Nights were hard for S, an Army veteran, a retired mover who drove 4 million accident-free miles, a grandpa who was always a source of encouragement and inspiration. He could tell his body was failing, but his mind remained sharp. He understood the visitor restrictions, but he also missed his family.
Kirsten calmed S, who died in November. She was proactive in keeping him comfortable.
"She made herself available to S and us, who longed to be there with him," his family wrote. "She accepted calls during the middle of the night and never rushed the time. She asked what he liked and what she could visit with him about. She actually took the time to get to know him and spend time talking about his favorite subjects."
"She exemplified what it means to provide family-centered care at Benefis," they wrote.