When Lisa McClung’s mother entered hospice care with the VNA in March 2025, she couldn’t have imagined how deeply the experience would transform her understanding of care, love, and letting go.
For 20 years, Lisa’s mother, Marie Barile, lived independently in her Palm Beach Gardens home—a symbol of her strength and spirit. When Lisa and her husband, residents of Hutchinson Island, built their home in Vero Beach, they did so with Marie’s comfort and safety at heart. “We built it for her end-of-life care,” Lisa said. “Now I realize that Vero—and the VNA Hospice—were always meant to be part of her story.”
Her mother’s decline had been gradual and heartbreaking. Diagnosed with vascular dementia, she often seemed more alert than she truly was. “It’s such a deceptive disease,” Lisa explained. “She would look fine for moments, but she wasn’t. I was so frustrated because I didn’t know what to do. She was restless all the time. I just needed help.”
That help arrived with VNA Hospice. One of the first caregivers to visit was Michaela. “We talked for quite a while,” Lisa recalled. “She showed me how to give my mom her medications and how to keep her calm. We were trying different combinations daily. It was such a blessing because I just wanted her to sleep peacefully.”
Within days, the VNA team provided everything Marie needed to remain comfortable at home: a hospital bed, a wheelchair, and a portable toilet. “It was a Godsend,” Lisa said. “Before that, my husband and I were lifting her every ten minutes because she thought she had to use the bathroom. Once we found the right medication, she finally became calm. It was such a relief.”
Lisa spoke lovingly of the caregivers who came through their door. “Candace was the first to see her and the last one to see her,” she said. “That last Sunday, Candace looked at her and said, ‘What happened to your mother?’ I knew inside that she didn’t have long, but I couldn’t bring myself to say it. Candace was shocked because not long before, my mom had been so bubbly and chatty.”
During her mother’s final week, another visit left a deep impression on Lisa’s heart. “One of the VNA caregivers came to see us that Saturday before she passed,” Lisa remembered softly. “He sat with us, holding my mother’s hand the whole time. It may have been a couple of hours. He was so comforting. We talked about New York, where we’re both from, and his family, and all the great food in New York. Then he told me that when my mother passed away, I should open the window and let her soul out. That meant so much to me—and I did it.”
When the moment came two days later, Lisa remembered his words. “I opened the window and let her soul go,” she said. “One of my neighbors was walking by and asked what I was doing. I said, ‘I’m letting my mom’s soul go.’ It was peaceful—completely peaceful.”
Throughout those three weeks, VNA Hospice surrounded Lisa and her mother with care, compassion, and dignity. “They helped me understand everything,” Lisa said. “They helped me get through every single day. They answered all my questions, sent supplies to the house, and just listened when I needed to talk. I couldn’t have done it without them.”
Lisa was also deeply moved by the community that had embraced her mother in life. “My mom loved to walk every day, and everyone in the neighborhood knew her. When she couldn’t walk anymore, people sent cards, texts, and notes. She was so friendly—everybody loved her.”
Even the VNA doctor held a special place in Lisa’s heart. “He was wonderful,” she said. “His grandmother had vascular dementia too, so he really understood what we were going through.”
Looking back, Lisa feels profound gratitude for every person who touched her mother’s final days. “Every single caregiver was amazing,” she said. “Candace, Michaela, Rene, Veronica, Jill—they were all wonderful. My heart goes out to each and every one of them.”
Marie passed away peacefully on a Monday morning in March, surrounded by love and light. “It was such a beautiful ending,” Lisa said. “Truly beautiful. VNA Hospice did an outstanding job. They gave my mother peace, and they gave me strength. I didn’t even know what hospice was before—but now, I can’t imagine going through something like that without them.”
