During National Nursing Assistants Week, June 17-24, Ohio’s Hospice of Dayton, an affiliate of Ohio’s Hospice, takes a moment to recognize and thank our personal care specialists for all they do 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year to provide superior care to our patients and families we are privileged to serve.  
 
At Ohio’s Hospice of Dayton, personal care specialists are state tested nursing assistants (STNAs). They provide the essential daily, hands-on care in homes, nursing homes and inpatient settings. As professionals, the personal care specialists are instrumental in promoting and safeguarding the physical, mental, emotional, social and spiritual well-being of the patients and their families.   
 
They participate as members of the interdisciplinary team and communicate any patient changes or updates to ensure proper response time and quality patient care. Ohio’s Hospice also has several STNAs who serve the organization in non-clinical ways, including scheduling and pharmacy services. Others serve as buyers, Hospice House coordinators and excellence educators.  
 
Our personal care specialists go above and beyond each and every day. They work days, evenings, weekends and holidays. They provide or assist with personal care, including but not limited to bathing, dressing, oral hygiene, hair care, meal preparation, feeding, transfers and exercises.    
 
Ohio’s Hospice of Dayton is grateful and thankful for its personal care specialists’ kindness, compassion and expert care. They make a difference in the lives of patients and families with every interaction. We appreciate all they do to serve our mission.  
 
We invite you to get to know some of our personal care specialists. 

• Judy Belvo chose to become a personal care specialist after the loss of a loved one. Her favorite part of her role is “providing comfort care for our patients and helping our families through a difficult time in their life,” she said. Her favorite memory is finding and returning a missing ring to a patient’s family during their visit at Ohio’s Hospice of Dayton. 

• Laquisha Blake explained, “I decided to become a personal care specialist because I wanted to be able to spend the necessary time with a patient so that I can provide the proper care,” she said. Her favorite part of helping patients and families is that they are always happy with the care they receive.  

• Linda Burr chose this career because “The idea of being a hand to hold at the end of someone’s journey was an important role that I wanted to be a part of,” she said. Her favorite memory is caring for a patient who said that he didn’t know her name, but he knew her by heart. “I knew I had made a small difference in his life,” said Linda. 
  
  
• Laurie Combs feels that being a personal care specialist is very rewarding. “It feels good to be able to help others do things that a lot of us take for granted on a daily basis,” she said. Her favorite memory is singing “Old Rugged Cross” with a patient at their bedside. 

• Veronika Fannon has been serving patients and families since 1988. Her favorite part about what she does is putting a smile on people’s faces. Veronika’s favorite memories having patients and families express gratitude for the care they receive. 

• Taylor Hodge knew that she wanted to be in healthcare from a young age. “I love being able to help keep people comfortable and be a comforting shoulder to cry on,” said Taylor. “Everyone needs someone to be there for them in these times of their lives.” Her favorite memory is hearing the love story of a patient and their spouse. 

• Jessica Houchins said her favorite part of her role is whenever she is able to help a patient and bring a smile to their face. Her favorite memory is being present with a patient while they were passing. “I was able to comfort the patient and family and answer any questions, while keeping the environment calm and quiet,” she said. “The family was very appreciative of everything I did.” 

• Tiffanie Johnson became a personal care specialist because she wanted to provide care in a loving and compassionate way. Her favorite part of serving patients and families is “getting to know them and building relationships with them.” Her favorite memory is becoming good friends with a patient she was caring for. 

• Leslie Lindsey has cared for others her entire life. She loves being one-on-one with patients because it gives her time to get to know them and spend time with them. Her favorite memory is her care team arranging for one of her patients to attend a Dayton Dragons baseball game. “He was full of smiles and enjoyment,” she said. “I was so thankful to work with such an awesome team to make this happen for him.” 

• Amy Stuhlemmer has been a personal care specialist for 30 years. Amy said she loves what she does because of the “The feeling that you make a difference,” she said, “Not just to your patients, but to their families as well.”