Albia resident honored as CNA of the Year

Connie Elswick of Oakwood Specialty Care in Albia received Care Initiatives Outstanding CNA Award for 2015. Elswick has been serving as a certified aide/med aide/restorative aide for almost 20 years.

“Connie will stop at nothing to get her residents what they need to thrive,” says Administrator Rachel Gooden. “She is so passionate for her residents, she even wrote her local congressman regarding some of the issues residents and veterans have with their insurance and how the issues with government programs affect long term care residents.”

As a result, Elswick was asked to join six CNAs and members of the National Association of Health Care Assistants in going to Washington D.C. to meet with congressmen, representatives and health care leaders.

“Connie doesn’t hesitate to fill in extra hours when needed,” Gooden says. “To her, she’s just taking care of her family.”

Oakwood Specialty Care is an 86-bed skilled nursing facility offering rehabilitation services, skilled nursing care, long term care, and hospice care. It is owned and operated by Care Initiatives, Iowa’s largest not-for-profit senior care provider.  With headquarters in West Des Moines, Care Initiatives and Care Initiatives Hospice operate 56 skilled nursing care, rehabilitation, Alzheimer’s/dementia, assisted living and hospice locations throughout Iowa. For more information about Care Initiatives, visit careinitiatives.org or call 641-932-7105.