ElderWood Senior Care presents Service Excellence Award

AMHERST, NY – Jean Peters and Valerie Thomas are the 2007 recipients of ElderWood Senior Care’s Service Excellence Award. The award is presented annually to staff who promote ElderWood’s mission to provide quality care while exemplifying the organization’s core values: a passion for excellence, integrity, teamwork and reverence for the individual. This is the 20th year ElderWood has presented the staff award and only the second time it has been presented to more than one individual.

“These women have shown their dedication to resident care in countless ways and it gives me great pleasure to present them with ElderWood’s highest staff honor,” said President and CEO Robert M. Chur.

Jean Peters obtained her bachelor’s degree in social work from D’Youville College. She began her career with ElderWood Senior Care in February 1990 as director of social services at ElderWood Health Care at Riverwood in Grand Island, her hometown. In her years with the organization, she has led the social services departments at three other ElderWood facilities, finally coming to rest on Grand Island again in 2005.

“This award is well-deserved, because Jean’s work ethic is unparalleled,” said ElderWood Health Care at Riverwood Administrator Anthony DePinto. “She never stops working or advocating for the residents.”

Valerie Thomas was a dietary supervisor when Amherst Presbyterian Manor became ElderWood Health Care at Oakwood in 1992. She was promoted to director of dietary services in 1995. Twelve years later, she still finds the position challenging and fulfilling. While she admits it can be difficult to please the tastebuds of 200 residents, she finds it rewarding whenever her food is complimented.

“Valerie’s 17-plus year career in the long-term care profession displays her commitment and passion for the elders in our community. Her integrity and reverence for the individual allow Val to personalize her approach to care for the residents and make a positive difference in their lives. Valerie’s day-to-day actions lead by example to develop a strong team that provides a meaningful benefit for both the staff and residents.”

Ms. Thomas is also a past winner of the Robert & Mary Scott Chur Scholarship, which helped in obtaining a degree from Erie Community College’s dietary manager program. She lives in Buffalo with her husband, Tracy.

The awards were presented at ElderWood Senior Care’s Gold Club Dinner, an annual event honoring staff members who have served the company for 10 or more years. Of ElderWood’s 2,576 full- and part-time staff, 545 – about 20 percent – are Gold Club members.

ElderWood Senior Care provides skilled nursing care, subacute care, rehabilitation, assisted living, independent living, memory care, cardiovascular transitional care and respiratory care to more than 3,500 people each year at 17 locations in Western and Central New York. Nine of ElderWood's skilled nursing facilities in Western New York have earned either Step 1 or Step 2 Quality Awards from the American Health Care Association, the most prestigious honor in long-term care. For more information, visit www.elderwood.com.