LRH Hospice Volunteer Julie Karstens Honored
Lakes Regional Healthcare Hospice volunteer Julie Karstens was recently honored at a Hospice and Palliative Care Association of Iowa recognition ceremony in Des Moines. Karstens, who has been Lakes Regional Healthcare’s Hospice Volunteer Coordinator since August 2004, was nominated by Lakes Regional Healthcare Director of Community Health Micki Kohorst. Kohorst said she nominated Karstens due to her commitment to hospice and her reassuring persona that puts patients and their families at ease. She said, “Julie is a strong advocate for hospice. She’s reliable and flexible and you can always count on her to do what she says she’ll do.”
Lakes Regional Healthcare has been providing care locally to terminally ill patients of all ages and with various types of illnesses for over eight years. Lakes Regional Healthcare Hospice volunteers provide different services such as companionship, reading, writing letters, running errands, meal preparation, housework, yard work, as well as respite care for hospice patients and relief for their caregivers. As Hospice Volunteer Coordinator, Karstens is responsible for coordinating the volunteer visits to hospice patients, participating in inter-disciplinary group meetings, and assisting with continuing education for the hospice volunteers.
Karstens was surprised and pleased to learn she was recognized for her efforts. She said, “I truly enjoy working with everyone at Lakes Regional Healthcare Hospice. They are special people, such a caring and dedicated team. I thank them for the honor of recognizing me.”
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