(Spirit Lake)– Special honors for a 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 heatlhcare’s Hospice Volunteer Coordinator since August 2004, was nominated by Lakes Regional Healthcare Director of Community Health Micki Kohorst. Kohorst says she nominated Karstens due to her commitment to hospice and her reassuring persona that puts patients and their families at ease.
Lakes Regional Healthcare has been providing care locally to terminally ill patients of all ages and with various types of illnesses over eight years. Lakes Regional Healthcare volunteers provide services such as companionship, reading, writing letters, running errands, meal preparation, housework, yardwork, as well as respite care for hospice patients and relief for caregivers.
As Hospice Volunteer Coordinator, Karstens is responsible for coordinating volunteer visits to patients; participates in inter-disciplinary group meetings and assists with continuing education for hospice volunteers.
