<p>In this episode, hosts Peter Murphy Lewis and Jalene Carpenter sit down with the heart and soul of The Grace Space, a hospice facility in Nebraska. Kelly Sparr, the founder who spent seven years bringing her vision to life, and Jace Cooley, a dedicated CNA turned nursing student, discuss the profound beauty found in end-of-life care. From the unconventional path Jace took from installing sprinklers to guarding souls, to the vital role of Pickles the therapy dog, this conversation reframes hospice as a place of deep human connection, dignity, and even joy.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Key Takeaways:</strong></p><p><br></p><p>00:00 Introduction.</p><p>03:12 Documentary episodes help comfort families from long distances.</p><p>07:53 Seeing oneself on screen reveals personal communication strengths.</p><p>11:01 CNA work is a challenging yet rewarding career.</p><p>17:40 Pickles the dog provides comfort that humans cannot.</p><p>21:11 Employee retention requires personalized connection and genuine listening.</p><p>25:00 End-of-life care is a raw and vulnerable privilege.</p><p>27:47 Education helps normalize death as a beautiful transition.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Resources Mentioned:</strong></p><p><br></p><p><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelly-sparr-895284102/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">Kelly Sparr</a></p><p>https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelly-sparr-895284102/</p><p><br></p><p><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/jace-cooley-07301a389/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">Jace Cooley</a></p><p>https://www.linkedin.com/in/jace-cooley-07301a389/</p><p><br></p><p><a href="https://thegracespace.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">The Grace Space | Website</a></p><p>https://thegracespace.com/</p><p><br></p><p><a href="https://www.southlakevillagerehab.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">Southlake Village Rehab | Website</a> </p><p>https://www.southlakevillagerehab.com/</p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p>Thank you for listening to “People Worth Caring About.” If you found value in this episode, please subscribe and leave a 5-star rating to help others discover these important stories.</p><p><br></p><p>For more information and to connect with our guests, visit PeopleWorthCaringAbout.com.</p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p>#HealthcareLeadership #HospiceCare #PeopleWorthCaringAbout</p>