Submitted by Life Care of the San Juan Islands
On Aug. 8, Life Care of the San Juan Islands celebrated employees and a volunteer of the year. Though difficult to select, a few stand out with their efforts to better residents’ lives.
The Volunteer of the Year award went to Ron Garner. He started volunteering at Life Care Center in 2007. He shared his interest in genealogy with residents, encouraging them to explore their own family backgrounds. He went on to purchase an LGB Garden Train and build an elevated railroad for the residents. This is a popular activity and inspired residents, families and staff to share train stories. Ron’s dedication is invaluable. Staff can never thank him enough for his unconditional gifts of caring and sharing.
Kittie Laloata was nominated by many of her coworkers for the Team Spirit award. The majority of the residents and staff have had the pleasure of experiencing Kittie’s enthusiasm, optimism, compassion, and love. Examples include a new jacket hanging in your closet when your favorite one went missing, or vacation time magically showing up on your paycheck when all yours had been used to take care of a family member. Kittie never says “no” to help out anywhere in the building, from the laundry to the kitchen to one-on-ones with residents in need. “Her genuine spirit creates synergy in the workplace. She is the rainbow and the pot of gold,” says Janice Fisher, ED.
“Her genuine spirit creates synergy in the workplace. She is the rainbow and the pot of gold,” said Janice Fisher, ED.
Three assistants are chosen each year for CNA of the Year. This year, they are Nasaria Lopez, Elizabeth Tay, or and Valeria Wagner. Each recipient exhibits the finest qualities in resident care as well as helping other staff.
Nasaria’s supervisor says “she is one of those employees that is always on time, consistently comes to work with a happy smile and a lightness in her tone. Her residents are well groomed and cared for.” Another wrote “I have observed Nasaria working with residents who can be resistive to any care, but she finds the right balance of encouraging them and backing away to try a different approach later. She also restocks supplies to make it easier for the next shift to provide care.” She models competency and is a great role model and coach for new aides.
Valeria returned from Bolivia to the San Juan Islands several years ago. Her Assistant certification was hard earned, but her perseverance paid off. Life Care is delighted to have her join the nursing team. Valeria is a non-stop worker with the resident’s pleasures in mind and not just their basic needs. She is one of the few staff members who go all out for dressing up for every holiday as well as dressing up the residents. She dances for and with the residents even when they are wheelchair bound. When Valeria isn’t working, you will find her cooking Mexican food to share with her coworkers and assisting in decorating for the holidays or special events.
Elizabeth is not as famous as her name sake, but ought to be for all she does. She is “spirited, organized, compassionate, creative, fun-loving, caring, flexible, persistent and hard-working” to use some of the adjectives shared by her fellow employees to describe her. She is a woman of many talents from care-giving, to scheduling to sewing, cooking and driving the van. Elizabeth will help everyone with anything. Janice Fisher writes, “Elizabeth has a vision to see that everyone becomes the best they can be. She does not limit her vision to her immediate family. She has spent hours of her own time helping other aides study to pass the certification exam and has been successful in this endeavor several times.“
Congratulations to the winners. Life Care is sincerely grateful to all our employees, and happy to extend these awards to those that exemplify our mission with hard work and grace.
