Wisconsin ‘Caregiver of the Year’ is TLHA team member
WATERTOWN, WIS. December 28, 2015 — Deb Vaillancourt, a caregiver at Heritage Homes in Watertown, has been selected as a Wisconsin Long-Term Care Workforce Alliance Caregiver of the Year for 2015. She is one of only four individuals who received the honor from across the state.
Deb has been a caregiver at Heritage Homes for nearly four years and has a special place in her heart for individuals in memory care. She is a role model for her peers, training new team members and helping wherever needed.
“Her concern for others is evident in how she treats each and every resident as an individual,” said Heritage Homes Administrator Barbara Butler. “She has developed skills that help her anticipate a person’s need before the escalation of difficult behaviors.”
Though Deb always wanted to work with people, she started her career life at a fast food chain. Her brother inspired her to pursue her goal of becoming a certified nursing assistant; it was the start of 40 years spent helping those with disabilities and long-term care needs.
Instead of residents or clients, Deb refers to those at Heritage Homes as her “folks” and works hard to make them smile.
“They can be having a really bad day, but when that smile comes on their face, it can light up the room,” she said.
In an effort to honor the work of Wisconsin professional caregivers, the Alliance presents awards annually to outstanding long-term care professionals who play a critical role in meeting the needs of people in Wisconsin. It also annually recognizes a team of caregivers and — new this year — a family caregiver or caregiver of a friend. The award was presented by state Rep. Thomas Weatherston at the Wisconsin Personal Services Association Conference in Wisconsin Dells.
“I was so honored by the award. It’s important to remember you’re working for the Lord. That’s how I’ve tried to look at all my jobs ” said Deb, who will retire this year but plans to remain on-call for emergency relief at Heritage Homes.
This is not the first time Deb has been recognized for her work. Last year, she was nominated as a finalist in caring.com’s Caring Champions 2014 competition for professional caregivers of seniors in the U.S.
(Pictured: Stephanie Masche (from left), Heritage Homes Human Resources/Guest Relations; Patti Becker, Chair of the Wisconsin Long Term Care Workforce Alliance; Del Piccione, Deb’s mother; Deb; and state Rep. Thomas Weatherston at the Wisconsin Personal Services Association Conference in Wisconsin Dells.)
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About Heritage Homes
Heritage Homes offers independent living, assisted living and memory care in Watertown, Wis. With outstanding modern amenities and ground breaking technology, it has everything residents need to live an active and fulfilling life. By providing a full continuum of care for every stage of the aging process, residents are able to stay independent, active and fully supported as long as possible.
About The Wisconsin Long-Term Care Workforce Alliance
The Wisconsin Long-Term Care Workforce Alliance is a coalition of organizations and individuals that recognize the critical and indispensable role direct care workers play in meeting the long-term care needs of older adults and people of all ages with disabilities in Wisconsin. The mission of Alliance is to develop and implement statewide and community-based strategies intended to improve the recognition, retention, recruitment and economic status of the long-term care workforce.