FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Marcie Barnett, Director of Education
Phone: 202-547-7424 email: mb@nahc.org
Washington, DC, November 3, 2003 – Hospice nurse Elaine Elliott, RN, of Turlock, California, and home care aide Pauline Pruitt of Winnfield, Louisiana, are the best home caregivers in the United States in 2003, according to the National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC). Elliott was named NAHC’S 2003 Home Healthcare/Hospice Nurse of the Year, and Pruitt received the 2003 Home Health Aide of the Year award.
“These two women embody the beauty of caring for another human being with all their hearts and souls,” said Val J. Halamandaris upon announcing the selections. “They both were universally acclaimed by physicians, supervisors, families and patients. Their special brand of selfless home-delivered health care sets a high standard for all of us.”
The annual awards are in conjunction with National Home Care Month, National Hospice Month and National Home Health Aide Week (Nov. 9-15) being celebrated this month. The announcements were made at NAHC’s annual meeting in Florida at the end of October.
Elliott, a home care professional for 25 years, is a true “nurse’s nurse.” She has served as primary nurse, hospice nurse, and recently as hospice supervisor and back up supervisor for home health at Home Care and Hospice of Emanuel in Turlock.
“Elaine represents excellence in hospice care for all who know her, be it physician, fellow clinician, or patients and family…Her leadership builds teamwork. Her character evokes respect,” wrote Diane Gomes, director of home care services at Elliott’s agency.
Pruitt, a home care aide with Winn Home Health Care, Inc. of Winnfield, has devoted more than 13 years to her profession, and remarkable testimonials from all walks of her life impressed NAHC’s judges.
“In all the years in which we have been recognizing some pretty wonderful people, I have never seen the outpouring of support and acclamation that we received on behalf of Ms. Pruitt. Clearly, she is revered in her community,” said Ken Wessel, chair of NAHC’s affiliated Home Care Aide Association of America (HCAA).
NAHC is the world’s largest representative of home-delivered health care. The association, founded in 1982, promotes the delivery of all levels of health care – from skilled to personal support – in the home setting. For more information about NAHC or home care, call 202-547-7424, or go online to www.nahc.org
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