Awards recognize nursing aides for special contributions to senior care

Wednesday, March 29, 2023—LeadingAge Connecticut, which represents the state’s nonprofit senior living communities, announced the recipients of its Caring Hands Awards at a special luncheon at the Aqua Turf Club in Southington. The awards are presented annually to nursing aides who are special to their nursing home, home health care agency or assisted living community, LeadingAge President Mag Morelli said.

Among this year’s 40 honorees were five team members from Masonicare. 

With a positive attitude that is infectious to those around her, Masonicare Health Center CNA Regina Adubofour will do anything to brighten someone’s day, including dressing up for the holidays and spending extra, quality time with our long-term care residents. Director of Nursing Patricia Evelyn stated that Regina “exemplifies the true meaning of a caregiver.” 

Angel Alers, a Resident Care Assistant at Ashlar Village Assisted Living, is another team member whose positive energy cheers up residents and coworkers. According to ALSA Director Olena Korytnyuk, Angel “is an amazing team player who is always willing to offer a helping hand in order to assist his teammates and provide the best care to our residents.” 

Rosa Flores, a Home Health Aide with Masonicare Home Health & Hospice, has been with Masonicare for 27 years and consistently receives positive feedback from clinicians, patients, and families praising Rosa’s care and professionalism. She is a gifted hospice caregiver and, according to supervisor Jeanne Perry, “a backbone of support for the families she serves.” 

Clients of Masonicare at Home have been known to request Personal Care Attendant Clair McMahon by name because of her kind and gentle manner. “Clair,” said Client Care Manager Sara Zembrzuski, “is a model caregiver who offers every client compassion, companionship, patience, and grace.” 

Our fifth honoree, Masonicare at Mystic Resident Care Assistant Jen Rice, comes to work every day to care for the most frail of residents, and does so with grace, empathy, and kindness. “If success is measured by attitude, customer service, and work ethic,” said ALSA Director Susan Cartier, “Jen gets an A-plus!”

The Caring Hands Award is a recognition of the contribution that nursing aides provide in enhancing the quality of life for older adults. The focus is on honoring those who exemplify the highest standards of compassion, commitment and excellence, Ms. Morelli said.

“We are so incredibly honored to have such amazing nursing aides working in our senior communities and providing residents with the attentive, kind and loving care they so richly deserve,” Ms. Morelli said today. “These jobs truly are a calling and a passion, which is why it is our privilege to recognize those aides which have truly distinguished themselves. The need for quality senior care has never been greater, and these wonderful people are the lifeblood of our member organizations.”

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