Caregiving Heroes honored at Golden Care Awards

        On Nov. 1, the Wood County Committee on Aging honored compassionate caregivers at the annual Golden Care Awards, held at the Wood County Senior Center in Bowling Green.
        The event was designed to recognize National Caregivers Month in November and to honor caregivers within Wood County communities and facilities.
        The Wood County Committee on Aging accepted nominations from friends, family, and coworkers of caregivers who go above and beyond every day to care for those they serve. All nominees from three categories, including agency support staff, medical professionals and community caregivers, were recognized at the event. Each nomination was reviewed by the Wood County Commissioners, who selected one winner from each category.
        Event committee sponsors included Bowling Green Manor, Briar Hill Health Care Campus, Bridge Home Health & Hospice, Brookdale of Bowling Green, Kingston of Perrysburg and Wood Haven Health Care.
        Winners included Laura Steffan, agency support staff caregiver from Wood Haven Health Care; Deb Klasen, medical staff caregiver from Wood Haven Health Care and Amy Lee, community caregiver.
        A special award for “Wood County Advocate of the Year” was presented to Maureen Veit, Adult Protective Services, Wood County Job & Family Services.
        The complete list of caregiving heroes honored includes:
        • Support staff: Jim Cress, Michelle Davenport, Jennifer Lewellen, Laura Steffan and Tabitha Tippen.
        • Medical professionals: Amanda Esquivel, Scott Fornwald, Linda Hazard, Shannon Herrig, Deb Klasen, Alaina LaCourse, Tanai Lyles, Korie Poling, Shelly Ruehl and Amanda Wagner.
        • Community caregivers: Gail Baden, Amy Lee, Ken Lohman, Doug Ringler and Bill Scovell.
        This year’s Golden Care Award ceremony can be viewed on WCCOA’s YouTube page at youtube.com and searching “WCCOA, Inc.”
        “WCCOA and our partner organizations would like to thank those caregiving heroes in our communities,” said Danielle Brogley, director of programs.
        For information Wood County Committee on Aging programs and services, call 419-353-5661 or 800-367-4935 or visit wccoa.net.