The National Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners (NCCDP) Announces our 2017 Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) of the Year

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National Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners

Jul 31, 2017, 09:17 ET

SPARTA, N.J., July 31, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Lisa Ford, CDP, has been awarded the 2017 CNA of the Year by the National Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners. Established in 2003, the NCCDP's CNA of the Year Awards Program honors one CNA, PCA, HHA, and/or GNA who is a CDP in good standing, has met the state criteria to hold their certification and provides exemplary services to the most vulnerable older Americans. Certified nursing assistants work in nursing homes, assisted living communities, adult day care programs, hospitals, home care agencies, hospice agencies, psychiatric facilities, rehabilitation centers, government agencies, associations and learning institutions. This year the NCCDP received hundreds of nominations from around the country.

Congratulations to NCCDP’s 2017 CNA of the Year Lisa Ford! Lynn Biot Gordon, Chief Operating Officer of the NCCDP (left), and Sandra Stimson, Chief Executive Officer of the NCCDP (right), were proud to award Lisa Ford (center) CNA of the Year.

From left: Managing Director of Operations at Watermark Retirement, Rich Howell, Regional Director of Resident Programming, Maureen Garvey, NCCDP’s Chief Operating Officer, Lynn Biot-Gordon, 2017 CNA of the Year, Lisa Ford, NCCDP’s Chief Executive Officer, Sandra Stimson, Watermark’s Director of Health Services, Denise Julian, and Managing Director of Watermark Retirement, Fred Zarrilli.

From left to right: Watermark’s Supervisor of Assisted Living, Kathleen Pye, Watermark’s Regional Director of Resident Programming, Maureen Garvey, Carolyn DeRocco of the Connecticut Alzheimer’s Association, Watermark’s Director of Health Services, Denise Julian, Chief Operating Officer of the NCCDP, Lynn Biot Gordon, Managing Director of Operations at Watermark Retirement, Rich Howell, CNA of the Year, Lisa Ford, Chief Executive Officer of the NCCDP, Sandra Stimson, Managing Director of Watermark Retirement, Fred Zarrilli, Connecticut Lieutenant Governor Nancy Wyman, Watermark’s Regional Sales Director, Dawn Marie Trombetta, and Chris Carter of the Connecticut Assisted Living Association.

Connecticut Lieutenant Governor Nancy Wyman (left) congratulates 2017 CNA of the Year, Lisa Ford

Lisa Ford and Sema Kamrass. Kamrass, along with many other residents’ family members, submitted nominations in support of Ford.

Lisa Ford is employed as a nursing assistant at Watermark Retirement Communities. Watermark does not use the title "caregiver," or CNA. Instead, Ford's title is Naya. This word comes from the original Sanskrit language translation: a guide, person of wisdom and a leader who is engaged in the present moment, cultivating a sense of well-being, community and creativity. All Watermark Nayas are required to become Certified Dementia Practitioners (CDP®), to uphold Watermark's commitment to extraordinary care.

Lisa Ford's outstanding reputation as the lead Naya at the Memory Care Villa (part of Watermark at East Hill) inspired many of her colleagues, and the families of residents she cares for, to submit nominations for their valued coworker. Perhaps one of the best testaments came from Watermark's Regional Director of Resident Programming, and Certified Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia Care Trainer (CADDCT®), Maureen Bonner Garvey. "I can honestly say that I would consider Lisa Ford the most extraordinary CNA of all those that I have met in the past decade," says Bonner Garvey. "She is always balancing a to do list that includes each resident's care plan, as well as things that need to happen in the household, while also managing her time and those of her co-workers. And it seems nothing can rattle Lisa." Bonner Garvey describes Ford as a caring individual who "builds relationships" with her residents. The President of Watermark Retirement Communities, David Barnes, echoed Bonner Garvey's sentiment: "Watermark Retirement Communities is thrilled that Lisa Ford's dedication to her residents and industry has been acknowledged by the NCCDP."

Ford received the CNA of the Year award in July at the Villa. NCCDP's Chief Operating Officer, Lynn Biot Gordon, and Chief Executive Officer, Sandra Stimson, joined Lieutenant Governor of Connecticut, Nancy Wyman, Vice President of Education and Programs of the Connecticut Alzheimer's Association, Carolyn DeRocco, President of the Connecticut Assisted Living Association, Chris Carter, Watermark Retirement's Managing Director of Operations, Richard Howell, Managing Director, Fred Zarrielli, Director of Health Services, Denise Julian, Regional Sales Director, Dawn Marie Trombetta, Supervisor of Assisted Living, Kathleen Pye, Regional Director of Resident Programming, Maureen Bonner Garvey, resident family member, Sema Kamrass, fellow team members, and Ford's family, to present the CNA of the year award to Ford. The NCCDP would like to applaud the valued commitment of Lisa Ford. In her 15 years with Watermark she has truly shown herself to be an inspiration to her coworkers, an asset to the company, and an empathetic caregiver whose compassion has, undoubtedly, touched those most in need of consummate care.