May 2024
Marilou
Sorokin
,
RN
Hope Network
Grand Rapids
,
MI
United States
People feel comfortable around her and comforted by her. Marilou thinks carefully about how she responds to individuals and upholds professionalism in her day-to-day operations. Her efforts to provide consumers with a voice helped them and other members of the grant team feel empowered.
Marilou recognized the need for Advance Care Planning at a program four hours away from her regular program. She made the trip through a snowstorm. Prior to going, she inquired about the consumer’s preferences, interests, and what makes them happy. She planned a game to help build rapport and purchased prizes based on their preferences. Marilou ensured the consumers understood what advance care planning means. Her efforts helped them realize they are the center of their care, and their wishes are important to everyone that provides care to them now and in the future. Her communication with her program and the program she traveled to was wonderful. She made sure there were no surprises or mishaps. Positivity exudes from Marilou. Her demeanor of calm, respect, compassion, and care can be felt when she walks into a room. People feel comfortable around her and comforted by her. Marilou thinks carefully about how she responds to individuals and upholds professionalism in her day-to-day operations. Her efforts to provide consumers with a voice helped them and other members of the grant team feel empowered. Marilou’s dedication to the Advance Care Planning process speaks strongly to the Hope Network Advocacy Statement, “...absolute commitment to the persons we serve leads us to a vision of advocacy on their behalf. We will use our voice to speak for those whose voices are muted by injustice, by disability, and by fear. We will stand with those we serve, honored by their trust to represent their cause, knowing that justice for them is justice for us all”. Her willingness to travel such a long distance demonstrates commitment to the persons we serve. She used her voice to advocate for the people we serve so that their voices would not be muted. Marilou used evidence-based assessment skills to proceed with assisting persons served in writing their statement of treatment preferences. Her diligence in juggling her work so she may take time away to travel to a program she had never been to before to help consumers feel heard is a wonderful example of going above and beyond to provide exemplary care.