WEST HARTFORD – A home caregiver described as someone who “goes above and beyond” received recognition for her work from the Alzheimer’s Association Connecticut Chapter at an awards luncheon held Nov. 9 at the Pond House. Denise Guillemette, LPN, of Hartford HealthCare at Home, was nominated by Patty O’Brian, CDP, Alzheimer’s/dementia specialist, Hartford HealthCare Center for Healthy Aging.
O’Brian and Guillemette worked together to ensure necessary services were implemented for an older couple who lived in North Franklin. Guillemette obtained a statewide respite grant so the wife would be taken care of when the husband had surgery. As the wife’s Alzheimer’s disease progressed, it became evident that the husband could not care for her because of safety issues impacting them both. “Denise worked to get her into a long-term care facility while making sure the husband knew he had done a great job taking care of his wife,” O’Brian said.
Guillemette, a behavioral health nurse, who has been with Hartford HealthCare at Home since 2000, has additional training in Alzheimer’s care, depression/anxiety and other issues affecting the elderly. In 2009, she received a Nightingale Award in nursing excellence. “I am so proud and excited to receive this recognition,” Guillemette said upon receiving the Alzheimer’s Association award.
Hartford HealthCare Center for Healthy Aging, a not-for-profit member of Hartford HealthCare Senior Services, is a resource and assessment center designed to enhance access to services and information related to attaining optimal quality of life for seniors and their caregivers. For more information about Hartford HealthCare Center for Healthy Aging, call 1.877.424.4641 or click here. Hartford HealthCare at Home is a community-based home health care agency across most of Connecticut, which enables individuals to achieve maximum independence, to participate in their own plan of care, and to live with dignity while receiving quality care in their own homes. For more information, call 1.800.HomeCare/1.800.466.3227 or click here.