State recognition for Haines
Published 9:31 am Friday, September 15, 2006
By Staff
DETROIT – Joan Haines of Cassopolis is among 18 individuals receiving merit awards next month for helping improve the lives of the elderly.
A Detroit nurse practitioner and a Marquette retiree will be honored with the Claude Pepper Award in Frankenmuth on Friday, Oct. 13, to recognize their contributions to improving the lives of Michigan's senior citizens.
Awards will be presented at the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Senior Advisory Council's 16th annual conference at the Bavarian Inn Lodge entitled "Seniors and Caregivers: Improving Quality of Life."
Each of the two honorees will receive a $1,000 check to be given to their respective non-profit organizations.
Patricia H. Barszenski, 55, of Detroit, ia a board-certified advanced practice registered nurse at St. John Detroit Riverview Hospital, in the working advocate category.
Barry Kurcz, 78, of Marquette, a retired social worker, is honored in the volunteer advocate category.
Barszenski is a nurse practitioner who works in Older Adult Services at St. John Detroit Riverview Hospital.
She also works with the elderly in several other locations. She serves the health needs of seniors at St. John's Older Adult Clinic one half day each week, working with physicians to see from five to 20 senior patients.
Other days, Barszenski visits St. Aloysius Church in downtown Detroit to partner with the parish nurse to provide health care to parishioners and the community. She also visits senior housing in Detroit to care for residents who may not regularly be seen by health professionals and works after-hours visiting seniors in their homes and at the hospital or researching solutions to their health care needs.
Kurcz, who retired to Marquette from his job as a social worker at a rehabilitation center in Milwaukee, volunteers many hours per week, serving older adults and the disadvantaged.
Kurcz is a one-man traveling singing charity he calls "Barry-Oke." He sings classic tunes the elderly grew up with and tells jokes and stories to create a one-of-a-kind variety show to entertain thousands of elderly and disadvantage.
In 2005, he performed at more than 40 events in hospitals, nursing homes, mental health facilities, veterans' homes and other locations across the Upper Peninsula. Kurcz also volunteers one day per week at Marquette General Hospital at the information desk.