Memorial Health System
ABILENE - Joni Cook, a dedicated volunteer with Home Health and Hospice of Dickinson County, was honored with the Home Care and Hospice Hero Award by the Kansas Home Care and Hospice Association during its annual conference on Wednesday, September 17.
This award recognizes individuals who are not employed in the field, but who make a profound impact on home care and hospice through their selfless dedication and support.
Since joining the hospice program in spring 2021, Cook has donated over 730 hours of her time – consistently going above and beyond in her role. She was nominated by the staff of Home Health and Hospice of Dickinson County, for her unwavering commitment, compassion and extraordinary service.
Whether sitting with patients in their final hours, offering a calming presence to grieving families, or simply holding a hand in silence, Cook provides comfort in ways words often cannot. Her natural ability to connect with patients – with dignity, empathy and grace – has brought peace to many during life’s most vulnerable moments.
One story that captures the essence of Cook’s compassion involves a blind patient who had been moved between multiple long-term care facilities and suffered from severe anxiety. When Cook first began visiting, the patient was new to her current home and feeling unsettled. To help ease her anxiety, Cook began describing everything around them – painting vivid scenes of the environment. As they sat together and listened to the birds, Cook shared the beauty just outside the window. These visits soon became a source of joy and comfort for the patient, transforming her experience into something peaceful and meaningful.
In addition to her work with patients, Cook is a tireless advocate for hospice awareness in the community. She mentors new volunteers, supports bereavement and staff appreciation events and
serves on the Hospice Advisory Board as secretary. Her positivity uplifts the entire team, and her quiet leadership continues to inspire others.
“Hospice care requires a rare blend of emotional strength, compassion and resilience,” said Taylor Knauss, volunteer coordinator at Home Health and Hospice of Dickinson County. “Joni embodies all of these qualities and more. She reminds us that true heroism doesn’t lie in grand gestures, but in consistent, heartfelt acts of kindness.”