Nicole "Nikki" Batten Honored as Hospice Hero
A group of Canton area businesses have partnered to honor those who selflessly serve in the area hospice community through the Hospice Heroes program. Each month, a Hospice Hero is selected and recognized for serving with their hearts, being devoted to the mission of hospice and standing out among their peers. Nicole “Nikki” Batten, a hospice aide for Ohio Living Home Health & Hospice in the greater Akron area was selected as the Hospice Hero for the month of February.
The Hospice Hero program is a partnership between Geib Funeral Center in Dover, Warther Cutlery, Rodriguez’s House of Stone, 99.9 FM WTUZ-Z Country, Yaggi’s Cheese House, Whitemyer Advertising, Inc. and Buehler’s Fresh Food. Collectively, these area businesses recognize the caring work done by hospice employees in the area, providing gifts to each month’s Hospice Hero. In November, in honor of Hospice Appreciation Month, one Hospice Hero will be selected as Hospice Hero of the Year at a dinner honoring the finalists.
Batten has been working in hospice for four years, nearly two of those years with Ohio Living Home Health & Hospice. She was nominated as a Hospice Hero by Ohio Living Hospice Case Manager Deserae Coy who said, “Nikki exemplifies the hospice spirit, giving selflessly to make her patient’s final days as peaceful and meaningful as possible. While she has always been a Hospice Hero to us, we are honored to have her recognized by the local community for the caring work she does every day.” Kristen McKibben, clinical supervisor for Ohio Living Home Health & Hospice agreed saying, “Nikki is one of the kindest, most selfless people I know. Her generous heart shines in all that she does. I have worked alongside Nikki for many years and have entrusted her to help care for my family member when the time came that hospice was needed. Nikki is a hero in my heart and I know to many others, both in her job and personal life.”