnesses.

23,870 Age at Home Hours

Age at Home caregivers provided 23,870 hours of in-home, non-medical personal care to Dane County seniors, to help them live independently as they age.

120 Adult Day Clients

The Agrace Adult Day Center is a place for companionship, care and fun activities, serving 120 clients (average daily attendance of 27) in 2024.

3,870 Grief Support Clients

Agrace provided grief support to 3,870 bereaved adults and children across the state.

69,158 Volunteer Hours

Our 630 volunteers donated 69,158 hours of service in 2024, filling many different roles.

 

2024: See Agrace’s Impact, by the Numbers

Agrace Foundation/Fundraising

$6.3M Raised

The Agrace Foundation coordinates the philanthropic giving that supports our health care operations, programs and services.

7,298 Donors

We rely on generous community donors to support Agrace’s nonprofit mission of compassionate care.

9,749 Gifts

Gifts to Agrace included memorials, bequests, tributes, planned gifts and more.

1,500+ Event Attendees

All who attend or sponsor events like Race for Agrace, Golf Open and A Round with Agrace show they care about making Agrace's care extraordinary.

$2.7M Thrift Store Sales

The proceeds of four thrift stores and a holiday pop-up shop help support and sustain Agrace's health care services.

102 Patients Supported

Care for All provided funding for 102 patients or clients to receive free or discounted care.

120 Wishes

End-of-life wishes were coordinated and/or funded for 120 hospice patients and their families.

927 Holiday Meals

The Agrace Foundation funds the cost of holiday meals for patients that are cooked, packed and delivered to patients' homes by our staff.

 

""Upcoming Events

March 26, April 23: Mindful Movements Grief Support

Join us to practice self-care in grief through guided gentle stretching (seated or standing), breath exercises, guided relaxation, and moments for reflection through writing. You can choose how much to move, based on your ability. Meets monthly, 9:30 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. at the Agrace Grief Support Center in Fitchburg. If you have questions, contact us at GriefSupport@Agrace.org or (608) 327-7110.

Register here

man and woman in a class setting

April 3, 16, 30: Learning to Live with Dementia

Life can be turned upside down when you are caring for a loved one who has dementia. To help you get your bearings, Agrace offers Learning to Live with Dementia, a new education series. Eight one-hour courses are open to anyone in the community who needs this guidance. The series begins in April with these three topics:

  1. Legal and Financial Decisions: Topics to talk about with your power of attorney for health care; April 3, 2 p.m.
  2. Facility Support when You Need It: Planning for the future, how to find the “right” facility, waiting lists, deciding when to move; April 16, 3 p.m.
  3. Living Alone with Dementia: The effects of dementia and how to cope without a live-in caregiver; April 30, 3 p.m.

You may attend in person at Agrace in Madison or online, using Microsoft Teams. All classes will be repeated throughout the year so you can choose the dates that work best for you.

Go here to see future class offerings, and to register and pay. Questions? Contact us at DementiaSupport@Agrace.org or (800) 553-4289.

Learn more

""April 2: Agrace Giving Day

This 24-hour giving challenge will help Agrace fund essentials that are not covered by insurance, such as community grief support, Care for All (charitable care), dementia support programs and end-of-life wishes for hospice patients. You can show your support at any time throughout the day on April 2 by following along on our Facebook or Instagram pages, or by making a tax-deductible donation on our secure website.

Your gifts of any amount to the Agrace Foundation will help us do wonderful work! 

Donate now
 

Remember Your Loved One with a Lasting Tribute

agrace madison memorial walk butterfly trellisHonor the legacy of a loved one by purchasing a meaningful memorial tribute at Agrace.

Engraved butterflies, available in Madison and Janesville, are displayed on beautiful trellises in our gardens, creating peaceful spaces for reflection and remembrance. Butterflies are displayed for one year, then returned to you as a keepsake. The Memorial Walk in Madison features engraved bricks that become permanent reminders of the lasting impact our loved ones have on our lives.

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The Memorial Walk at our Madison campus, where each engraved brick is a memory you can visit anytime.

To be installed and dedicated this year, your tribute purchase must be complete by June 1. Dedication gatherings are scheduled for early August.

Proceeds of these tributes support programs like Clinical Advancement, which provides scholarships and specialized training to help Agrace’s staff grow in their clinical skills.

Explore options and place your order here. To request an order form by mail, please contact us: giving@Agrace.org or (608) 327-7180.

 

illustration of milwaukee skylineFirst Patients Enroll in Milwaukee County, Now Volunteers Needed

To ensure that we can offer the same high-quality experience in Milwaukee County that Agrace provides across the state, we’re looking for local hospice volunteers. If you live in or near Milwaukee County and are willing to help locally, please visit us here or call (608) 327-7163.

You can also help us by telling your friends and family that Agrace’s care is available in Milwaukee. We hope to connect more people to exceptional, nonprofit care as they face the end of life.

Volunteer with Agrace
 

Learn Ways to Support Grieving People at Work or School

grieving coworkerWhen we encounter grieving people in settings like work, school or community groups, it can be uncomfortable. It’s not like supporting a close friend. We want to be appropriately sympathetic. But what does that look like?

Let Agrace help you build these skills. Our grief education programs can prepare you in advance for times when you need to express sympathy, be supportive of a colleague or client, or process a death that affects many people at work or school. Agrace grief support specialists can come to your location and address your specific need.

""Please check here to see all the programs we can bring to your office, school or community group. It’s a smart way to build skills that show others you care.

Learn more
 

Race or Golf with Us: Sponsors Needed

By sponsoring Agrace events, you or your company can help Agrace provide exceptional care to local people who are aging, facing serious illness or grieving. Proceeds from the events listed below are used to fund programs that benefit our patients and clients.

We invite you to sponsor, participate in or volunteer at one (or all!) of our events across southern Wisconsin. Learn more here.

race for agrace 2025 logo

May 17: Race for Agrace–Dodgeville, Lands’ End Comer Activity Center

June 1: Race for Agrace–Madison, Agrace’s Madison campus

October 18: Race for Agrace–Janesville, Palmer Park

""July 10: A Round with Agrace (Golf Open), Trappers Turn in Wisconsin Dells

September 8: Agrace Golf Open, The Legend at Bergamont in Oregon

 

Create Your Legacy by Designating Beneficiaries

multi-generational family and freewill logo

Planning for the future is one of the most meaningful gifts you can give your loved ones and the causes close to your heart.

Some assets, like IRAs, 401(k)s and life insurance policies, are “non-probate” assets. Instead of going through the complex probate court process, they can pass directly to beneficiaries, if named in advance. This creates a quicker, seamless transfer of funds to the person or organization you choose.

Agrace offers FreeWill, a secure online tool, to simplify the process of naming beneficiaries for these assets. By naming Agrace as a beneficiary, you can create a legacy of compassionate care for our community.

Get started today