ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Linda Boyd’s home is decorated to perfection. From joyful Christmas decorations to meaningful mementos, everything has a place in her home.
What You Need To Know
Linda Boyd’s husband, Mike, was told by doctors in 2024 there were no options left. They decided to use hospice care to make Mike comfortable in those last remaining days
VITAS Healthcare expanded into Pasco County a few years ago and into Pinellas County at the end of 2025. Their goal is to bring compassionate end-of-life care to families
While hospice care is a covered Medicare benefit, only 61% of eligible Floridians use it
Some of those decorations bring back memories, like a blanket with pictures across it.
The pictures are of her and her late husband Mike, who died much sooner than anyone planned.
“He was in denial for the leaky valve, so he didn’t want to get it fixed, unfortunately,” said Boyd.
In October 2024, he ended up in the hospital with congestive heart failure.
“He was in St. Joseph’s for over two weeks, and they did everything that they could,” said Boyd.
The hospital connected Linda and Mike to hospice care, a benefit no one is really ready for but made all the difference.
“I think the thing that meant the most to me was the fact that I could get him home here because that’s what he wanted,” said Boyd.
Mike was brought home on a Tuesday, and he was gone by Saturday.
An urn containing the ashes of Mike Boyd. (Spectrum News/Erin Murray)
The hospice care benefited the Boyd’s in a big way, but data from the Research Institute for Home Care shows close to 40% of people eligible for the hospice care benefit in Florida are not using it.
“One of the most common things we hear is, I wish I knew about this benefit sooner,” said Kathleen Coronado, who is the vice president of VITAS Healthcare’s operations in South Florida.
Coronado said VITAS just recently began offering services in Pinellas County, after it was identified as having an underserved population.
“Hospice is a benefit covered by Medicare Part A, and it’s covered at 100%,” said Coronado.
Linda did not have to pay a thing for all the care Mike was given by hospice care.
“It was totally covered. And like I said, I mean, they were amazing,” said Boyd.
Amazing in a time full of stress and heartbreak.
While Linda works to keep living her life, she keeps Mike’s memory with her always. She wears a necklace that is etched with a small print of his hand.
“I wanted his hand close to my heart,” said Boyd. “I wear it all the time. I’ve got that and I’ve got my cross and he’s with me every day.”
Linda Boyd’s necklace that is etched with a hand print of her late husband. (Spectrum News/Erin Murray)
VITAS Healthcare leaders say they are working to close the gaps in Pasco and Pinellas counties when it comes to hospice care coverage.
They said they provide 24/7 care, grief support and other specialized services.