Southington Care Center celebrates its long-term staff

SOUTHINGTON - Southington Care Center honored 38 staff members who have reached specific service milestones. The Longevity Celebration, which was held on Dec. 7 at Spartans II in Plantsville, featured dinner, the awards presentation and words of gratitude by Lisa Connolly, NHA, MS, vice president, Hartford HealthCare Senior Services.

Southington Care Center, which opened in 1991 at 45 Meriden Ave., has 130 beds and offers skilled nursing, hospice care, short-term rehabilitation and the GoodLife Fitness program.

“At Southington Care Center, 57 percent of the staff have been employed here five years or more,” said Executive Director William Kowalewski. “Staff longevity is one the Care Center’s most important attributes resulting in increased knowledge of each resident’s care needs and greater staff-to-resident relationships.”

Those who were honored included employees from every department:

Celebrating 25 years: Lisa Connolly, NHA, MS, vice president, HHCSS; Sharon Robinson, regional director of Skilled Nursing Operations, HHCSS; and the Rev. Victoria Triano, director of Pastoral Care;

Celebrating 20 years: Debbie Klatzko, Lucy Lew, Susan Pepe, Martha Sadusky, Gualberto Santana, Nancy Wiegand and Fern Wildman-Schrier;

Celebrating 15 years: Kara Bouteiller, Diane Dumond, Michael Gould, Brietta Harper and Evelyn Tirado;

Celebrating 10 years: Debra Blier, Tracey Brown, Natacha Candelaria, Christine Dzierlatka, Linda Firmani, Mable Kakwera-Byaruhanga, Kenneth Kirk, Herna Maneja, Dawnna Mongkolsilapa, Evelyn Nogaj, Azemina Selimovic and Michelle Sweeney;

Celebrating five years: Sele Gakodi, Kristin Gilbert, Donna Hechler, William Kowalewski, Claudia Krzos, Tammy Michaud, Antoinette Ouellette, Agnes Petrus, Ideliza Segarra, Vanessa Stanislawski and Jillian Valentine.

Southington Care Center offers skilled nursing and rehabilitation services, and is a not for profit member of Hartford HealthCare Senior Services. For more information about Southington Care Center, visit http://southingtoncare.org.