Birches Assisted Living Associate Terry Dutkovich Honored by Life Services Network

The Birches Assisted Living in Clarendon Hills is proud to announce that Birches Associate Terry Dutkovich has been awarded the Hearts and Hands Award by Life Services Network. Life Services Network is the largest eldercare association in Illinois and recognizes four individuals annually for providing outstanding service in the eldercare industry.

Dutkovich is being recognized in the Hearts and Hands category, which is reserved for individuals who go above and beyond the normal responsibilities of their job to offer person-centered care to the clients they serve. Honorees in this category are recognized for providing special enrichment, increasing quality of life, and responding to the needs and values of their clients.

Jackie Raschke, The Birches’ Director of Encore and Memory Care Services, nominated Dutkovich for the award because of her positive attitude, generous nature, and dedication to the residents in The Birches’ memory care neighborhood.

“She comes to work every day with a smile on her face and a mission to make today the best day for the residents. She is usually the last to finish her work at the end of her day because she gives each resident the quality time they need to complete their Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) and encourages them to do as much as they can for themselves,” Raschke said of Dutkovich in the nomination application.

Raschke was also impressed with Dutkovich’s role in The Birches’ Hearts and Heroes project, in which The Birches sent Valentine’s Day care packages to U.S. soldiers. According to Raschke, Dutkovich played an instrumental part in implementing the project. She worked with residents, staff, and residents’ family members as they decorated the care packages, she assisted in getting names of soldiers to send them to, and she helped assemble and mail the packages.

“She helped make a difference in the residents’ lives with this project because they were able to feel like a part of the greater community. This was not expected of her, this is just how she is,” Raschke said of Dutkovich in the nomination application.

Life Services Network will officially present the award to Dutkovich at its Annual Meeting and Exhibition, which takes place at the Donald E Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, IL April 30 to May 2, 2014.