Texans Recognized for Service in Caring for Elderly
PRESS RELEASE
Contact: Tim Conger, (512) 542-9955
Texans Recognized for Service in Caring for Elderly
Texas Health Care Association honors long term care operators, caregivers
(AUSTIN, Texas) Eight hundred representatives of nursing homes, assisted living centers and supporting businesses gathered in Grapevine from Sept. 16-19 for the 2019 Annual Convention of the Texas Health Care Association (THCA). The event is the largest gathering of long term care providers in the Southwest.
Awards for outstanding service were presented to administrators, caregivers and an ombudsman during the event.
Duncan Murray of Marbridge Villa in Manchaca was named the Administrator of the Year. The Assisted Living Administrator of the Year winner was Angel Flanagan of Colonial Gardens Memory Care in Austin. Tina Cook, R.N., of Park Manor of South Belt was named Director of Nursing of the Year. Jodie Gouthier of the Southeast Texas Area Agency on Aging was named Ombudsman of the Year.
Winners of the Nurse of the Year awards were presented by THCA region. This year’s winners were Aleigh Sawaneh, LVN, of Midwestern Healthcare Center of Wichita Falls, Region 1; Carol Barron, LVN, of Homestead Nursing and Rehabilitation of Baird, Region 2; Lana Moreland, LVN, of Cibolo Creek of Boerne, Region 3; Janna Glass, LVN, of Heritage at Longview Healthcare Center of Longview, Region 4; Maria “Ernestina” Arjona, LVN, of Will-O-Bell Nursing Home of Bartlett, Region 5; Deborah Lockwood, LVN, of Park Manor of South Belt (Houston), Region 7; Doug Melton, R.N., of Wedgewood Nursing Home of Fort Worth, Region 8; and Tina Asher, R.N., of Pleasant Valley Healthcare & Rehabilitation Center of Garland, Region 9. (There were no winners selected for Regions 6 and 10.)
Winners of the Certified Nurse Aide of the Year awards were also presented. The winners were Ray Bermudez of Advanced Rehab & Healthcare of Vernon in Vernon, Region 1; Olga Carrillo of Brady West Rehab & Nursing in Brady, Region 2; Rolando Salazar of River Hills Health & Rehabilitation Center in Kerrville, Region 3; Pamela Carter of Cedar Lake Nursing Home in Malakoff, Region 4; Nikita Chen-Kee-Fatt of The Springs Healthcare and Rehabilitation in Cedar Park, Region 5; Enoria Gomez of Gulf Health Care Center Port Arthur in Port Arthur, Region 6; Paula Contreras of Cambridge Health and Rehabilitation Center in Richmond, Region 7; Charlene Waters of Green Valley Healthcare & Rehabilitation in Richland Hills, Region 8; Claristine Duncan of Terrell Healthcare Center in Terrell; and Debbie Naranjo of Yorktown Nursing and Rehabilitation Center of Yorktown.
The Touchstone Communities marketing team received one of two Outstanding Public Information and Education (PIE) awards. The team was recognized in the media relations category for generating favorable news coverage ranging from topics on animal therapy for seniors to its “Dancing with Seniors” program. Touchstone is based in San Antonio and has 23 long term care communities serving Texas.
The second PIE award was presented to Park Manor of Westchase, a skilled nursing and rehabilitation center in West Houston for its community education program on topics that included Medicare/Medicaid benefits and care options, advance care planning, dementia care, chronic disease management and the celebration of diversity among seniors. The facility conducts routine seminars and uses social media to inform the community.
“These individuals have distinguished themselves through the compassion and devotion they provide in improving the lives of elderly Texans. Because of them, lives are made better and families are comforted. Our state is a better place because of their kindness and hard work,” said Kevin Warren, president and chief executive officer of THCA. “We honor their dedication.”
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