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Globe nursing assistant receives company’s divisional customer service award

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Marie Brantley, a certified nursing assistant at Heritage Health Care Center in Globe, received Life Care Centers of America’s Southwest Division Whatever It Takes And Then Some Award on Aug. 29 for her dedication to customer service.

Executives from Life Care awarded Brantley a $1,000 cash prize during an awards ceremony at the company’s headquarters in Cleveland, Tenn. She was chosen from among thousands of associates in the Southwest Division and was one of eight associates from Life Care’s more than 200 facilities to receive the award.

An associate at the building for more than 14 years, Brantley has bought lotions and body washes for residents with her own money for several years. She has brought in homemade chicken noodle soup for patients in her care, paid for haircuts for residents who didn’t have the money and takes home laundry for a resident who wants to have certain items handled with extra care.

Brantley even came in on her vacation and held the hand of a dying resident who had no family to be with her in her last hours. She stayed until the resident passed and then tenderly prepared her body.

“I’m very humbled, very blessed,” said Brantley. “Seeing the residents smile, hearing their stories — that drives me. I love the facility and our residents: we’re a family. We love each other and support each other.”

The program rewards associates for extraordinary acts of kindness. Monthly awards are presented in Life Care facilities based on nominations from fellow associates, family members, residents and guests. Each facility then chooses an annual winner, from which the divisional winners are selected.

“Dedicated caregivers routinely go far above and beyond ... and Marie Brantley certainly demonstrates by her example their professionalism and compassion for the residents they serve,” said Beecher Hunter, Life Care president. “We are proud of Marie and the thousands she represents in their selfless approach.”

Heritage Health Care Center, located at 1300 South St., is one of 10 skilled nursing and rehab facilities in Arizona managed by Life Care Centers of America.