My name is Stephanie Kozakiewicz and I'm a licensed independent social worker for VITAS
hospice.
The value of social work is that we have the ability to watch people change and we have
the ability to help people and see the outcome of what that change is.
The change that we see with hospice is we're trying to help people understand that their
life is going to change, the dynamics of their family are going to change.
Barb: It's been a difficult time.
Stephanie: We help them and we sit there and they invite us into this intimate experience
of death and dying.
It's a privilege and an honor to be a part of that.
We can make things happen for our patients like massage therapy and pet therapy and music
therapy.
(singing I'll Fly Away) Barb: Larry and I have been married for 27 years.
He loves music.
Loves it.
He used to sing in the choir.
Seven years ago he had to have a four-way bypass and during the surgery the front part
of his brain was damaged, which went into front-lobal dementia, which means that he
can't organize a sentence and he can't initiate anything.
He can't initiate getting up.
Larry, can I give you a kiss?
Stephanie: She had tried to care for him at home for six years and she was just exhausted.
That allowed me to open the door to let her know what hospice was.
I was able to educate her that hospice is a Medicare benefit and that this is what that
includes.
It really is that additional support to help you in your job as a caregiver and care for
your loved one and improve quality of life and lighten the load for you as a caregiver.
Barb: When they offered VITAS or another company, I said, when Iistened to VITAS, I'm joining
that one.
I've been very happy with it.
I think he would be happy with the facility and would be happy with the care that he's
getting from VITAS.
Stephanie: It's not me, but they look into your eyes and they say 'you're our angel.'
I don't want to be their angel, but... 'you've made a difference in our life.'
This is a horrific situation that we're going through right now but right now they have
a smile on their face and they're grateful that some person on behalf of an organization
has taken their time to use their resources to make our family happy for that moment.
To me, that means the world.