Tina Jones, a Certified Nursing Assistant for LIFE at St. Joseph of the Pines, has been honored with the Individual of Merit NC PACE Award: Direct Care.
Jones received the award last week at the North Carolina PACE Association Annual Conference in Durham. It is presented to an individual who provides the highest quality care to participants, reflecting PACE (Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly) values.
Jones knew she had been nominated, but was surprised to win.
“I was very emotional. I started crying,” she said. “I’ve never received anything like that before.”
Jones said the secret to her success is simple.
“I treat people the way I want to be treated,” she said. “I love my job, and I love the Lord. I’m a Christian. I don’t deserve this honor. When I get to heaven, I’m going to get the big reward.”
LIFE Executive Director Deb Bateman said the award confirms what the LIFE staff already knew about Jones.
“She is an exemplary CNA, colleague, and friend to our participants,” Bateman said. “On top of her selfless nature, Mrs. Jones has been a loyal and vocal referral source for PACE. She leads by example and is very deserving of the honor.”
Jones was nominated for the award by LIFE Marketing Coordinator Meagan Honaker.
“Mrs. Jones happily takes initiative and spearheads fun activities with participants, such as the bonnet project,” Honaker wrote in her nominating letter. “This project in particular, which provided bonnets to over 200 participants, served as a catalyst for the LIFE sewing circle and multiple learning seminars in which Mrs. Jones not only provided supplies, but also patiently taught participants how to sew and mend clothing.”
Honaker added that Jones “can always be found with a smile and a helping hand for any participant, family member or co-worker.”
“She is a soothing presence and preferred caregiver for participants, often being the only person able to ‘reach’ or calm an agitated participant,” Honaker said. “She has consistently provided loving care to PACE participants in her four-plus years of service at the center.”
Caroline Hendricks, vice president of home- and community-based services for St. Joseph of the Pines, presented “PACE Trivia” at the conference with Shawn Bloom, president of the National PACE Association.
“The whole purpose was to bring awareness about PACE to conference attendees,” said Hendricks, a North Carolina PACE Association board member. “Many conference seminars target top-shelf executives, but we chose a fun way to reach staff members at all levels. We gave away prizes. Everyone had a good time.”
Erika Squires, enrollment coordinator at LIFE, provided attendees with a six-minute presentation on enrollment, while Honaker served on the conference’s planning and educational committees.
St. Joseph of the Pines is an aging services network offering a full continuum of retirement housing, health care and community-based services for older adults as well as community outreach to those in need. It is a Trinity Health Senior Community continuing the legacy of the Sisters of Providence.
Pictured:
“Tina Jones, center, receives the Individual of Merit NC PACE Award: Direct Care from Linda Shaw, left, executive director for NC PACE, and Ursula Robinson, an NC PACE board member and executive director for PACE of the Triad.”
