Alden Terrace supervisor a Hero in Long Term Care

McHENRY – Darina Cavazos of McHenry, clinical support supervisor at Alden Terrace of McHenry Rehabilitation & Health Care Center, has been honored as a Hero in Long Term Care.

The Health Care Council of Illinois, Illinois Health Care Association and the Illinois Council on Long Term Care recently announced their 2013 selection of Heroes in Long Term Care at nursing facilities throughout the state.

Cavazos was chosen for for her dedication to providing the highest quality of life for nursing home residents at Alden Terrace, 803 Royal Drive, McHenry.

The annual Hero program highlights the hard work of nursing home staff in Illinois, such as nurses, administrators, building maintenance workers, laundry attendants and activity staff, as well as the contributions of facility residents and volunteers.

“From the minute residents wake up to when they go to bed at night, nursing home staff work to make their days brighter,” said Pat Comstock, executive director of Health Care Council of Illinois. “Many residents aren’t able to get out in the community, so staff becomes a part of the resident’s family.”

Cavazos is an ideal staff member, according to Danette Temple, staffing development doordinator with Alden Management Services. "Alden holds employees to a core system of values – which include qualities such as compassion, integrity, respect, and the desire to learn – and Cavazos embodies them all," Temple said. "She continuously
goes above and beyond, doing whatever needs to be done, and doing it to the absolute best of her ability."

Having been at the facility for nearly a decade, Cavazos has become a go-to person for staff and residents alike.

As a restorative nurse, Cavazos works with patients to achieve and maintain their highest level of function.

“I like helping patients,” Cavazos said. “I like seeing them progress so they can be as independent as they can be. That’s what I like best about my job.”

“Nursing home staff truly represent the heart and soul of long term care in Illinois,” said David Voepel, executive director of the Illinois Health Care Association. “Heroes in Long Term Care are people who go above and beyond to make sure nursing home residents have the best possible quality of life.”

Nursing home professionals work in a unique environment that demands technical skills along with incredible amounts of compassion. They care for frail, vulnerable and elderly citizens who not only need around-the-clock medical care, but also a place to call home.

“These individuals are committed to optimizing the health, outlook and well-being of the residents we serve,” said Susan Duda-Gardiner, interim director of the Illinois Council on Long Term Care, said. “For that, we’re deeply grateful and hopeful their communities will celebrate their dedication.”

The Health Care Council of Illinois is a professional association of more than 500 skilled nursing facilities committed to quality residential health care in Illinois through a productive and responsible partnership between the private and public sectors. HCCI represents nursing homes serving more than 80,000 residents.

For more information about Alden Terrace, visit www.aldenterraceofmchenry.com.