OnShift Applause Awards: Best in Care

John Clark

Transport Driver & CNA, Surrey Place Care Center (Signature HealthCARE)

John's primary responsibility at Surrey Place Care Center in Florida is as a transport driver, taking residents to their appointments, and as a CNA, providing ADL assistance to them as needed for the duration of the trip. John designed and helped implement a “Transport Hero of the Month” program at Surrey Place to help incentivize floor CNAs to assist with having residents ready for appointments in a timely manner so that the residents feel and look their best when leaving the facility and do not feel rushed out the door. Each month, John awards a CNA a gift card that he personally purchases to recognize their efforts and interactions with residents. Staff, residents, family members, and doctor's offices alike continuously praise John’s work, efforts and compassion, and he is an inspiration to the entire Surrey Place Care Center community.

Angie Everett

Activity Assistant, Provision Living West Clermont (Provision Living)

Angie works as an Activity Assistant on the activity team for Provision Living West Clermont in Ohio and is educated and certified as a physical therapist assistant. Angie, always eager to learn new skills and educate herself on current health care issues, recently completed the Certified Dementia Practitioner curriculum on her own time to best serve her residents. She has also created a once-a-week class called Brushstrokes Beyond Barriers that engages each person’s unique abilities and is a one-to-one experience allowing for individual adaptations. Step-by-step, each brushstroke led by Angie’s verbal cues and expertise, adds another piece to the artwork until the masterpiece is revealed. Residents are thrilled to share their artwork with others and have a true sense of accomplishment. Angie truly believes that each resident deserves the best quality of life and utilizes all her skills daily to be the best caregiver she can be.

 

Clarence Graham

Floor Tech Team Lead, Salemtowne

Clarence currently works as the Floor Tech Team Lead for Salemtowne in North Carolina but originally began his tenure in 2008 in dining service. He values each and every resident of Salemtowne and treats them all with respect, compassion and love. One resident shared how Clarence’s compassion impacted them personally, sharing that “While many incidents of service come to mind, none exceed in meaning for me than the several occasions when Clarence has patiently taken the time to explain technology when too little in the way of direction comes with a new piece of equipment. Clarence successfully guided me on how to initiate calls on my new cell phone. I count this a wonderful service, clearly I value the assistance Clarence has provided as life-changing.” From residents to the staff, Clarence can be counted on to provide support and care, including when Salmentowne grappled with staffing issues due to COVID. He was ready and eager to help however he could.

Stephanie Poston

LPN Charge Nurse, Cedar Village Senior Living (CarDon & Associates)

Stephanie is an LPN Charge Nurse in the Dementia Unit at Cedar Village Senior Living in Ohio and has been with the organization since 2016. Stephanie makes it a priority to always give the best resident care she can and will work as the Nurse but also pick up extra shifts as an STNA to spend more time with the residents and monitor their condition on a one-on-one basis. Stephanie recognizes that caring for and about the residents is not limited to just their needs. She understands that it's about caring for the families as well. Having a loved one with dementia is not easy on a family but Stephanie always helps them navigate through this and makes herself accessible to the families to talk to and encourage them. Stephanie is compassionate, dedicated, and committed to her role and residents and it shines through in everything she does.

Julia Roberts

Wellness Aide Care Partner, Arabella of Athens (Civitas Senior Living)

Julia is a Wellness Aide Care Partner for Arabella of Athens in Texas. Julia displays her commitment to providing quality care not only by showing up to work early but also by staying later than her shift if necessary to ensure her patients and residents are taken care of to her fullest potential. Julia goes above and beyond her role and is dedicated to multitasking to implement the best quality of care to not just her patients and residents but company too. She is praised, thanked and complimented daily by her residents and patients. Julia is fully dedicated to her education and holds multiple degrees and credentials in Certified Natural Health Consulting, Medical Assisting and Healthcare Management. She is passionate about implementing her education to helping all of those around her.

 

Luz Vasquez

Resident Service Associate, Brooke Grove Retirement Center (Brooke Grove Foundation)

Luz works as a Resident Service Associate for Brooke Grove Retirement Center in Maryland and is a favorite of her residents and her co-workers to have on duty. Luz is willing to help any resident and promptly responds to call lights, phone calls, or doorbells. She has worked in her nursing assistant role for over 3 years and is getting ready to start taking classes in preparation for nursing school. Luz embraces change, growth and technology. When new equipment is implemented, she is the first to volunteer to participate in the in-service or to complete the online assignment and even helps other staff who are technically challenged. Luz serves as a mentor to new staff and helps with problem solving and continually makes a difference in the lives of each person she cares for.