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Life Care Center of Elizabethton earned multiple awards from the Tennessee Health Care Association (THCA) during the association’s annual Convention & Trade Show Aug. 17 in Nashville, where individuals, groups and facilities in a variety of categories were celebrated for their outstanding accomplishments in long-term care.

Life Care Center of Elizabethton won five awards:

– The Innovative Program Award, which the facility earned for its Serving All Humanity initiative. The program assists community members by opening the facility’s doors in cold weather, delivering meals, helping with the Medicaid process, and other efforts.

– Nursing Home Social Services Supervisor of the Year Amanda Colbaugh-Eller, who helped lead a facility renovation project and spearheads observances such as Nurses’ Week, CNA Week and Medical Records Week. She also secured a sponsorship to fund an outdoor movie screen to allow community members to watch movies with residents.

– Activity Coordinators of Tennessee Member of the Year Jessica Hall, who has spearheaded multiple initiatives at the facility including a “residents’ choice” employee of the month program and fund-raising for Alzheimer’s Tennessee.

– Directors of Nursing Association Member of the Year Kimberly Pierce, who has revitalized the facility’s restorative program and created a facility co-ed softball team that has improved staff retention.

– East Tennessee District Caregiver of the Year April McKinney, the facility’s director of housekeeping who is one of six district caregiver honorees who are in the running for THCA’s statewide Caregiver of the Year honor to be awarded in November.

“It’s an honor to recognize the hard work and skill of our award recipients. They set a very high standard with their amazing commitment to long-term care residents,” THCA Executive Director Jesse Samples said.

THCA is a nonprofit organization whose members include long-term care facilities located throughout the state.