Sylvia Allen, a resident at A.G. Rhodes at Wesley Woods, was awarded the Exceptional Friend or Family Caregiver Award in Washington, D.C. on Monday, March 16.
The award recognizes an individual who demonstrates outstanding compassion and abilities in one-on-one caregiving for a friend or family member living with dementia. Sylvia was honored because she chooses to live on the memory care floor to support, comfort and befriend residents with advanced dementia.
“Sylvia has an ability to sit with residents with dementia and connect with them in a way that staff don’t always have the capacity to do,” said Al Blackwelder, Chief Executive Officer at A.G. Rhodes. “She is a great source of comfort to residents and their families, and puts them at ease during an often difficult time.”
Listen to Sylvia’s acceptance remarks.
The award was presented at LeadingAge’s Great Minds Gala. LeadingAge is an association of nonprofit organizations representing the entire field of aging services, and the gala honored several individuals who went above and beyond to improve the lives of those touched by Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias.
Dear Abby, also known as Jeanne Phillips, was also honored at the event with the 2015 Proxmire Award, which recognizes a national figure who has demonstrated leadership and positively impacted public awareness around Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.
The Great Minds Gala program was hosted by NPR radio journalist, Diane Rehm.