Alan Richman
Life Care Centers of America bestowed this year’s awards for excellence in an array of presentations Monday evening, at its headquarters in Cleveland.
The Chairman’s Award for outstanding commitment to excellence went to Alan Richman, executive director at Life Care Center of West Bridgewater, Ma. The Carl W. Campbell Wind Beneath My Wings Award for the company-wide volunteer of the year went to Betty Csonka, who volunteers her time at Rensselaer Care Center in Rensselaer, In.
“The winners of these awards – both for performance and volunteerism – reflect the professional skill and the heart for service demonstrated daily by thousands of people across our company,” said Beecher Hunter, Life Care president. “They are compelled by a remarkable faith and love.”
Mr. Richman was praised for his longstanding leadership since Life Care Center of West Bridgewater opened in 1996. Currently, the building has four consecutive years of deficiency-free state health inspections and a five-star rating from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Much of the success is due to Mr. Richman’s creating a warm and family-like environment for residents and associates alike.
Ms. Csonka, 91, has been a volunteer at Rensselaer Care Center for 10 years. She visits every day, sets up the gift shop, manicures residents’ nails and works with the residents on crafts for multiple holidays. She is dedicated to the residents’ activity program and helps with fundraising bake sales and other events to raise money for residents to attend outings.
Other volunteer winners were Scottland Murray, Youth Volunteer of the Year, from Life Care Center of Paradise Valley, Az., and the Adams State University girls softball team in Alamosa, Co., for its members’ commitment to visiting and participating in activities with residents at Evergreen Nursing Home in Alamosa.
Facility of the Year honors went to:
• Garden Terrace at Overland Park, in Overland Park, Ks., in the Central Division
• Camellia Gardens of Life Care in Thomasville, Ga., in the Eastern Division
• Life Care Center of Longmont, Co., in the Mountain States Division
• Life Care Center of Wilbraham, Ma., in the Northeast Division
• Life Care Center of Puyallup, Wa., in the Northwest Division
• Life Care of Melbourne, Fl., in the Southeast Division
• Mi Casa Nursing Center in Mesa, Az., in the Southwest Division
President’s Awards went to:
• Cynthia Stevens, executive director at The Lane House in Crawfordsville, In., and Donna Rohr, executive director at Life Care Center of Bridgeton, Mo., for the Central Division
• Clara Benge, executive director at Laurel Creek Health Care Center in Manchester, Ky., and Brad Petty, director of rehab services at Life Care Center of Lawrenceville, Ga., for the Eastern Division
• Hollie Hoyle, executive director at Brairwood Health Care Center in Denver, Co., and Ivan Yamamoto, executive director at Hale Anuenue Restorative Care Center in Hilo, Hi., for the Mountain States Division
• Geoff Rauch, executive director at Life Care Center of Raynham, Ma., and Mary Magner, executive director at Hickory House Nursing Home in Honey Brook, Pa., for the Northeast Division
• Johnathan Ashley, executive director at Cottesmore of Life Care in Gig Harbor, Wa., and Karen Williams, executive director at Life Care Center of Puyallup, Wa., for the Northwest Division
• Karin Costandi, regional director of clinical services, and Amy Lefco, executive director at Lakeside Health Center in West Palm Beach, Fl., for the Southeast Division
• Victoria Furst, administrator in training at Life Care Center of Scottsdale, Az., and Leana Reeves, divisional resource utilization specialist, for the Southwest Division
The Division Support Award went to Chad Long, division rehab director for the Southwest Division.
Founded in 1976, Life Care is a nationwide health care company. It operates or manages more than 220 nursing, post-acute and Alzheimer’s centers in 28 states.