The state’s largest organization representing long-term care facilities has honored a Cincinnati, Ohio Man as its March 2013 “Hero of Long-Term Care.”
Bill Atwood, Director of Environmental Services at Cottingham Retirement Community, Cincinnati, was selected by the Ohio Health Care Association (OHCA) as its Hero of Long-Term Care for the month of March 2013. The organization chooses one long-term care employee each month to honor for their service to long-term caregivers, residents and the community.
Atwood will be honored at the Association’s 2013 Annual Convention in Columbus, Ohio, and will be featured on the OHCA website (www.ohca.org) during the month of March.
Margie Berryman, Executive Director at Cottingham, says that Atwood is passionate about serving the facility’s residents and the community.
“Bill is very much respected by the families who have a loved one at the facility,” says Berryman. “He has the innate quality of being in the right place at the right time . . . he constantly worries about the comfort of the residents, and he has a genuine interest in their well being.”
Known as the “donut man” for his habit of bringing in treats for the different departments, a birthday, someone having a challenging week or a special occasion, Atwood has been in his position for more than 16 years. Although the facility’s 200,000 square foot building is over 25 years old, visitors, residents and others comment on its cleanliness and how well-maintained it looks, enhancing the residents’ experience.
Norm Haag, the Resident Manager at Cottingham, says that Atwood leads by example; he says “if the weather is changing, I’d bet my bottom dollar bill will be in the facility by 2:00 a.m., whether it’s a snow storm or severe weather warning.” He adds that Atwood’s greatest asset is the love for the residents and his job.
According to Berryman, Atwood is always looking at improving the residents’ quality of life.
“Bill’s daily acts of kindness are displayed to all he encounters,” said Berryman. He not only serves his family at Cottingham Retirement Community, but feels a sense of responsibility for others. He possesses an instinctive, 24 hours a day awareness of the facility’s environment and ensures the safety and comfort of our residents, staff and family members. He is truly our Hero of Long-Term Care!”
Cottingham Retirement Community provides skilled nursing care services, short term rehabilitation, therapies, assisted living independent living and other health care services on its campus. The facility is located at 3995 Cottingham Drive, Cincinnati, OH 45241, 513-563-3600. Additional information is available on the web at
www.deaconess-healthcare.com/Cottingham_Retirement_Communit y .
The Ohio Health Care Association is a non-profit association of more than 800 skilled nursing facilities, assisted living communities, and providers serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, representing over 50,000 individuals. Many OHCA members also provide a variety of home and community-based services. OHCA is the largest long-term care association in the state, and the only chartered Ohio affiliate of the American Health Care Association, representing more than 12,000 long-term care facilities nationwide.
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