October 3, 2024
How a Wife's Hospice Care Prompted a Lasting Legacy
It’s been more than 11 years since Jim Secor of Chariton lost his wife of 30 years, Marge, to COPD. Now 81, Jim still remembers fondly the care Marge received from EveryStep Hospice at their home.
“The heart and lung doctor she was seeing in Des Moines told us it was fairly clear she would not recover and her condition would get worse,” remembers Jim, who says the doctor recommended in-home hospice care so a nurse could come to them, instead of having to drive back and forth to Des Moines regularly. Marge received EveryStep Hospice care in their home for about two years and Jim is grateful.
“That was a fortunate thing,” says Jim, who says the nurses cared for him, as well as Marge. “They had experience with COPD and we could talk about what was coming and what to expect. That helped me a lot. It was good for both of us.”
Jim and Marge had a will and after her death, Jim decided to have it updated. Because of the care Marge received, Jim decided to include EveryStep in his estate planning. “The reason I give donations every year and have put it in the will is that EveryStep was a valuable help to me. And when somebody helps me, I think I ought to help back,” says Jim. “If I can do for EveryStep what it did for me, if I can help a little bit, that's a good thing.”
Jim says he also supports EveryStep because of its breadth of work— from pregnancy, parenting, and refugee and immigrant programs to grief and loss support, and hospice and home care. “EveryStep works in a lot of areas to help people that are having difficulties,” says Jim. “It’s a needed resource for people and I think that's a worthwhile thing to have in today's world.”
For the first time since 2020, the number of Americans with a will has declined, with only about 32% of Americans having an estate plan — a drop of 6% from 2023. Caring.com’s 2024 Wills and Estate Planning Study found 1 out of 4 Americans without a will say they never plan on having one and 40% say they’re waiting until they have a health crisis.
Financial experts say everyone — whatever their health or financial status — should draft a will and estate plan, and designate financial and health care powers of attorney. EveryStep is grateful for people like Jim and many others who have chosen to leave a legacy by including EveryStep in their estate plans. If you have questions about creating a will, you should contact a lawyer and if you would like to inquire about including EveryStep in your estate plans, you may email for more information. You may find information about health care powers of attorney here.
If you need assistance for yourself or a loved one, fill out our confidential, no-commitment Find Care form. An EveryStep staff member will call to discuss your needs.