PLATTSBURGH — Tasha Hildreth took a job as resident assistant at Pine Harbour Assisted Living a few years ago.
Her never-ending desire to help the residents as best she can helped her earn a promotion to shift supervisor and then resident-assistant coordinator there in just a few short years.
Her efforts also caught the eye of the Empire State Association of Assisted Living, a nonprofit statewide organization dedicated to strengthening the state's assisted-living industry.
Hildreth recently received the Benay Phillips Memorial Award, an honor created by the Association of Assisted Living that includes a $1,000 grant for training, education and seminars.
"It was an honor," she said. "With the grant, I am going to go back to school and further my education in the assisted-living field."
She plans to pursue a degree in geriatric social work at Plattsburgh State. And her ultimate goal is to work as an admissions director to help new residents and their families adjust to the assisted-living setting.
That desire to help others in need has helped her succeed at what she does.
"Actually, I was a bartender before I started working here," she said. "I knew I wanted to do something to help people.
"I had started the LPN program at CV-Tec, but passing out meds wasn't the thing I wanted to do. I wanted something more hands-on, so I started working here with the elderly."
ALWAYS A SMILE
Resident assistants provide the folks at Pine Harbour with help completing activities of daily living, Hildreth explained.
While still pretty independent in a lot of ways, they sometimes need help with dressing, bathing or rising from bed in the morning, she said.
"These are people who can still do things for themselves. We do these daily-living activities with them, not for them."
She never fails to enjoy providing that assistance, she added.
"Whenever I'm having a bad day, I can sit down with a resident, and they will always put a smile on my face. I just enjoy being with them.
"You make a difference in their lives. Even by sitting down and helping them put on their shoes, they appreciate what you do for them. We make a difference in their lives, but they make a difference in ours as well."
As she furthers her career, Hildreth hopes to raise the awareness of assisted living.
It's a new concept in the local community, she said.
"A lot of people don't know assisted living is available. There are a lot of people in nursing homes who could be in assisted-living facilities."
Named for Benay Phillips, who dedicated more than 40 years of services to New York's elderly and disabled populations, the Association for Assisted Living award is intended to promote the continuation of her efforts.
"Tasha truly enjoys being involved in the day-to-day care of our senior population, helping make a difference in the lives of so many and embodying what the Benay Phillips Award is all about," said association Executive Director Lisa Newcomb.
"She stood out immediately because of her willingness to learn and her compassion for those in her care," said Pine Harbour Executive Director Raeanne McLaughlin.
"It was Tasha's dedication and spirit that led to her two promotions within her three years at Pine Harbour. She is a great asset to us and our residents."
E-mail Jeff Meyers at: jmeyers@pressrepublican.com
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