OCEAN PINES–Paul Gross of Ocean Pines has won the Salute to Senior Service contest for Maryland in recognition of his volunteer efforts with Coastal Hospice & Palliative Care on the Lower Eastern Shore.
Gross received a $500 prize with the award that he will donate to Coastal Hospice. He was chosen as Maryland’s contest winner after 45 days of online voting by the public.
The annual contest is conducted by Home Instead, Inc., which awards a winner from each state. It recognizes seniors for the impact they make in their communities. The goal of the Home Instead Senior Care network is to help seniors stay healthy and active as they age and to encourage a positive outlook on aging.
Gross moved to the Eastern Shore to enjoy retirement. Having volunteered for a hospice in New Jersey, he found he was still drawn to help patients. He has been a patient volunteer with Coastal Hospice since 2011.
His volunteer hours are spent visiting with patients and family members in Worcester County, often during the most trying of times. He can usually be found holding the hand of a patient and listening while they talk about their lives, family, hopes and fears.
“It takes a special person to visit a patient who is facing a life-limiting illness,” said Judy Hunt-Harris who heads volunteer services for Coastal Hospice. “People are very comfortable opening up with Paul. They can laugh, cry and share without judgment.”
Gross said he feels overwhelmed by the award, but encourages others to volunteer. He said volunteering gives him a sense of well being for having contributed something worthwhile to his community.
“Patients and family members have so much to share about their lives, the Eastern Shore and family history. It’s an honor to be a small part of the support Coastal Hospice offers,” Gross said.
Coastal Hospice president Alane Capen believes the entire Lower Shore community has benefitted from Gross’s efforts.
“His generosity has touched the lives of many of those in our community at their time of greatest need,” she said.
Coastal Hospice is a nonprofit health care organization that cares for individuals on the Lower Eastern Shore who face life-limiting conditions but want to remain as active and engaged as possible. Coastal Hospice cares for patients in their home, nursing home, assisted living facility or at Coastal Hospice at the Lake.
Gross received a $500 prize with the award that he will donate to Coastal Hospice. He was chosen as Maryland’s contest winner after 45 days of online voting by the public.
The annual contest is conducted by Home Instead, Inc., which awards a winner from each state. It recognizes seniors for the impact they make in their communities. The goal of the Home Instead Senior Care network is to help seniors stay healthy and active as they age and to encourage a positive outlook on aging.
Gross moved to the Eastern Shore to enjoy retirement. Having volunteered for a hospice in New Jersey, he found he was still drawn to help patients. He has been a patient volunteer with Coastal Hospice since 2011.
His volunteer hours are spent visiting with patients and family members in Worcester County, often during the most trying of times. He can usually be found holding the hand of a patient and listening while they talk about their lives, family, hopes and fears.
“It takes a special person to visit a patient who is facing a life-limiting illness,” said Judy Hunt-Harris who heads volunteer services for Coastal Hospice. “People are very comfortable opening up with Paul. They can laugh, cry and share without judgment.”
Gross said he feels overwhelmed by the award, but encourages others to volunteer. He said volunteering gives him a sense of well being for having contributed something worthwhile to his community.
“Patients and family members have so much to share about their lives, the Eastern Shore and family history. It’s an honor to be a small part of the support Coastal Hospice offers,” Gross said.
Coastal Hospice president Alane Capen believes the entire Lower Shore community has benefitted from Gross’s efforts.
“His generosity has touched the lives of many of those in our community at their time of greatest need,” she said.
Coastal Hospice is a nonprofit health care organization that cares for individuals on the Lower Eastern Shore who face life-limiting conditions but want to remain as active and engaged as possible. Coastal Hospice cares for patients in their home, nursing home, assisted living facility or at Coastal Hospice at the Lake.