<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1f3dd8_0lkWVPoo00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1f3dd8_0lkWVPoo00" width="1320" height="743" ></figure>VANCOUVER, Wash. — After working for almost 30 years as a caregiver, a Vancouver woman has received national recognition for her service.Maryann Lakey works for ComForCare, a nationwide network of in-home caregiving services. This includes hospice care, which involves caring for people at the end of their lives.“I’m glad I get to be part of someone’s life at the end of their life and I can help make it better,” Lakey said.Every year, ComForCare awards one caregiver within its network as their Caregiver of the Year. On March 30, Maryann was chosen out of thousands to receive the award for 2022.Maryann told us she was shocked when she found out she had won.“I still don’t understand it,” she said. “Everyone tells me I deserve it. But I was like I’m just doing my job.”Despite her modesty, Maryann’s superiors believe she was a shoo-in.Debi Kyle, the owner of ComForCare’s Vancouver franchise, told us about Maryann’s final case in 2022. ComForCare was facing staffing shortages, and instead of crumbling under pressure, Maryann went above and beyond.“[The client] didn’t want to go to a hospice facility; he wanted to pass at home,” Kyle said. “Because we were short of staff, she was kind of on call and she would leave home and she would go provide medications for him because he needed assistance with that and some of our staff couldn’t do that for him. So she stepped in and said, ‘I’ll take care of it.’”Kyle said Maryann worked 54 hours overtime to help the client pass away comfortably.“I think he considered her [his] angel,” Kyle said.Maryann told us that this recognition changes nothing. Award or no award, she is the same person and will continue doing what she does best.But it is nice to be recognized.</div></body>

Mountain View, CA

NewsBreak

Everyday Heroes: Vancouver woman wins Caregiver of the Year award

VANCOUVER, Wash. — After working for almost 30 years as a caregiver, a Vancouver woman has received national recognition for her service. Maryann Lakey works for ComForCare, a nationwide network of in-home caregiving services. This includes hospice care, which involves caring for people at the end of their lives.