Two Nursing Home Employees Honored as ‘Heroes’

Spectrum staff

Two nursing home employees have been dubbed “Heroes in CAREgiving” by a local referral agency for their many years of caring for seniors.

Sharon Piraino and Angelica Prado-Asceo received the first annual awards presented by the Senior Care Solutions referral service.

The winners demonstrate compassion, attitude, respect and empathy — or CARE — for patients, families and co-workers, Senior Care Solutions owner Kinsel said.

Piraino has been a certified nursing assistant at Sierra Care and Rehabilitation in Roseville for 33 years. Candice Hale, administrator of the nursing home, said Piraino “has a knack for taking difficult care residents and giving them all of the extra love and attention they need.”

“Sharon has proven time and time again that her residents come first, and many times she sacrifices her own needs to meet the needs of her residents,” Hale said. “Family members of our residents ask for Sharon by name and constantly comment on the wonderful care she provides.”

Prado-Asceo has worked as Vintage Estates of Sacramento for the past seven years.

“Although Angelica was a nurse in her native Mexico, she was originally hired at this facility as a housekeeper,” Vintage Estates administrator Patricia Suter said.

During her six years as a housekeeper at the facility, Prado-Asceo improved her English and often went beyond the call of her assigned duties to help residents, Suter said.

“It was quite obvious to all that watched and knew Angelica that her true passion was patient care,” the administrator said.

So in 2001, the nursing home agreed to pay for Prado-Asceo to take classes through the Grant Adult Education District to become a CNA. She passed the state test and was certified last year, and went on to be named the nursing home’s employee of the year with the unanimous consent of the facility’s managers.

The two “Heroes in CAREgiving” were honored with special presentations at their facilities, and each received a gift basket with gift certificates for dinner and a movie. The gifts were provided by Senior Care Solutions and a co-sponsor, Home Instead Senior Care.

“The original idea was to select one ‘Hero’ award winner, but it was so difficult to decide on one we awarded honors to two caregivers,” Kinsel said.

Kinsel said special events also were held to honor the other 15 nominees.

Response has been so positive that the Heroes in CAREgiving awards will become an annual event, Kinsel said.