Patricia Hendricks has been named the 2016 Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) of the Year by the Virginia Health Care Association-Virginia Center for Assisted Living. 

This award recognizes excellence among CNAs providing quality long-term care in the commonwealth.

Hendricks has spent 10 years with Heritage Hall-Blackstone, a skilled nursing center operated by American HealthCare. Hendricks’s nomination was supported by 19 letters of recommendation from her peers, residents of Heritage Hall-Blackstone and their family members. Nearly all of these letters noted her bright, infections smile and her upbeat attitude.

One family wrote about this year’s honoree, “We trusted her when we couldn’t be there.”  Multiple residents have said that she comes by at the end of her shift to make sure everyone has what they need, and that she always checks on them, even in instances when she wasn’t the assigned aide at the time.   

“Patricia exemplifies the integrity, work ethic, and charisma that every organization looks for.  She has earned the respect, admiration, and love of her peers, family members, and most important, the residents,” said Chad Isabelle, regional vice president of pperations of American HealthCare. 

Hendricks is known for going above and beyond her required responsibilities. She has earned her certification in Dementia Care and serves as a mentor to other CNAs at Heritage Hall-Blackstone through her professionalism, reliability, and compassion. In addition, she has maintained a perfect attendance record.

“Patricia’s dedication to providing compassionate long term care to some of Virginia’s most vulnerable citizens is to be admired,” said Keith Hare, president and CEO of VHCA-VCAL.