FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Marcie Barnett, Director of Education
Phone: 202-547-7424 email: mb@nahc.org
Washington, DC, November 3, 2003 – Home care aide Pauline Pruitt of Winnfield, Louisiana, is the best personal home caregiver in the United States in 2003, according to the National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC). Pruitt received the 2003 Home Health Aide of the Year award at NAHC’s recent annual meeting in Florida.
“Pauline Pruitt embodies the beauty of caring for another human being
with all her heart and soul,” said Val J. Halamandaris upon announcing
the selections. “She was universally acclaimed by physicians, supervisors,
families and patients. Her special brand of selfless home-delivered health care
sets a high standard for all of us.”
Pruitt, a 13-year veteran home care aide with Winn Home Health Care, Inc. of
Winnfield, Louisiana, took top national honors due to her remarkable impact
on all who know her, from colleagues to community.
“We are proud to recognize this exceptional woman who has devoted her
life to providing health care and supportive services to the nation’s infirm
and disabled
citizens,” said Ken Wessel, chair of NAHC’s affiliated Home Care Aide
Association of America (HCAA).
“In all the years in which we have been recognizing some pretty wonderful people, I have never seen the outpouring of support and acclamation that we received on behalf of Ms. Pruitt. Clearly, she is revered in her community,” Wessel added.
In addition to her nomination by Maureen Wise, administrator of Winn Home Health Care, NAHC received dozens of laudatory letters from fellow employees, physicians, patients, family members, and prominent members of the community.
One of Pruitt’s patients said: “Pauline is very good. She has taken care of me on and off for four years. I have come to love and respect her not only as a nurse but as a friend.” Another patient said, “She is one of the greatest blessings in my life.”
Pruitt is popular with her colleagues, who wrote glowingly of their respect for her. “She is a pleasure to work with. She always has a bright and smiling face,” wrote one colleague. Other comments from co-workers included: “Pauline loves helping others;” “She has all the patience in the world for her patients;” “She loves even those who are not easy to love;” and “She provided exceptional care; she is always there when you need her.”
A referring physician wrote, “Pauline is an exceptional nursing aide who is praised by all her patients. She demonstrates the qualities of honesty, integrity, dependability and most of all, compassion.” The physician’s office manager added, “She has a Christ-like attitude and a heart to serve.”
Pruitt’s pastor, Michael Howell, has known her as a member of the First Assembly of God Church in Winnfield, Louisiana, for some 20 years. He noted that Pruitt served in any capacity needed in the church, including as a janitor, Sunday school teacher, choir member, soloist, and member of the drama team.
In addition to working as a home health aide for the past 13 years and serving her church and community, Pruitt is also a wife, mother of four children, and grandmother to eight youngsters. She loves quilting, working in the yard and playing with her grandchildren.
NAHC is the world’s largest representative of home-delivered health care. The association, founded in 1982, promotes the delivery of all levels of health care – from skilled to personal support – in the home setting. For more information about NAHC or home care, call 202-547-7424, or go online to www.nahc.org
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