Madge Wilson was the guest of honor at the 68th Annual Health Care Association of New Jersey Convention and Expo in Atlantic City.
Known for her giving spirit and constant acts of service, Wilson was the winner of the association’s 2016 Volunteer of the Year award.
Wilson, a board member and outreach coordinator, was nominated by the staff at New Community Extended Care Facility in July. She has been a volunteer at Extended Care, a 180-bed capacity skilled nursing facility in Newark, for the last five years. She dedicates her time to helping discharged residents secure housing and furniture. Beyond that, she even ensures that residents are supplied with groceries. On a regular basis, Wilson visits nursing home residents to inquire about their wellbeing and happiness while staying at Extended Care.
“All of us have a shared goal,” Wilson said in her remarks delivered at the convention, which drew more than 2,500 healthcare providers and 200 vendors from New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware and beyond.
“We serve the elderly and disabled in various different capacities. We help make sure they are comfortable. We love to see them smile. We want them to know that someone truly cares,” she said.
HCANJ’s mission is to “promote the highest quality of health care services to residents in New Jersey’s long term care facilities,” its website said. The annual Conference and Expo, from November 1 to 3, featured education sessions, tours of exhibits, roundtable discussions and networking among long term health care professionals.
Wilson attended the HCANJ award ceremony and luncheon accompanied by CEO Richard Rohrman, Chief of Staff Kathy Spivey and other colleagues from New Community. Her daughter, Rhonda, and grandson, Michael, also attended the affair, which was held at Harrah’s Resort.
“Ms. Wilson is a dedicated person that always watches out for the good of others,” Facility Administrator Veronica Onwunaka wrote in her letter to the nominating committee. “She is very committed to serving the poor, the aged and physically challenged individuals. She is always willing to share her bright spirit with everyone that she meets,” Onwunaka added.
The association has also selected Wilson as New Jersey’s nominee for the National Adult Volunteer of the Year Award through the American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living Convention in 2017.