AUGUSTA, Maine — Twenty-three outstanding caregivers received Excellence in Long Term Care Awards during a conference sponsored by the Maine Long Term Care Ombudsman Program, the Maine Health Care Association and First Atlantic Corporation and held at the Augusta Civic Center. The Excellence I Long Term Care Award is given annually to direct caregivers statewide who display outstanding levels of dedication, professionalism and competency in caring for the state’s elderly and disabled citizens living in nursing homes, assisted living facilities and at home.
The Excellence in Long Term Care Award and conference are designed to thank and honor Maine’s direct care employees who spend their days and nights caring for others. To be considered for the award, nominees must meet certain criteria, including reasonable length of service, work performance, ability to work with others and efforts that far exceed requirements of the job. Nominations for the award were submitted by long-term care facilities and agencies from all over Maine and winners were selected by an independent panel of judges with long-term care expertise.
The State’s Long Term Care Ombudsman Brenda Gallant, RN, noted “Maine’s direct care and support staff provide compassionate quality care, and in many cases, fill a family role for long-term care residents and consumers each and every day. This conference and awards program is a tribute to their dedication and our way of saying “Thank you.”
The Ombudsman Program is a long-term care consumer advocacy organization.
According to Nadine Grosso, director of communications for the Maine Health Care Association (MHCA), “Our nurses and nurse aides make more than a living in long-term care; they make the difference. One by one, each year through this program, we give them the recognition that they have earned and so truly deserved.”
MHCA represents 250 long-term care providers statewide, including nursing homes and assisted living facilities.
First Atlantic Corporation owns and operates 12 retirement communities, assisted living, rehabilitation and full-care nursing facilities statewide. As an ongoing sponsor, assisted living, rehabilitation and full-care nursing facilities statewide. As an ongoing sponsor of this program, First Atlantic believes in the importance of employee recognition and is pleased to be part of a program honoring direct caregivers.
This year’s Excellence in Long Term Care Award recipients:
Representing Home Care Locally: Judy Drost, PSS, Aroostook Agency on Agency – Presque Isle, ME.
