The Charlotte Post Life! THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2020 SECTION B Hospice care changed by COVID crisis By Ashley Mahoney
[email protected] Being a hospice social worker is trying and fulfill- ing work. Coupled with a pandemic, it is more essen- tial than ever. Denise McKnight, 41, is a hospice social worker for Novant Health Palliative Care. Service has always been her calling, down to the sorority she chose to join – Delta Sigma Theta – during under- graduate study at Johnson C. Smith Uni- versity, because of its members’ dedication to public service, particu- larly in the Black community. McKnight earned her bachelor’s degree in social work from JCSU and master’s in social BY ASHLEY MAHONEY | THE CHARLOTTE POST work at the University of South Caro- Zsa-Zsa Porter is co-owner of Exposed Vegan restaurant in City West Commons on West Boulevard. McKnight lina. While she initially did not consider hospice as a career option for social workers, McKnight made the switch two years ago and has not looked back. She knows she made the right call helping families cope with the death of Healthy food options loved ones during the coronavirus pandemic. “As we know with hospice services, before COVID- 19 people were transitioning, but with COVID-19 people are transitioning at a more rapid speed,” McKnight said. along West Boulevard The pandemic changed the nature of her work. Families often want to gather around loved ones in their final days, but gathering restrictions make it Exposed Vegan opens in City West Commons with pickup, delivery difficult to do so safely.