Richard T. Sadler Distinguished Association Service

Frank Gattuso, Ave Maria Home

The Richard T. Sadler Distinguished Association Service award, named in honor of former THCA executive director Richard T. Sadler, is presented to a corporate official, an owner or full-time employee of a THCA member facility who demonstrates exceptional leadership in the association and strongly supports its programs and activities. Frank Gattuso has been a THCA member for more than 25 years and a part of the long-term care profession for more than 30 years. Gattuso has served terms on the THCA Board of Directors and held various roles at the association’s district level, including Memphis District president. In the community he is on several boards, including a local hospital and a bank.

 

Volunteer of the Year – Group

House Fire Ministry, Life Care Center of Gray

This award recognizes volunteer groups that make important contributions to nursing homes and set the standard for volunteer groups statewide. Members of the House Fire Ministry church group have been volunteering at the long-term care facility once a week for eight years. The church members lead religious services each Sunday at the facility with devotion and sing-alongs. The group has given devotion books to residents and inspired residents to sing. The group also provides chaplain services.

 

Volunteer of the Year – Individual

Melva Dean Mosley, Perry County Nursing Home

The individual volunteer award recognizes a person who exemplifies what an ideal nursing home volunteer should be. Melva Dean Mosley has volunteered at Perry County Nursing Home for 17 years. She helps at her facility in a variety of ways, including decorating for all holidays, assisting in the beauty shop, leading craft sessions, organizing a luau, playing games, providing personal services like shopping, and recognizing birthdays and other special days.

 

Innovative Program

Celebration of Remembrance, Ave Maria Home

The Celebration of Remembrance program is an annual ceremony in which Ave Maria Home remembers those who were at the facility in the previous year who have passed away. Residents’ families are invited and presented with a small gift. The program serves as another part of families’ grieving process and provides closure.

 

Professional Service Award

Melissa Hansen, Sevierville Health & Rehabilitation Center

The Professional Service Award recognizes a THCA member administrator, owner or corporate-level employee for contributing to the positive image of the long-term care profession in the community, displaying leadership, and contributing to the well-being of both residents and the facility. Melissa Hansen has a long list of accomplishments, including serving on the Board of The Sertoma Center of Knoxville, an organization serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. In this organization she worked with state Sen. Becky Duncan Massey on fundraising and public awareness. Hansen’s facilities have also supported the Alzheimer’s Walks, and she organized special celebrations honoring local fire and emergency workers in the community.

 

Nurse of the Year

Tammy Jackson, AHC Meadowbrook

This award recognizes a licensed or registered nurse working full time as a nurse in a member nursing home who demonstrates outstanding compassion, leadership success, innovation, achievement, and clinical excellence in the provision of high-quality, resident-centered care. Tammy Jackson has been with her long-term care facility for more than 20 years, also serving as a charge nurse and assistant director of nursing. As staffing coordinator, she is also the CNA training instructor, nurturing students and conducting staff meetings to educate coworkers on infection control, patient safety, working with dementia patients and many more topics.

 

Assisted Care Living Facility Service Excellence Award

Jennifer Cottrell, Assisted Living at Standifer Place

This award recognizes a full-time employee of a Tennessee Center for Assisted Living (TNCAL) member facility for providing outstanding service to residents and the facility as a whole. Jennifer Cottrell has been with Standifer Place for seven years. She redesigned her facility’s activities program with a variety of innovative activities that bring excitement to residents, including morning exercise classes with rock music, a haunted hayride and haunted house for Halloween, a Super Bowl party, and bus shopping trips. Her activities program has prompted a high level of voluntary participation and buy-in from facility staff in all departments.

 

ACT Member of the Year

Kimberly Uzonyi, Holston Health & Rehabilitation

The Activity Coordinators of Tennessee is one of THCA’s affiliate groups designed to serve the needs of department heads of member facilities. The affiliate associations help long-term care professionals gain an invaluable professional edge through education, leadership development, networking and industry-specific information resources. Kimberly Uzonyi has been a long-term care activity director for more than 10 years, including three in her current role.

 

DSA Member of the Year

Julie Stewart, Life Care Center of Elizabethton

Dietary Supervisors Association member Julie Stewart has been certified dietary manager at Life Care Center of Elizabethton for a year and a dietary supervisor in the long-term care profession overall for 12 years. She implemented a unique “Always Available Menu” that features items based on resident choices.

 

DONA Member of the Year

Ellen Lamkey, Island Home Park Health and Rehabilitation

Directors of Nursing Association member Ellen Lamkey has been director of nursing at Island Home Park for 11 years and a member of DONA for 13 years. She is DONA’s current state president and previously served terms as state senior vice president and secretary.