VOYCE Honors Exceptional Caregiving at Caregiver Awards Luncheon

VOYCE honored exceptional individuals in the field of caregiving at the Caregiver Awards Luncheon Thursday with 600 people in attendance and 100 caregivers nominated for awards. During this annual event, VOYCE (formerly the Long Term Care Ombudsman Program) recognized staff and volunteers who demonstrate excellence in person-centered care. A total of 18 local people were given awards who embody the voice of compassion by doing an outstanding job caring for and respecting the rights of those receiving long-term care. In addition, 2 individuals were given awards for lifetime achievement.

Award recipients were chosen from long-term care communities as well as home care providers, hospice agencies and adult day programs in a 21-county service area. All award recipients represent service in areas such as nursing, certified nursing assistants, social services, certified medical technicians, therapy, activities, housekeeping, food service and volunteers.

“It is inspiring to honor these people who give of themselves and make a difference in the lives of those they care for in long-term care,” said Mary Lynn Faunda Donovan, Executive Director of VOYCE. “It is so important to us to recognize these individuals making such a positive difference by what they do. Each of the nominees knows all too well treating those in their care with dignity, respect and compassion does more than provide good service; it nourishes the soul and uplifts the spirit”.

Today, as many as 22,000 individuals reside in long-term care communities in Greater St. Louis and northeast Missouri. One of the staggering facts that speaks to why we exist is more than 50 percent of these individuals never receive a visitor and therefore have no one to advocate on their behalf. For more than 35 years VOYCE has strived toward a high quality of life for those living in the long-term care continuum by providing advocacy and support.

“In the future, it is estimated that 70 percent of those 65 and older will need long-term care and 43 percent will spend some time in a long-term care community,” says Donovan. “VOYCE will continue to recognize those caregivers that go above and beyond to advocate for and provide the very best care to those requiring long-term care. It is very touching to see not only how these honorees impact lives but how deeply their lives are also impacted.”

The 2016 Annual Caregiver Awards Recipients are:

• John Banafoe, Caregiver, Home Instead Senior Care
• Christa Beamon, CNA, Aberdeen Heights
• LaTonya Carlson, Level 1 Medication Aide, Dietary Cook, Housekeeper, St. Andrew's Assisted Living in Bridgeton
• Karen Cooper, Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant, Life Care Center of Bridgeton
• Bernie Corn, Concierge, Sunrise on Clayton
• Kathy Farnham, Hospice Volunteer, Mercy Hospice
• Rosie Gillespie, CNA, Stonebridge Maryland Heights
• Leah Hackethal, Caregiver, Home Care Assistance
• Cassandra Hall, Home Health Aide, Right at Home St. Louis
• Maud Jeanty, Volunteer , Bethesda Dilworth
• Jim Joyce, Physical Therapist Assistant, Bethesda Dilworth
• Judy Leach, Volunteer, Mary Culver Home
• Andrea Martin, Resident Assistant, Creve Coeur Assisted Living and Memory Care
• Kim Riley, Cook's Assistant, Delmar Gardens North
• Brenda Roberts , CNA, Delmar Gardens North
• Patricia Rogers, Housekeeper, Bethesda Meadow
• Rukmina Rizal, Caregiver, Bi-Lingual In Home Assistant Services
• Tammy Utt, CNA/Home Health Aide, Mercy Home Health Care

20-Year Lifetime Achievement Award Recipients

* Jenifer Russell, Community Life Services Director, Friendship Village Chesterfield

• Peggy Steele, Staff Development, Mary Mount Manor

For additional information on VOYCE, the 2016 Caregivers Awards Luncheon, photographs, interviews with the winners or the Executive Director, Mary Lynn Faunda Donovan, please call 314-919-2410 or email kpendleton@voycestl.org

VOYCE services the city of St. Louis and its surrounding Missouri counties of St. Louis, Jefferson, Franklin and St. Charles as well as 16 counties in northeast Missouri including Adair, Clark, Knox, Lewis, Lincoln, Macon, Marion, Monroe, Montgomery, Pike, Schuyler, Scotland, Shelby, Ralls, Randolph and Warren.

A United Way agency, VOYCE is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that provides free assistance to families and individuals seeking long-term care for loved ones, as well as advocacy for those currently living in long-term care settings. VOYCE offers advocacy services to the 22,000 individuals who reside in more than 300 skilled nursing, assisted living and residential care communities in Greater St. Louis and northeast Missouri. More than 50% of these individuals have no one to advocate on their behalf. Last year, VOYCE helped over 600 individuals find long-term care and resolved over 3,500 complaints in long-term care settings.

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