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Hospice Caregiver Award

The work of a hospice caregiver often transcends any description of kindness, service and ministry. It takes a very special kind of compassion and dedication. A very special person.

Each month Langeland Family Funeral Homes selects an individual as a recipient of the Hospice Caregiver Award from your nominations. The person chosen as the monthly award winner receives a gift card to be used for whatever they desire. Their name is also engraved on a leaf on the Hospice Caregiver tree at the Westside location. Yearly, Langeland Family Funeral Homes holds a reception to honor the past year's award recipients. During the reception, one of these special people will be selected as “Caregiver of the Year”. The Caregiver of the Year recipient will receive a gift certificate for a very special evening and a night away.

We invite nominations from peers, friends, patients and their families, and others who feel a particular person excels in his or her profession. Through your nomination, you can provide a special honor to someone who gives so much.

Please take a moment to nominate an individual whose care has touched your heart. This person may be a hospice professional physician, nurse, chaplain, social worker, grief counselor, CNA, healthcare administrative professional or a volunteer.

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SUBMIT A NOMINATION

VIEW PAST WINNERS BY YEAR, OCTOBER TO AUGUST:

2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016

Hospice Caregiver of the Year 2022 - Nikki Warner

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This year Nikki Warner a Certified Nurse Assistant for Centrica Care Navigators was selected as the Langeland 2022 Hospice Caregiver of the Year. Nikki originally received the monthly Hospice Caregiver Award for January 2022. Nikki has worked in hospice for five years. She is dedicated to her job and was so surprised to receive the yearly award for 2022. Nikki says she wants to do the best for her clients, she treats them like she is caring for her own family. She also feels that so many in her profession – CNA’s, nurses, chaplains, and others are so deserving of this recognition she has a hard time receiving it for herself. “I just do my job and I love what I do”.

Nikki shared a special story from her numerous special memories with her patients. Nikki cared for one man for three years. He had dementia and continued to decline over the years which she cared for him. He has a special place in her heart. He taught her about the Pink Panther movies, asking her, “Does your Dog bit?” She was confused at first because she did not bring her dog to the appointment, this then became a special joke between them. His wife would introduce Nikki as, “Your Girlfriend is here” and he called Nikki “Nikki Canna” – because her nametag said Nikki CNA. Karen Rich, who initially nominated Nikki, wrote; “As a hospice caregiver, Nikki has a heart the size of Texas and a disposition that brings out the smiles and humor in what is often a dismal situation.” These special relationships Nikki develops with her patients make her service so much more than a job.

Nikki attended the banquet with her parents Larry and Marie Warner and her co-worker Dion Platz-Marcum. She lives in Portage with her goldfish (who is in a pond outside) and her two dogs. Nikki unwinds from the stress of being a caregiver with her hobbies – hunting, fishing and keeping in touch with family and friends on “Talk Tuesdays” and going to the Barn Theatre on Friday nights. 

Langeland Family Funeral Homes is so thankful to Nikki and all the Hospice Caregivers who give so much of themselves to make sure those who are suffering have the support and guidance they need.  

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CLICK ON A TAB BELOW FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE WINNER.

Colleen Minarovic was nominated by Alison Young for the Langeland Hospice Caregiver Award

I'm choosing to nominate Colleen for a lot of reasons. She sees a resident in the facility where I am employed and has seen other residents there in the past. Colleen is one of the most caring, selfless humans I have ever met. She makes it clear that taking care of people is more than just a job to her. Her positive attitude and calmness when she arrives at our facility never goes unnoticed. Our residents look forward to her visits. Even residents who are not hers. She takes time to bond with her residents to show them that she truly cares about them, who they are and who they were. She always brings a bag full of treats, nail polishes, lotions and other things to make them feel pampered and beautiful. She is a great advocate and we feel confident that she will always communicate with the hospice nurses to make sure a resident needs are met. Colleen is very reliable, even during the worst Michigan winter days, she still walks through that door with a smile. Her hard work and dedication never goes unnoticed and many would agree with me when I say I wouldn't hesitate to have her care for any of my loved ones.

Alison Young

Left to Right: Dana Naumann, Bereavement Care Coordinator, Langeland Family Funeral Homes Burial & Cremation Services and Colleen Minarovic, Certified Nurse Assistant, Promedica Hospice.

Colleen received the Hospice Caregiver Award for September 2023.

Thank you Colleen for all you do as an exceptional Hospice Caregiver!

Colleen received The Crystal Heart Award and a gift card to be used for whatever she would like.

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622 South Burdick St.
| Kalamazoo, MI 49007
|
Tel: 1-269-343-1508
411 East Centre Ave
| Portage, MI 49002
|
Tel: 1-269-343-1508
3926 S. 9th St.
| Kalamazoo, MI 49009
|
Tel: 1-269-343-1508
205 East Maple St.
| Climax, MI 49034
|
Tel: 1-269-746-4206

You are welcome to call us any time of the day, any day of the week, for immediate assistance. Or, visit our funeral home in person at your convenience.

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