Association Honors 75 Senior Care Employees and Volunteers in 6 Counties

May 14, 2010 - PRLog -- The Western New York Association of Homes and Services for the Aging (WNYAHSA) honored employees and volunteers who have shown exemplary work in the senior care profession on May 12 at Samuel’s Grande Manor, Clarence.

Patricia O’Connor, the executive director of OLV Senior Neighborhood/MNF, Lackawanna, received the Meritorious Service Award, WNYAHSA’s highest honor. At OLV, O’Connor oversees 174 low-income senior apartments, a skilled nursing facility and PACE program.  She is a past president of WNYAHSA and has been a fundamental leader in long-term care. She resides in Amherst.

The Special Program Award was given to The Pines Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center, Machias.  Local artist Peg Bothner comes to the facility once a month to create a portrait of one resident and other residents are welcome to gather and watch while Bothner sketches.  Bothner started the program in gratitude to the facility where her mother lived and keeps several of the portraits on display in the facility.

This year’s program will feature three scholarship awards, presented to employees of WNYAHSA member facilities.  The stipends are given to help continue their education in the field of long-term health care.

•   Freed Maxick & Battaglia, CPAS, PC will award a $1,000 scholarship to Veronica Criswell of the Lutheran Church Home of Buffalo.  Criswell is a Niagara Falls resident and attends Niagara County Community College.
•   The Janet Engasser $1,000 scholarship will be given to Dorenda Donahue of The Pines Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center in Olean.  She is a resident of Olean and attends Jamestown Community College.

Other scholarship recipients:

•   Sarah Ackerman is employed by Asbury Pointe and Beechwood Continuing Care in Amherst. Ackerman lives in Pendleton and attends Buffalo State College.
•   Ruby Alejandro is employed by Bristol Village Assisted Living, Clarence Center.  Johnson lives in Tonawanda and attends Niagara County Community College.
•   Chyniqua Johnson is employed by the Niagara Lutheran Home of Buffalo.  She lives in Buffalo and is a BOCES student.
•   Jodie Kelly is employed by Weinberg Campus in Amherst.  Kelly lives in Amherst and attends Niagara County Community College.
•   Melissa Rockwood is employed by Fox Run of Orchard Park.  She resides in Eden and is a student at D’Youville College.

WNYAHSA represents more than 60 not-for-profit facilities for seniors and adults throughout Western New York.  These facilities provide nursing home care, assisted living, rehabilitation care, home health care, independent living and associated community services.  WNYAHSA also provides many educational opportunities for administrators and staff of member facilities to develop skills and programs that enhance quality care.