Jean Cannon Assisted Living Administrator of the Year
Jean Cannon is honored by the Colorado Health Care Association as Assisted Living Administrator of the Year! She is currently the Director of Aspen House Assisted Living in Loveland, Colorado, which specializes in memory care. Ms. Cannon was unable to attend the ceremony, and her sister Carmy Jerome (who is the Assistant Director as Aspen House) accepted it on her behalf.

PRESENTER: Good evening. Assisted living residences are an important part of the continuum of care. Recognizing this, the American Health Care Association created the National Center for Assisted Living, and CHCA followed their lead by created the Colorado Center for Assisted Living. Our assisted living membership continues to grow, and we continue to develop our representation of this important component of the continuum of long-term care. Having said that, it is my honor and privilege to present the Assisted Living Administrator of the Year Award.

She began her career as a teenager, beginning as a nurse aide in a skilled nursing facility, and immediately recognized her passion for caring for seniors. Because of this passion, she took on the role as Executive Director of her community on the day it opened in February of 2010.

Her passion and dedication to her community is inspiring. She empowers her staff by knowing in her heart how amazing they are. This administrator recognizes the value of well-trained, committed care partners. She encourages her staff to take advantage of all training opportunities, and often implements their ideas and suggestions in the community. By doing this she has created a staff that is well vested in the care of their residents, as well as their careers in her community.

She has forged relationships with other facilities to provide comprehensive training and person centered care, and has been a trustworthy consult to other facilities on their difficult cases.

She recognizes the importance of knowing the residents unique personalities, wants and needs. She moved a recliner into her office for resident comfort when they drop in to talk or just take a nap. This individual serves on the board of the Colorado Culture Change Coalition, and was instrumental in reviving the Northern Colorado chapter.

She is also a state and national speaker on dementia care and staff retention. This nominee has led this memory care assisted living community to earn the Alzheimer’s Association distinction “Leaders in Dementia Care” for two years since its inception. Further, her memory care assisted living community has been recognized by the City of Loveland as number one in customer service and number two as best employer and best senior living community in just three short years since opening.

A coworker says, “She has created an environment for those living with cognitive impairments that allows them to continue to live full vital lives. The activities are such that she feels useful, valuable and needed. She follows the belief that life does not end with a dementia diagnosis.”

This special individual that will be honored tonight is Jean Cannon from Aspen House Memory Care.