Samaritan presented its annual Judy Taylor Award for Certified Home Health Service Excellence to Salema Moore during its 2022 Winterfest – an annual event, now virtually celebrated, recognizing employees and volunteers for their service milestones and dedication to the not-for-profit organization.
Each year, the Judy Taylor Award for Certified Home Health Service Excellence award is presented to a certified home health aide (CHHA) who has exceeded expectations and showed outstanding performance in his or her job. As this year’s recipient, Salema Moore, is being honored for the incredible personal, hands-on care they provide to patients and their families.
Salema is a dedicated, compassionate member of the Samaritan team – demonstrated in the 18 years that she has been a certified home health aide. She is a hard worker often working six days a week. Over the years, Salema has touched the lives of so many patients and their loved ones. They often describe Salema as an angel sent by God. Her angelic, compassionate care begins from the moment she visits a new patient.
With humbleness and kindness, she listens to them to understand their wants and needs. She truly meets them where they are and then goes above and beyond to enhance their lives and help them live in comfort and dignity.
Patients love her so much, they will often ask for Salema by name, and even wait for her to return from her days off to receive aide assistance. Her colleagues also recognize Salema for her work. They describe her as thorough and a team player.
“Thank you Salema for all you do! You are the Samaritan Difference!” added Mary Ann Boccolini, president and chief executive officer.
Judy Taylor, the award’s namesake, retired from Samaritan in 2011 after working in the CHHA department for 25 years. She served as inspiration and role model for the more than 80 aides she supervised and coordinated all functions of a department that is an essential part of the hospice team.
Hospice CHHAs provide personal services such as bathing, dressing, and grooming. They also support patients and families by providing light housekeeping and laundry services, serving small meals and snacks, and supporting family caregivers by teaching appropriate ways to lift, turn, and re-position their loved one, to keep them as comfortable as possible.