NCAL awards: AL leaders of the year

The National Center for Assisted Living (NCAL) has announced the winners of its 2014 NCAL Awards Program.

• NCAL Noble Caregiver in Assisted Living: Connie Leinberger, activity coordinator at Harmony of Riverview Village, Menomonee Falls, Wis. Leinberger has created multiple activity programs to keep residents engaged, inspired and active within the community.

• NCAL Administrator of the Year: Jean Cannon, executive director at Aspen House Memory Care Assisted Living, Loveland, Colo. In 2013, the Colorado Health Care Association also named her Administrator of the Year.

• NCAL Assisted Living Nurse of the Year: Laura Cardillo, RN, CDP, CVW, director of wellness at The Avalon at Hillsborough, Hillsborough, N.J. Cardillo also serves as a dementia educator, bringing accolades to her community from the National Council of Certified Dementia Care Practitioners.

• NCAL National Assisted Living Week Programming Award: Cathy Roark of Riverside Lodge Retirement Community in Grand Island, Neb. Roark kept residents active and involved during National Assisted Living Week with activities that combined fun, food, community and respect for others.

The winners will be honored at the 2014 American Health Care Association/NCAL convention in October.

Pamela Tabar

Pamela Tabar was editor-in-chief of I Advance Senior Care from 2013-2018. She has worked as a writer and editor for healthcare business media since 1998, including as News Editor of Healthcare Informatics. She has a master’s degree in journalism from Kent State University and a master’s degree in English from the University of York, England.