Rose Amador from Spring Ridge Park Assisted Living in Wheat Ridge and Corinne Emerson from Horizons Specialized Services in Craig were named cowinners of this year’s awards given annually to a Colorado professional caregiver who provides outstanding care to people with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementia.
The pair were among five finalists chosen from nearly 50 nominations across Colorado. The individual caregivers were nominated by family members and peers who singled these caregivers out for their high standards of service and commitment to the individuals for whom they provided care.
“Service to and care of older adults living with Alzheimer’s disease is one of the most challenging professions,” said Amelia Schafer, executive director of the Alzheimer’s Association of Colorado. “These two individuals are among a stellar group of nominees who treat the people in their care as if they were their own family. I wish it was possible to award them all.”
Rose Amador of Spring Ridge Park Assisted Living is a QMAP/resident assistant. A nominator wrote about Amador: “Rose has cared for my mother for four years and has proven herself to be kind, honest and responsible even when the toughest of times have affected her professionally and personally. This year, not only has Rose remained loyal to care giving as her profession amidst risks associated with working outside of the home during the pandemic, but she has continued to do so even when her husband of many years recently passed away as well as her niece. Instead of focusing on herself, she felt a duty to return to Spring Ridge after only two weeks of mourning and devote her time to caring for my mother and other loved ones suffering from dementia. This sense of duty is even more admirable to me and the families who depend on caregivers to be present for our loved ones since we are not able to visit regularly and care for them ourselves due to COVID restrictions.”
The nominator added: “I think caregivers sometimes forget the human nature of people with dementia and don’t take the time to look at them as another human, a peer, a loved one. Rose is not afraid to do this. She is able to look deeply into my mother’s eyes and smile warmly, calming her and making her feel secure.”
Spring Ridge Park is proud of Rose for winning this prestigious award!