LeadingAge New Jersey & Delaware Honors Aging Services Heroes at Awards Ceremony in Hamilton, NJ

Photos of the ceremony and award recipients are available to media upon request.

The LeadingAge New Jersey & Delaware 2023 Awards Program, held on Wednesday, January 25^th at The Boathouse at Mercer Lake, located in West Windsor, recognized aging services heroes who are making a difference in the lives of elders and their local communities.

Award recipients include distinguished and dedicated professionals from across the aging services continuum, serving elders in nursing homes, assisted living residences, homecare and independent senior affordable housing communities.

Cindy Shemansky, Assistant Executive Director & Administrator at Masonic Village at Burlington in Burlington, a Life Plan Community, received the association’s most prestigious honor, the President’s Award. A registered nurse and staff member of Masonic Village at Burlington since 1985, Shemansky has dedicated more than 37 years to the service of seniors at Masonic Village and has moved through the ranks to now hold the position of Assistant Executive Director and Administrator of this 450-acre facility that serves more than 400 seniors.

“By 2030, 3.5 million workers will be needed to care for our ever-growing elder population,” notes LeadingAge NJ & Delaware’s CEO Jim McCracken. “Older adults and their families deserve to have access to dependable quality long-term care, services, and affordable housing. LANJDE’s 2023 Award Recipients are dedicating their lives to ensuring elders can age with compassionate care, dignity, and respect. It’s a tough job and we need to do everything we can to recognize their incredible contributions.”

LeadingAge New Jersey & Delaware celebrated the outstanding achievements of the following award recipients

Excellence in Care

• Darlene Datil, Lead Social Worker, Fair Share Support Services, Mount Laurel
• Elzbieta (Ella) Zala, LPN, N.J. Eastern Star Home, Bridgewater
• Etan Hindin, Director of Spiritual Care, Daughters of Israel, West Orange
• Euis Diah Sugirin, Assistant Director of Nursing, Parker Health, Piscataway

Excellence in Community Service

• Asia Saxton, Supportive Service Coordinator, UMC at Bishop Taylor, East Orange
• Beth Gebhart, Director of Community Relations & Volunteers, Lutheran Social Ministries of NJ, Burlington
• Martha Soto, Store Manager, Westfield Senior Citizens Housing, Westfield

Excellence in Professional Advancement

• Keenan Masterson, Food & Beverage Director, Harrogate, Lakewood
• Suzanne Ransehousen, Nurse Practitioner, Cokesbury Village, an Acts Retirement-Life Community, Hockessin
• Tatina Carr, Director of Nursing, Lions Gate, Voorhees

Excellence in Innovation

• Recruitment and Retention Task Force, United Methodist Communities, Neptune

Excellence in Leadership

• Jeanette Edghill, Corporate Manager of Housing, United Methodist Communities, Neptune
• Lauren Levant, Vice President of Human Resources, The Jewish Home Family, Rockleigh
• Mary Mariconda, Director, Hillcrest & Evergreen Court, Christian Health, Wyckoff
• Rich Mercado, Senior Director of Culinary & Catering Services, Fellowship Senior Living, Basking Ridge

Since 1931, LeadingAge New Jersey has represented mission driven nursing homes, assisted living residences, residential health care centers, independent senior housing, affordable senior housing, and life plan communities throughout the entire state. In 2020, the association expanded to include Delaware and now Leading Age NJ & DE serve over 145 provider and community-based members, who in turn serve thousands of elders every year. In support of its mission, LeadingAge NJ & DE encourages collaboration with businesses, communities, state and local government, and other public and private entities also committed to enhancing the quality of life for the senior citizens in those states. LeadingAge New Jersey & Delaware is a state affiliate of LeadingAge.

#     #     #     #