(Submitted by the Wood County Committee on Aging)
Compassionate caregivers in Wood County were recently honored at the Golden Care Awards. This event was designed to recognize National Caregivers Month in November and to honor caregivers within our communities and facilities.
Nominations were sent in from friends, family and coworkers of caregivers who go above and beyond every day to care for those they serve. All nominees from three categories including agency support staff, medical staff, and community caregivers were recognized at the event.
Each nomination was reviewed by the Wood County Commissioners, who selected one winner from each category.
The event, which was held at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Bowling Green, was presented by the Wood County Committee on Aging. Event committee sponsors were: Bowling Green Care Center, Bowling Green Manor, Briar Hill Health Care Campus, Bridge Home Health and Hospice, Brookdale of Bowling Green, Kingston of Perrysburg, and Perrysburg Commons. Other county-wide participating companies included: Bowling Green Family Physicians, Golden Care Partners, Heartland of Perrysburg, Heritage Corner Health Care, Laurus Home Care, and Wood Haven Health Care.
Selected winners were: Sheila Sizemore, agency support staff caregiver from Briar Hill Health Campus; Cheryl Kinder, community caregiver; and Anna Anderson, medical staff caregiver from Bridge Home Health and Hospice.
Prior to Anderson’s career with Bridge Home Health and Hospice, she spent time at the facility with her grandmother who was suffering from pancreatic cancer.
Anderson stated “I always knew that’s what I wanted to do with my ultimate goal being to work for hospice.” Anderson achieved that goal in 2015 when she started with Bridge Home Health and Hospice and has enjoyed the care she has been able to give during her time there.
“There’s a little piece of my grandma in everyone I get to serve,” Anderson said.
The complete list of caregiving heroes includes:
Support Staff: Cindy Below, Noland Covington, Shannon Dawson, Bettie Dean, Ron Gargasz, Ashley Gonyer, Kris Jankowski, Pam Kominek, Cherie Modlinski, Don Neifer, Cassandra Parrish, Ester Polan, Sheila Sizemore, Valerie Wambo, Linda Wilkins, and Lynn Zachrich.
Medical Professionals: Anna Anderson, Linda Davis, Donna Heflin, Ryan Heney, Stacy Irvin, Christine Matere, Danielle Oman, Anthony Onyekelu, Shae Williams and Dr. Thomas Wojciechowski.
Community Caregivers: Melinda Amos, Sue Glass, Mike Keller, Cheryl Kinder, Victor Reynolds, Jessica Sinning and LaDora Woods.
WCCOA and our partner organizations would like to thank those caregiving heroes in our communities. If you would like to be involved in this great event next year by purchasing a table for your company, or by making a nomination, please contact the Programs Department at 419-353-5661 or 800-367-4935 or email programs@wccoa.net.
The mission of the Wood County Committee on Aging Inc. is to provide older adults with services and programs which empower them to remain independent and improve the quality of their lives.
For information on programs and services, please contact the Wood County Committee on Aging Inc. at 419-353-5661, 800-367-4935 or www.wccoa.net.
