It’s not too often that someone’s career path fulfilled a childhood dream. 

But for Ohio’s Hospice social worker Janet Dickens, that’s exactly what happened. After being drawn to end-of-life care at a young age due to a sickness in the family, Janet earned a master’s in social work from the University of Kentucky, interned at Ohio’s Hospice, and then joined our team upon completion of her degree program. 

She recently celebrated her 25-year milestone “working” at Ohio’s Hospice. 

“It felt like a calling,” Janet said. “And when it feels like a calling, it’s never really work.” 

Whatever the definition, she finds what she does impactful, especially since she grew up with a sick father. 

“I’d always been around the idea of death and dying and kind of waiting for the shoe to drop,” Janet said. “So I’d always kind of been drawn to this.” 

As a social worker, she is a staunch supporter of and advocate for the patient. Among other tasks, Janet provides emotional support, resource recommendations, and helps with final arrangements. 

“Sometimes those are hard conversations to have,” Janet said.  

But being part of life’s most precious moments and helping families as they Celebrate Life’s Stories^® is the most meaningful for Janet. 

“For me, to get close to a patient is the goal,” she said. “To really be there with them. And when they pass, because of the situation, it’s such a delightful experience to be there. I’ve had patients that live alone, and they’re doing most of this alone, and to be able to help them navigate it and figure out what they need to do, and who’s going to help at the end, and all that. Really it’s like graduation from life. And it’s really just an honor to be able to be a part of that. I love it.”  

Janet predominantly does home care, favoring that over a nursing home or inpatient setting. But that can create its own set of unique challenges. 

“I was on a team in the poor area of town for 10 years, and it was probably the most satisfying time of my career, because there was so much more I could do for them,” she said. “You know, they were barely getting by with their housing and their food, let alone managing their feelings about their loved one dying. It was tough.” 

But that’s exactly what has kept Janet with Ohio’s Hospice for more than two decades: Our unwavering commitment to compassionate care. 

“I love the mission,” Janet said. “I believe in the mission. I’m going to support the mission until I can’t anymore. As long as they’ll have me.”