How Gilchrist's Continuum of Care Helped One Family Focus on What Mattered Most

For Matt Bollinger, compassionate healthcare has always been personal. 

As president of Bollinger Energy and Chair of the Gilchrist Board of Directors, Matt has long supported Gilchrist's mission. But his connection to the organization began years earlier, not in the boardroom, but as the son of a patient. In 2012, Gilchrist cared for his father, Butch, during the final weeks of his life. Years later, when his mother, Mary, needed support through her own serious illness, the Bollinger family once again turned to Gilchrist—this time experiencing firsthand the organization's seamless continuum of care. 

Mary Bollinger, devoted more than two decades of her life to caring for others as a registered nurse, first in the emergency department at GBMC and later as a psychiatric nurse at Sheppard Pratt. "She never stopped being a nurse," Matt recalls. "She loved what she did." 

Mary and her husband, Butch, raised four children—Matt, Mark, John, and Anne—and later cherished time with their six grandchildren. For the Bollinger family, GBMC was more than the hospital where Mary worked. "It was our hospital," Matt says. "All four of us kids were born there, and whenever anyone in our family needed medical care, that's where we went." Years later, that lifelong connection came full circle when Mary's own healthcare journey led her to Gilchrist. 

After developing several serious health conditions, including lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and chronic back pain, Mary found herself caught in what Matt describes as the "medical merry-go-round"—a seemingly endless cycle of specialist appointments, tests, scans, and treatments. "She was done," Matt says. "She was tired of going from doctor to doctor. What she wanted most was to be comfortable and to stay at home." 

That conversation introduced Mary to Gilchrist's continuum of care, which supports patients through geriatric medical care, palliative care, and hospice services as their needs evolve. Rather than navigating separate healthcare providers at each stage of her illness, Mary's care transitioned seamlessly while one team coordinated her journey. "They took care of everything," Matt says. "From managing her medications to helping arrange the equipment she needed, they lifted so much of the stress off our family." 

Most importantly, they honored Mary's wish to remain where she was happiest—at home. "The one thing my mom did not want was another trip to the emergency room or another hospitalization," Matt says. "She made that very clear." 

As Mary's illness progressed, the transition from palliative care to hospice felt natural rather than overwhelming. "It was seamless," Matt says. "There was no added stress or anxiety. We didn't have to start over or explain everything again. We knew what to expect every step of the way."

When Mary's needs could no longer be managed safely at home, she was admitted to Gilchrist Center Towson. "I felt like they were treating my mom as if she were their own mother," Matt says. "The level of care was extraordinary." 

Knowing Mary was comfortable allowed the family to stop worrying about medical decisions and simply spend time together. "We knew she was in good hands," Matt says. 

One of Matt's most treasured memories came during his final visit with his mother while she was still awake. "She said, 'Take care of yourself. I love you.' I told her I loved her, too. She was completely at peace," he recalls. It was their last conversation. 

Looking back, Matt encourages other families not to wait until a crisis to seek support. "I would tell anyone with a loved one facing a serious illness to get Gilchrist involved sooner rather than later," he says. "You'll have more quality time with your loved one because you're not worrying about the care. You're simply able to be together." 

For Matt, the experience reinforced what compassionate healthcare can mean—not only for patients, but for the families who walk alongside them. To learn more about Gilchrist's continuum of care, visit gilchristcares.org.