COZAD, NE – Joann Parker of Cozad, a volunteer for Central Plains Home Health & Hospice, was recently honored as an outstanding volunteer at the annual Nebraska Hospice and Palliative Care Association (NHPCA) banquet on March 20th, in Lincoln, Nebraska. Each year, NHPCA recognizes volunteers who provide outstanding volunteer services during the previous year at a Nebraska hospice agency.
Wendy Thome, Director of Central Plains Home Health & Hospice stated, “Joann has been a blessing to many patients throughout her years of service as a hospice volunteer.” Thome continued, “She has a heart for helping people and has a unique gift to relate personally to patients and families who are walking through the hospice journey.”
Hospice is a program that provides special care to people who are near the end of life and have stopped treatment to cure their illness. The program offers support to patients and their families in different aspects such as physical, emotional, social, and spiritual.
Joann shared that when her son was battling leukemia, he spent his last three weeks on hospice. “The hospice staff was so good to Bill and our family that they made those final weeks a lot easier.” After Bill passed away, Joann knew she wanted to help other families through their journeys. “I knew I wanted to become a hospice volunteer. I’ve been visiting patients for seven years now and I am so blessed.”
Thome concluded, “Central Plains Hospice is blessed because of wonderful volunteers like Joann.”
If you are interested in becoming a hospice volunteer, please contact Thea Cole at or call 308-784-4630.
