Utopia Honors Michelle Harris With Its Fifth Annual "Caregiver Of The Year" Award

Main Category: Caregivers / Homecare
Article Date: 17 Jun 2009 - 8:00 PDT

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Utopia Home Care, Inc. has announced that Michelle Harris will be its 2009 Caregiver of the Year. At the company's annual corporate breakfast meeting this morning, Utopia Home Care, Inc. President and CEO Manuel F. Martinez and Executive Vice President Manuel G. Martinez presented Ms. Harris with a commemorative plaque and a check for $1,000. The presentation was made before approximately 125 staff members representing Utopia offices in New York, Connecticut, Florida, South Carolina and Pennsylvania.

Ms. Harris currently works with hospice patients in the palliative care unit at a nursing home in Brooklyn. "It takes a special person to work with terminally ill patients. Michelle is a peaceful and kind person," said Pat McNair, Nursing Supervisor of the Hospice Program.

Twenty years ago, Ms. Harris suffered a terrible personal tragedy when her mother, sister, aunt and three-year-old daughter were murdered by her brother. Anguished by the loss of her loved ones, Ms. Harris looked for a way to ease her pain. She reached out to her community and found that, in helping others, she could help herself.

In 1999, Ms. Harris enrolled in a training course and become a certified home health aide. She joined Utopia Home Care in 2007. Although she has been working for Utopia for only two years, Ms. Harris has had a very positive impact on the company, the people she cares for and their families.

"Michelle has an infectious nurturing spirit that comforts the patients and family members alike. She listens to her patients with empathy and speaks with a tender heart, always mindful of preserving their dignity." Ms. McNair said.

Ms. Harris is the fifth recipient of the "Caregiver of the Year" award, and, like the winners before her, she understands how precious life is and how quickly it can be taken away due to illness. "She takes satisfaction in helping comfort those suffering and dying, as well as their loved ones, at a very critical time," Ms. NcNair said.

Source
Utopia Home Care