SIU Med School and IDA Honor Local Health Care Providers

Three central Illinois health care providers have been honored for their service to patients with dementia by the Southern Illinois University School of Medicine and the Illinois Department of Aging. The individuals were selected because of their commitment to care giving, particularly the emphasis each places on making residents feel important, cared for and worthwhile.

Beverly Kay McDermand of Bradford, a certified nursing assistant (CNA) at the Henry County Health Department in Kewanee, has been named Caregiver of the Year 2005 by SIU. Her nominators said, "Each time Beverly visits her patients, she greets them in a manner which makes them feel that visiting with them is the highlight of her day. She gently and kindly encourages each of them as they reach even the smallest milestone in self care."

Two runners-up named are Carol Kent, a CNA at the Addus Health Care in Quincy, and Chad Yost, a CNA at Apostolic Christian Nursing Home in Eureka.

This year's presentation marks the seventh year for the award, which is given by SIU's Alzheimer Center and the Illinois Department on Aging. The health care givers were chosen by a judging panel from a group of nominees.

The awards were presented at the conclusion of the School's seventh annual conference for CNAs and in-home health aides, held last month in Springfield. The conference was sponsored by the School's Alzheimer Center, the Education and Training Focus Group of the Dementia Caregivers Network and the Illinois Department on Aging.

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