Miami, Florida, August 2, 2007—Helping her hospice patients live out their last dreams is all in a day’s work for a Cincinnati woman. Linda Coroi, a certified home health aide with VITAS Innovative Hospice Care® of Cincinnati, was honored recently at VITAS’ prestigious National Employee Recognition Awards.

VITAS, the nation’s leading hospice provider with 8,640 employees, each year recognizes those who best serve their patients, families and fellow employees. Coroi was among this year’s 25 honorees.

Coroi, a VITAS employee since 1999, received the Founder’s Award for Outstanding Service. She has been known to accompany her patients—most of whom live in nursing homes—to concerts in the park, gambling on the Ohio River or on outings to see their homes and families. She will wash their clothes at her house so she can add the “little extra touch” of something as simple yet comforting as fabric softener. Coroi carries out most of these friendly favors and gestures on her own time, just to “spread a little laughter and happiness in their lives,” she says.

As one of the “best of the best,” Coroi was rewarded with a weekend celebration at a beachfront hotel in South Florida.