In this episode of Our Purpose – The LTC Podcast, host Kip Kruger, along with co-host and Principal Health Systems CEO James Dieter, sits down with Garrett King, owner and CEO of Valor Hospice, to explore what it truly means to help people die with dignity.

Garrett shares his journey from growing up in a hospice family, to working in large corporate hospice systems, to launching a family-owned hospice built around compassion, flexibility, and values-driven leadership. He explains why Valor staffs for need instead of rigid matrices, how they equip families for the dying process, and why he sees hospice as a calling—not just a business.

In this episode, we cover:

• What hospice really is (and isn’t)
• “Quality of life” when a prognosis is six months or less
• The art of death and dying and preparing families for the transition
• Cultural differences in how families show up at the end of life
• How Valor builds a team that aligns with its mission and values
• The emotional weight and purpose of hospice work
• The impact of Medicaid delays and reimbursement challenges on family-owned hospices
• Entrepreneurship, resilience, and building an “all-star team” in healthcare

If you’re in long-term care, hospice, nursing home administration, or supporting a loved one through end-of-life, this conversation offers both practical insight and deep encouragement.