By Kathryn Millhorn
Former First Lady Rosalyn Carter once said, “Caregiving is universal. There are only four kinds of people in the world: those who have been caregivers, those who currently are caregivers, those who will be caregivers, and those who will need caregivers.” When it comes to caregiving, Olympia’s Garden Courte Memory Care Community has some of the very best caregivers in the area.
In November, Garden Courte honored two of their employees for outstanding care giving service. Certified Nursing Assistants David Gavilanes and Nicole Berndt were nominated for “Caregiver of the Year” by their peers, residents, and residents’ families. At a banquet which included staff from Garden Courte as well as nominees from other Thurston County assisted living facilities, Gavilanes and Berndt were chosen and presented with a framed certificate celebrating their achievement.
Both David and Nicole are newly minted CNA’s, with Garden Courte being their first foray into assistive care. While neither has worked for the organization long, their amazing progress so far almost certainly guarantees a successful future.
David’s nomination was an easy one, says Garden Courte’s Director of Nursing, Rachel Christianson. She praised him for arriving every day “giving 100%, always smiling, very compassionate with residents and friendly with their families.” The same is true of his co-worker and fellow nominee. Says Christianson, Nicole embodies “professional conduct, and her compassionate way with residents is very, very special.” Since the award ceremony, Nicole has moved to work for a sister facility in California and is thriving.
Garden Courte has long been an active participant in our community, and is a wealth of knowledge, caring, and skilled treatment for many aging needs. But Garden Courte does far more than elder care. They host and sponsor coat drives and school supply fundraisers for local families, honor the families of our local military service members, and open their doors to Caregiver/Family Support groups and a Speaker Series of topical lectures and guests. Residents are offered daily events and activities, from animal therapy to sing-alongs, movie outings to craft and art opportunities.
During this caring holiday season, it’s good to remember those who offer care. The loving staff at Garden Courte provides a service full of compassion, tenderness, and joy which embodies the words of Mother Teresa: “It is not how much we do—it is how much love we put into the doing.” We tip our hats to David and Nicole for consistently going above and beyond each and every day of the year.
