Fern Winters Receives Quality Service Award for Outstanding Service to Seniors
Fern Winters, Caregiver at Colonial Vista Retirement and Assisted Living was honored with a 2010 Outstanding Caregiver Award at the Annual Meeting of the Washington Health Care Association (WHCA) in Spokane last year. The awards are designed to acknowledge and recognize those individuals who truly add to quality of life and care for the seniors they serve in Washington nursing homes and assisted living communities.
Fern Winters
Fern's experience in caring for her children, grandchildren and ultimately, her parents were a catalyst for choosing care giving for her profession. According to Penny Carpenter, Administrator of Colonial Vista, "Fern is one of our most valued employees and has consistently shown she is an outstanding example of pure quality." Fern is a member of the lead team at Colonial Vista, and as such, provides day to day personal care, assistance with medications, and mentoring and coaching for other employees. Fern is committed to preserving the principles of privacy and dignity for her residents. "The greatest part of my job is helping residents feel at home," she said. Fern notes that her residents know what they want, and that it's her role to truly listen and try to know each person's individual needs and preferences.
Penny Carpenter also notes that, not only is Fern an outstanding employee, but she is a wonderful person. "She has been a "secret friend" to residents and staff alike, with treats, card and homemade goodies for birthdays, anniversaries, holidays or just for the fun of it. Family members are always complimenting her conscientiousness and attention to detail."
Fern Winters exemplifies the Colonial Vista mission, "To enrich the lives of our residents, staff and associates through our programs, communications, environments and true commitment to the facility." Her conscientiousness, attention to detail, and her commitment to putting the needs of her residents first and foremost are her greatest attributes.