INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – The Indiana Health Care Association/Indiana Center for Assisted Living (IHCA/INCAL) is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2023 Senior Living Awards. Each year, the IHCA/INCAL recognizes individuals for their exemplary contributions and unwavering commitment to delivering quality care to Hoosier seniors. Recipients are selected from peer and colleague nominations.
“Our 2023 Senior Living Award honorees remind us that healthcare is more than just medicine. From preparing nutritious meals for the elderly to creating arts and crafts and giving a comforting smile or embrace, Ellen, Diane, and Linda have enriched the lives of the seniors they serve,” said Paul Peaper, president of IHCA/INCAL. “It is a privilege to honor this year’s award recipients’ and we hope their stories are an inspiration for all health care heroes in our state as we jointly work to serve Hoosiers.”
The 2023 Senior Living Award recipients are:
Caregiver of the Year
- Ellen Chambers, Saint Anne Victory Knoll, Saint Anne Communities, Huntington, Indiana
- Diane Sturgeon, Springs Valley Meadows – American Senior Communities, French Lick, Indiana
Volunteer of the Year
- Linda Kuhn, Brownsburg Meadows Assisted Living Communities, American Senior Communities, Brownsburg, Indiana
Ellen Chambers has been part of the dietary department at Saint Anne Victory Noll for the past six years and has been in dining services her entire career. She has extensive knowledge about food and during her career has worked as a dining service director at many long-term care facilities and has even owned a restaurant. She is 81 years old and has an immense passion for cooking and serving delicious meals to her residents customized to meet their individual preferences. She goes above and beyond every day to make her residents feel special. From baking birthday cakes to peanut brittle and chocolate covered brownies, Ellen brings so much joy to her residents with colorful and mouthwatering dishes that she makes for them with love and care. The staff and residents at Saint Anne’s are blessed to have a caregiver like Ellen and she is an asset to the Huntington community and our profession. Watch this video to learn more about Ellen!
Diane Sturgeon has been an integral part of the long-term care profession for 30 years, working her way as a certified nursing assistant to serving as a unit manager for the last 15 years at Springs Valley Meadows. She is also wound care certified and often shares that healing wounds and sending residents home with a smile on their face when they have finished their rehabilitation are some of the favorite parts of her job. She has dedicated her life to caring for the elderly and is very passionate about delivering exceptional care. She is also highly skilled at managing difficult end-of-life conversations and has an extraordinary ability to provide comfort to families while clearly explaining resident’s health status from a clinical perspective. Staff look up to her as their role model and are inspired by her unwavering commitment to care. Watch this video to learn more about Diane!
Linda Kuhn has been serving as a volunteer at Brownsburg Meadows Assisted Living for many years. She is known as the facility’s Swiss knife and is admired by all for her willingness to assist the team and does so graciously with a big smile on her face. She primarily does crafts with the residents, but also manages the front desk when needed, and can even be seen doing dishes in the kitchen. Linda exemplifies selfless service and inspires everyone around her by her tireless efforts for creating unique experiences for the residents. Watch this video to learn more about Linda!
IHCA/INCAL also awarded its Public Servant of the Year award to Representative Brad Barrett, Chairman of the Public Health Committee. The Public Servant of the Year award is bestowed on those public officials who help champion and advance the long term care profession.
During the 2023 legislative session, Rep. Barrett served as the author of the House Enrolled Act 1461, which includes several provisions that help the long-term care sector’s regulatory environment and address some of the workforce challenges confronting long-term care providers across the state. Additionally, in his role as Chair of the House Public Health Committee, Barrett championed several other pieces of legislation which increased funding to assisted living providers and maintained tax exemptions for not-for-profit providers.
Recipients of the 2023 Senior Living Awards were honored during IHCA/INCAL’s annual Convention & Expo on Monday, July 31 at the JW Marriott Indianapolis.
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IHCA/INCAL is the state’s largest trade association and advocacy group representing for-profit and not-for-profit nursing homes, as well as assisted living communities and Independent Living. The association provides education, information, and advocacy for health care providers, consumers, and the workforce on behalf of its more than 480-member facilities.
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