Nominations Open for Founder’s Award for Excellence at Hospice of Northeast Missouri

10/18/2023

Ron and Elsie Gaber of Kirksville recently offered a generous donation to Hannibal Regional Foundation to support hospice services in northeast Missouri. This donation created the Gaber Founder’s Award for Excellence in Hospice Services Endowment for Hospice of Northeast Missouri. The endowment assists in recognizing hospice care workers and volunteers, and recognizing those who go above and beyond in their service to hospice care and the patients of Hospice of Northeast Missouri.  Nominations are now open for this prestigious recognition.  More on the award and nomination form can be found at hospiceofnortheastmissouri.org, and nominations are open until November 10.  Nominations are accepted for both hospice employees as well as volunteers. The Founder’s Award for Excellence will be announced in November, during Hospice month.

Hospice care offered through Hospice of Northeast Missouri is a service families throughout northeast Missouri are very appreciative of.  Without the visionary leadership and dedication of Ron Gaber and others, Hospice of Northeast Missouri would not exist today. Ron saw a need to address end-of-life care for those living in Adair County, and with the help of other dedicated volunteers they created Hospice 2000 in 1993. Ron served as the founding president of Hospice 2000 from 1993-97, as well as the volunteer and bereavement coordinator in the early years. Ron was certified and taught thanatology courses at A.T. Still, Truman State and Ball State Universities. He also provided numerous training seminars and workshops.  He is the author of  “The Death of Adult Children Through the Eyes of Grieving Parents” and is retired Dean Emeritus of Students and Vice President Emeritus of Student Affairs at A.T. Still University.

As Hospice 2000 developed, they recognized the need for this service was much greater than just Adair County and grew the organization to its current status as Hospice of Northeast Missouri.  Since Hospice of Northeast Missouri became a part of the Hannibal Regional Healthcare System family in 2022,  it is now a service of Hannibal Regional and is supported in part by donations to Hospice through the Hannibal Regional Foundation.  Most recently over $200,000 was raised for hospice services in northeast Missouri, with funds being used for financial assistance and gift cards for patients and families when on hospice services.  It is rated 5 Stars by CMS and is one of the few non-profit hospices in northeast Missouri. A team of professionals provides end-of-life care specially trained to address the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of the individual, their caregivers, and families. Hospice of Northeast Missouri serves Adair, Clark, Knox, Lewis, Macon, Putnam, Schuyler, Scotland, Sullivan, and Shelby counties. To learn more about hospice services, or the Founder’s Award, go to hospiceofnortheastmissouri.org or call 660-627-9711.