In May 2012, I traveled with my Mother and Father to the Cleveland Clinic. My Father, a “young” 74-year-old gentleman was scheduled for a complicated open heart surgical procedure, a redo coronary artery bypass grafting of 3 vessels and an aortic valve replacement for critical aortic stenosis. Although we knew he would be in good hands at the Cleveland Clinic, everyone was very anxious about the procedure. In addition, my parents would be more than 300 miles from home. My husband and I decided I should travel with my parents and stay the entire time. I cannot tell you how beneficial this was for all involved and how Hardin’s article, “Engaging Families to Participate in Care of Older Critical Care Patients” (June 2012:35–40), helped me see how the staff at Cleveland Clinic actualized the AACN’s Synergy Model for Patient Care during our stay.

The nursing staff recognized that my Mother,...

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