EvenMORE For You

Staff Spotlight on Hospice Aide CeCe Dennis

Caring for Patients Like Family 

This week is National Home Care Aide Week, an opportune time to shine a spotlight on a highly regarded Hospice Aide, Mavioner Cecelia Dennis, CeCe, of Crossroads in Philadelphia. CeCe makes strong personal connections with the patients she cares for. It’s what she’s known for.

Established by the National Association for Home Care & Hospice, which is now part of the National Alliance for Care at Home, National Home Care Aide Week honors the compassionate home care aides, certified nursing assistants (CNAs,) personal care attendants and most importantly, hospice aides, who deliver essential direct-care services inside patients' homes. 

CeCe was born in Liberia and grew up there. She moved to the United States 25 years ago to work in the medical field. It was 14 years ago after working in a long-term care facility that CeCe joined Crossroads and she has never looked back. According to CeCe, working at Crossroads is a very good fit.

CeCe has her own personal approach to hospice care. When meeting a patient for the first time, her focus is on forming a connection. CeCe likes for her first visit to be purely introductory. CeCe’s second and future visits are focused on personal care. 

“When I’m taking care of my patients, it’s almost like taking care of my own Mom and Dad,” CeCe said. She likes to tell stories about life in Liberia to help create a bond and to establish a safe space for her patients.

Patience Is Key

“I am patient and show respect to each person I care for,” CeCe said. “Patients can be anxious or stressed but they know I am there for them, so they show me respect,” said Cece. It’s mutual. 

“Some of the people I spend time with are hurt or confused. You get called all kinds of names, but you must remain strong since they don’t really mean it. It is important that I don’t take things personally or to heart when it is they who are frustrated,” CeCe said.

That mutual respect and friendship often leads to CeCe’s profound connections with patients, making goodbyes, at the end of life, the hardest part of her role.

“I lost a patient recently who had become my best friend,” CeCe said. “She would only eat if I ate with her, so we shared many meals together. I cared for her for two years and she passed away last month.” It’s impossible not to feel a deep sense of loss.

But CeCe loves her job and thinks of it as a calling. She said she hopes to stay with Crossroads for many more years until she retires. 

After caring for patients in their homes and long-term care facilities all week, CeCe said, when she is not working, she enjoys “staying in” and looking at the sunshine outside.

We Thank the Veterans who Lead Crossroads!

While the number is declining, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, there are more than 17 million Veterans in America today. This month our team members are recognizing Veterans in communities everywhere Crossroads delivers end-of-life care. But we also have our own internal heroes at C4 who served in the U.S. Miliary.

Crossroads Vice President of Referral Services Della Miller, Vice President of Business Development Brian Webb and Senior Vice President of Clinical Operations Danny Cox, MSN, are all Veterans of the U.S. Military. 

Della, Danny and Brian were recently asked the question: What would you like Crossroads team members to know about your service in the United States Military and how it impacts your role at Crossroads?

Della Miller, Vice President of Referral Services

“My military service taught me that leadership is not defined by rank, but by responsibility, resilience and an unwavering commitment to the mission. We had a saying: ‘Lead, follow, or get out of the way.’ 

"At Crossroads that philosophy took on a deeper meaning. Our mission isn't simply to care for the dying; it's to recognize the needs that go unspoken, to stand strong when others are weary, and to raise up those around us to serve with courage, compassion, and purpose. 

"The military taught me to persevere through adversity, adapt when circumstances change and never lose sight of those depending on me. Hospice taught me that sometimes the greatest act of leadership is to listen, to kneel beside someone or to empower another person to make a difference. 

"The mission may have changed, but the call to serve never did. And whether in uniform or at the bedside, I believe our greatest legacy is not what we accomplish ourselves, but the people we inspire, equip and lift up to carry the mission forward.” – Della

Danny Cox, MSN, Vice President of Clinical Operations

“Serving in the United States Military instilled in me a core foundation of leadership, operational discipline and an unwavering commitment to the mission. In the military, success relies completely on extreme accountability and a team-first mindset knowing that we are always stronger and more effective when we support one another.

"At Crossroads, this background directly shapes how I approach my role every day. It drives my focus on clear communication, attention to detail and a collaborative spirit. 

"Military service also teaches you to thrive in fast-paced environments and navigate change smoothly, allowing me to approach unexpected challenges with a problem-solving attitude. I am proud to bring these values to the Crossroads team as we work together toward our shared goals.” – Danny

Brian Webb, Vice President of Business Development

“My military service has influenced my leadership approach and role at Crossroads in many ways. One of the most important lessons the military teaches from the very beginning is that no individual can accomplish a mission alone. 

"Success depends on teamwork, collaboration and recognizing the contributions of others. This often involves working alongside different units within your own branch, other branches of the military, civilians and even international military and civilian partners.

"The same principles apply at Crossroads. Providing the highest level of care to our patients and families requires collaboration across multiple disciplines, with each team member playing an important role in achieving our shared mission. 

"It also means building strong relationships with our healthcare and community partners to coordinate care, work toward common goals and ensure we are fulfilling the Crossroads mission. My military experience has reinforced the importance of teamwork, communication, accountability and working together toward a common purpose." – Brian

As Veterans Recognition month continues this November, we thank our own Veterans Della, Danny and Brian along with other Crossroads team members who served that weren’t mentioned and all the other Veterans who have selflessly served our country.

Power of Saying “Thank You”!

By Emily Hammer
As Thanksgiving approaches, it's a good time to think about what we're grateful for, including the people we work alongside every day.

When was the last time you thanked someone at work?

Not because you had to. Not because they did something extraordinary. Just because they made your day a little easier, helped solve a problem, answered a question, stepped in when you needed them, or simply showed up and did their job well.

It sounds simple. And it is. But “thank you” has more power than we sometimes realize.

We’re so good at noticing what’s wrong—a missed deadline, an unanswered email, something that needs fixing. But we also need to notice what’s going right.

People want to know their work matters. And recognition doesn’t have to be a big award, a public announcement, or a gift card. Sometimes it’s simply: “Hey, I really appreciate you taking care of that.”

A quick Teams message. A handwritten note. A shout-out in a meeting. A favorite coffee. A Post-it star stuck to someone’s computer.

The gesture isn’t the important part. The fact that you noticed is.

And recognition doesn’t just make the recipient feel good. It helps create a culture where people appreciate each other, celebrate wins, help one another, and notice the good stuff—not just the problems.

This Thanksgiving, take a moment to thank someone for:

• Something they did behind the scenes.
• How they work—not just what they accomplished.
• Helping you when you needed it.
• Making a difficult day a little easier.
• Bringing humor to a tense day.
• Simply being someone you can count on.

And don’t underestimate these words: “I appreciate you.”

You never know what someone else is carrying—or how much those words might mean that day.

It costs nothing. It takes about five seconds. And it might mean the world to someone to hear two very simple words: “Thank you.”