By Helen Saum
Hospice Volunteer Coordinator
For the third year, Hospice of Luverne Community Hospital gave awards to three people in the area who have significantly contributed to the success of the Hospice program. The awards given were original Raku pottery vases designed with the hospice logo and made by local artist Jerry Deuschle of Luverne. The awards were presented at the annual Hospice Charity Dinner and Auction on April 20th. This year Angeline Willers of Beaver Creek was recognized as the Distinguished Hospice Volunteer for 2001.
Angie was one of the first people back in 1993 to sign up to learn about hospice care when Luverne Community Hospital started its Medicare Certified Hospice program. Angie and her husband, Burdell, both completed a 12-hour hospice training course and have been involved with the program since that time. Angie has individually volunteered more than 650 hours for hospice in a variety of capacities. Angie is a Hospice Patient Care Volunteer, meaning she is available to assist hospice patients who are living in their own home, apartment or those in the nursing home. Some patients' family members live at a distance so hospice volunteers like Angie help to fill in the gaps of whatever is needed. Oftentimes volunteers may begin as just someone to visit and check on them periodically.
As the patient's health declines over time the volunteer may assist with other aspects such as doing some light housekeeping, running an errand, picking up prescriptions or taking the patient to their doctor appointments. Other hospice patients may have family nearby and use a volunteer to come to give the caregiver a break. Other patients in the advanced stages of their illness may want a volunteer to sit at their bedside, read to them or just be there with them.
Angie has helped with many patients over the years, some who have been strangers, some who were people she has known for many years, but in every situation she has helped to provide comfort, dignity and quality of life for whatever amount of time they have to live. In addition, Angie volunteers some of her time helping with patients at The Cottage in Luverne. Angie has also served on the Hospice Community Advisory Committee for the past three years and is active with helping to raise money for the hospice program. Burdell Willers won this award in 1999.