The BC Care Awards, presented by the BC Care Providers Association, are an opportunity to celebrate those who go above and beyond to provide quality care to older adults in British Columbia. This year, we were thrilled to have six AgeCare team members, along with one community, nominated for an award. We want to highlight these nominees and the work they do to provide high-quality care for our residents.
Nominations for BC Care Provider of The Year in the Long-Term Care Category
In her ten years as a Resident Care Attendant at AgeCare Mount Ida Mews (Salmon Arm, BC), Karen Muir has shown unwavering commitment to the residents she works with. She shows compassion and dedication in all her resident interactions, from daily moments of care, to encouraging and facilitating ways in which residents can be involved and engaged. In addition, Karen makes time during her busy days to sit with residents and provide them with undivided attention, helping them to feel seen and providing all-important moments of connection.
“Karen loves her residents and cares deeply for each and every one of them,” says one of Karen’s AgeCare Mount Ida Mews team members. “She brings humor and lightheartedness into the day and is someone you can always rely on.”
Asmeen Ramzan, a Resident Care Aide at Arbutus Care Centre (Vancouver, BC) is always focused on making life better for the residents she cares for. Her attention to detail is unmatched, allowing her to quickly recognize a change in resident status which is crucial for ensuring timely interventions and maintaining quality care.
Asmeen understands that care is not just physical, but also emotional and social. She can often be found sitting with and interacting with residents, spending quality time with them and getting to know them on a personal level. She approaches everyone she cares for with empathy and care, taking their concerns seriously and ensuring that they are acted on immediately.
“I have known Asmeen since December of 1995 when I started working at Arbutus,” says team member Shukla Singh. “There are many words I could use to describe Asmeen in her interactions with residents, including kind, gentle, respectful, polite, caring, and understanding. She communicates so well with the residents she works with, takes care of her residents with love, and spends quality time with them.”
Cameron Harvey goes above and beyond in everything he does in his role as a Resident Care Aide at AgeCare Monashee Mews (Lumby, BC). He does small things daily that improve the lives of the residents he works with, including taking dedicated time out of his day to sit and chat with residents who seem lonely or appear to need some cheering up. Cameron carefully explains the care tasks he is performing to the residents he is working with, ensuring that they understand what he is doing. This provides a sense of safety and enhanced well-being for residents.
“I love having Cameron provide care because he is so respectful and detail oriented,” says a resident at AgeCare Monashee Mews. “I’m always confident that he will do a good job and feel safe and well looked after when he is around”
Lauren Baltazar, Director of Care at AgeCare Harmony Court (Burnaby, BC), invests time and effort to truly understand each resident she works with on a personal level. She makes a concerted effort to build relationships with residents, learning about their individual needs, preferences, and personalities. This commitment enables her to create customized care plans that truly reflect each person’s unique requirements, fostering a sense of trust and connection.
Lauren also prioritizes taking time to meet with her team, encouraging open communication and guiding them to provide the highest standard of care. Her approachable nature means that residents, families, and staff feel comfortable seeking her advice and support. Lauren’s dedication extends well beyond her job description, as she actively fosters a culture of compassion, attentiveness, and respect that positively impacts everyone around her, making her not only a manager but also a trusted advocate for each resident’s well-being.
“Lauren is compassionate and hardworking,” says a team member at AgeCare Harmony Court. “She is always going above and beyond for her team, residents, and families.”
Etika Etika, a Resident Care Aide at AgeCare Cariboo Place (William’s Lake, BC) always makes sure her residents’ needs are met, taking the time to learn about their specific needs and preferences. In one instance, Etika offered additional support by providing companionship and organizing activities to help a resident who was experiencing emotional distress. She has a proactive approach to promoting the well-being of residents, which includes coordinating with her team to ensure maximum comfort and looking into outside resources for extra care.
In addition, Etika actively mentors new employees, sharing her knowledge and fostering teamwork. She has taken the initiative to set up unofficial shadowing sessions for new hires on several occasions, giving them a better understanding of not only the administrative duties of care but also the importance of a compassionate approach to resident interactions.
Nomination for the Ed Helfrich Long-Service Excellence Award
Leona Wong has been an integral part of the AgeCare Lakeview (Vancouver BC) community for over twenty years. As a social worker, she advocates for residents and families, welcoming new additions to the community right when they walk through the doors and even checking in with them after they have moved away from the community.
Leona has participated in number of quality improvement projects over the years, from eliminating unnecessary hospital transfers, to reducing the use of antipsychotics by joining family meetings, to improving residents’ quality of life with the introduction of a “Get to Know Me” project. Throughout her two decades at AgeCare Lakeview, Leona has shown an immense dedication to improving the lives of residents.
Nomination for the Workplace of the Year Award
In addition to these wonderful individuals, we were also thrilled to have one of our communities nominated for a Workplace of the Year Award. AgeCare Monashee Mews (Lumby, BC) has undergone a remarkable transformation in workplace culture over the last year, driven by a deep commitment to improvement and a renewed focus on leadership support. Staff now express enthusiasm about coming to work, confident in the consistent support of management. Families have also noticed the difference, sharing their appreciation for the welcoming atmosphere and the exceptional quality of care provided.
The impact of these efforts is evident through tangible improvements in engagement and satisfaction. Increased participation in team-building functions, along with greater involvement in activities and celebrations by both staff and residents, reflects a thriving community spirit. Compliments from families about the uplifting environment and exceptional care further highlight the success of this initiative. By prioritizing consistency and fostering genuine connections among staff, residents, and families, AgeCare Monashee Mews has become a home that residents are eager to move into and families trust wholeheartedly, making it a model for excellence in senior care.
We are proud of all these nominees for their dedication to providing quality care for our residents. Thank you to each of them for exemplifying the AgeCare difference!
