The Langeland Family Funeral Homes began recognizing Hospice Caregivers and the amazing work they do. In 2016 as they began selecting a Hospice Caregiver each month from nominations submitted on behalf of those who want to recognize a special Hospice Caregiver. On October 11, 2023, Langelands continued this tradition by holding a banquet in honor of each of the monthly award winners and selected the Langeland Hospice Caregiver for 2023. This year, Danielle Lucas was chosen as the 2023 Langeland Hospice Caregiver at the banquet. Danielle is a registered nurse for Centrica Rose Arbor Place. She attended the banquet with her husband, Brent, her mother, Becky, and her granddaughter, Rowen. They were very thrilled when Danielle was announced as the Hospice Caregiver of the Year. “I knew you were going to get it!” said Rowen, Danielle’s seven-year-old granddaughter, after she received the award.
Danielle has worked for Centrica Care Navigators for three years as a case manager and, most recently, for the inpatient unit at Rose Arbor for the last year. Danielle began working towards her hospice career as a single mom when she went back to school to become a nurse later in life. She overcame many obstacles to achieve her goal to be an RN in her 40’s. So, this award is especially sweet as it is another indication of the significance of her hard work by knowing the blessing she is to others. She is doubly blessed because her daughter also works at Rose Arbor and is in the process of completing her nursing degree.
Danielle lives with her husband, Brent, and two dogs, Diego and Louie, in Battle Creek. She deals with the stress of being a hospice caregiver by spending time with her family and friends. Danielle says, “I have the most amazing family that is there for me for the smiles, laughs, and tears that come along with being a hospice caregiver.”
Danielle speaks about the impact working in hospice has had on her. She realizes how short life can be and how life can change in the blink of an eye. She gives us this advice: “Hold your loved ones tight and cherish the time that you have with them. Don’t take life for granted, as tomorrow is never promised.”
Each of the Hospice Caregivers at the Hospice Caregiver Award Banquet has a story. The coordinator for the event asked each of the Hospice Caregiver Award winners to share some information about their role as a Hospice Caregiver. From those responses, she was able to share some special words about each of the monthly award winners.
Phyllis, one hospice monthly winner, worked with a family who was struggling with sharing openly about the impending death of a young mom. With Phyllis’ assistance, the family was able to come together to share in the pain and to begin to support each other in love. Mielko, another hospice worker, built a relationship with one of her clients, who was used to being a care giver and not a care receiver. Initially, the client only allowed Mielko to dust her home as they talked. Later, this developed into daily bodily care for her client, who in her dying days called Mieko her “angel on earth”. Another Hospice Caregiver Dion reported how he saw those he assisted as a Hospice Caregiver: a factory worker who was learning how to put make-up on his dying wife, while holding back the tears; a mother of three, juggling childcare besides caring for her dying husband, trying to be strong on the outside, but falling apart on the inside; and a neighbor caring for a neighbor who has no family. He feels privileged to come alongside and support these people when they feel their worst, but he sees them at their best.
It is Langeland Family Funeral Homes privilege to identify and honor these individuals for all they do to support and encourage those who are dying and their families.
