Life Care operates more than 200 skilled nursing homes, assisted living facilities, retirement living communities, home care services, and Alzheimer's centers.
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Cañon Lodge Care Center associates honored by Colorado Health Care Association
Posted on Wednesday, October 28, 2009
On Sept. 17, 2009, the Colorado Health Care Association hosted its Spotlight on Excellence awards banquet to recognize and honor outstanding long-term caregivers, and several of those spotlighted were Life Care associates.
Katie Broughton, admissions and marketing director at Cañon Lodge Care Center in Cañon City, received the Business Management Professional of the Year Award.
Broughton has been in long-term care for 37 years, serving 22 of those at Cañon Lodge Care Center. She started her career as a nurse’s assistant and has also worked in the housekeeping and dietary departments. Before taking her current position, she was the health information management director.
“I love our residents and want them to have the best quality of life possible and to feel loved,” said Broughton.
Demonstrating the Whatever It Takes And Then Some spirit, Broughton takes residents shopping, out to lunch and to appointments. She maintains the facility’s flower gardens, and as a certified nursing assistant, she sometimes provides direct care to residents. She has helped the recreation department organize events that include other area care facilities – the annual Fishing Derby, for example. As if that were not enough, she spearheads the facility’s participation in several fundraisers, such as the Alzheimer’s Memory Walk and the residents’ event fund.
“I wish I could have 100 of her running around,” said Annie Maloney, executive director. “With her dedication, compassion and love for people, we are truly blessed to have her at Cañon Lodge. She is truly deserving of this award for going above and beyond on a daily basis, and never asking anything in return.”
Another big winner at the banquet was Jim Calvert, maintenance director at Cañon Lodge Care Center. He received the Environmental Services Professional of the Year Award.
“I was overwhelmed, honored and surprised,” said Calvert. “Our residents are my primary motivation. The satisfaction of being able to meet their needs, make them happy and feel needed and loved is a reward of the job.”
An associate at the facility for more than five years, Calvert is known to truly listen to what the residents have to say. Many ask for him by name, describing him as a friend. On his days off he has come in and taken residents to football games or fishing. He has also helped out associates and residents’ family members by going to their homes and shoveling snow or jumping a dead car battery. His involvement with the Alzheimer’s Association has led him to hand-craft log beds on his own time and money, which he has donated to the facility and the Memory Walk team.
The third Cañon Lodge associate to be honored at the event was Mariah Reed, health information management director. She was one of the top nominees for the Advancing Excellence in Long-term Care Award.
About Canon Lodge Care Center
Nestled in historic CanonCity, home of the spectacular Royal Gorge, Canon Lodge is a place to call home. Newly renovated and filled with a cheerful, home-like atmosphere, Canon Lodge is the choice for skilled nursing care, assisted living, and inpatient rehabilitation therapy in the Southern Colorado area.
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