Whatever It Takes And Then Some Winners – February 2020

Life Care Centers of America’s Whatever It Takes And Then Some program honors associates who go beyond their job descriptions in caring for residents, their families and fellow associates. Here are three of the inspiring stories from our February 2020 winners:

Katie Oakes, activities assistant at Life Care Center of Pensacola, Florida, recognized heart attack symptoms in a resident’s wife who was visiting. She immediately got her to the emergency room, where tests verified that she had suffered a heart attack. Katie stayed with the resident’s wife until around 10 p.m. and called the resident several times to update him on his wife’s condition. She also visited the wife the next morning and arranged transportation for the resident to visit her. “My wife and I do not have any relatives here in Pensacola,” the resident shared, “but Katie treated us like family and may have saved my wife’s life.”

James Gilmore, certified dietary manager at Life Care Center of Burlington, Kansas, belongs to a band, and one of the residents is a big fan. She loves every time she gets to hear them play. James took his own time and money and made a T-shirt for the resident with his band’s name on it. “She was so excited that she was wearing the shirt around the building showing everyone with a huge smile on her face,” said Dana Hatch, accounting clerk.

Jenna Gaumer, certified nursing assistant at Evergreen House Health Center in East Providence, Rhode Island, has the special touch in calming a particular resident who has a neurological delay. When the patient is upset, she gently takes him back to his room and sings to him.