This past year has been unlike any other. We in assisted living needed to change, adapt and “do things differently”. This is why I am proud to announce that our Assisted Living Program Coordinator team has won the New York State Center for Assisted Living Noble Caregiver of the Year Award.
This award is given out annually to exemplary staff in the field of assisted living with nominees coming from around the entire state.
The COVID 19 pandemic was a very dark as well as scary time, but both nominees remained positive and encouraging not only to the residents but to the staff as well. They both lead by example, going above and beyond, assessing what needed to be done and making suggestions along the way.
Our residents needed to adapt to countless changes in the way that they lived their day to day lives. Eating food in their rooms instead of enjoying meals in a dining room with their friends, not being able to participate in group recreational activities, wearing masks in their homes and waiting a longer time to use the elevator because of social distancing but through it all, these two nominees, our ALP Coordination team, remained consistent and available.
Needless to say, the Assisted Living Program staff always had education, communication and support both emotionally and physically from their coordinators as we were all in unchartered territory in our assisted living Home.
Was all of this easy? Absolutely not. Not one of us could go to work everyday without considering our own safety but both nominees did so anyway. The residents were always the first priority. Protecting the health of the residents during this period of isolation and understanding the importance of social interaction to their overall health.
Both Jermanei and Tamar changed their schedules in order to assure that the ALP Office was covered seven days a week. Responsibilities were expanded; reminding residents to wear masks and the taking of temperatures all needed to be reinforced and monitored. Communication and safety as well as new skills needed to be reinforced. With every challenge, new regulation and change, the nominees rose to the occasion, supporting each other and supporting the mission and vision of the Home.
The COVID 19 pandemic was a very dark as well as scary time, but both Tamar and Jermanei remained positive and encouraging not only to the residents but to the staff as well. They both lead by example, going above and beyond, assessing what needed to be done and making suggestions along the way.
Lisa Vider, Administrator stated, “The expression “There is no “I” in team,” is often repeated in the workplace. The reference, of course, suggests that no one person’s needs, abilities or ideas are any more important than the combined skills and efforts of the entire group. A leader does not exist alone. There must be committed partners to implement a shared vision of a better future. At no time in the history of assisted living has this expression been truer then through the last year during the COVID pandemic. We are proud of the work of our assisted living program team everyday and we are even prouder that their accomplishments have been recognized.”
