Burton Behr Awards 2023 – Recognizing the Heroes in Healthcare

Amongst the Top 12

Generations Healthcare Network has a long standing tradition of recognizing the exceptional people that make our level of care possible. Every year around Christmas time, we host a luncheon for all the Burton Behr Candidates and Administrators representing their respective facility. All 12 candidates are hand picked by peers and leadership team, having been chosen is a big accomplishments in and of itself. With only 12 candidates a year, being chosen is a testament to the character that each candidate brings to work everyday. During tough times, these people can be trusted, they are dependent, passionate, caring, dedicated, thoughtful – and for that we can not thank them enough for all that they do!

The Best of the Best

With that said, 3 are chosen as finalists and only 1 is crowned the Burton Behr Award Winner. Maria Rema Erpelo won over the hearts of everyone with her inspiring story and is the 2023 Burton Behr Award Winner! Read her full nominee ballet below!

Maria Rema Erpelo, Oakton Arms

Having been an employee for over 34 years, Maria puts a smile on our residents faces throughout. This loyal, passionate, caring, dedicated, big hearted and hard working person is a perfect example of the employee of the year! Maria often humbly said, “A part of this beautiful life I have, I owe it to all the residents that appreciates me.” Maria goes above and beyond to create positive experience for our residents, she knows every preference and dislike as well as details of what they need and want within the facility just from getting to know them so well. Maria takes pride of the job done for the residents. Food presentation is something she takes time to perfect and enjoy, taking the initiative to prepare the display plate at the front of dining room for the residents to view to make sure residents appetite is enhance before dining. As she believe in saying that, “We eat with our eyes first.”
Yet, Maria does not just stop at the care of the residents. Maria also understands and cares for fellow employees, she goes beyond in making sure wellbeing is looked after co workers, even if it’s personal or work related. Helping hand she often offers to co-worker when in need financially, “$20 here and there she says goes a long way especially when you have small children at home. I came from a poor country and understand every need to raise children. I stay humble because the life I have and the work I do in America, people can only dream of where I came from. The little money I have, I share.” At times she cooks Filipino food for co workers, she explains, “I set it up, let them take a break to enjoy and then I cover their work to make sure that we are not behind.” Maria also often offers aide to other departments should they need help. Maria is a skilled communicator, learned Spanish language through co-workers to be able to help them with their daily task including communicate better to the residents.
Just another great distinguishing quality of our employee of the year is when the VIP and wife from out of state stayed and dined in the facility. She found out that the couple ate Filipino cuisine, using her own time, did groceries ( even if this employee didn’t drive, asked a family member to take her/him to the store) cooked delicious food for them every day, and would not take anything back in return. She said “I have passion in cooking, most importantly I like seeing other people enjoy my cooking!”
One big accomplishment, in the midst of COVID lockdown in our facility, this employee mostly worked alone, ensured the safety of the residents were her priorities. Delivered room to room service, organized stocks, and connected with management to make sure changes and improvements based on resident requests, but even more so since the census began to rise. Nothing has changed with no complaints she continued to adjust time to assure all work task are accomplished at the end of the day. During her time at the three decades at the facility, this employee endured and went through 2 knee surgeries and eyes surgeries. She asked the doctor if she can come back to work early as scheduled from sick leave, as she is worried about the residents care when at home. This position often requires considerable walking and it was impressive to see this employee put in the effort while recovering and to see her energetic positive attitude on top of that.
This employee is most proud fo have raised two children during employment here. She is also proud that they both hold a bachelors degree in Nursing. While son also earned an Associate degree in music to pursue his first love for music Gust like father) instead focus on becoming the Official DJ of the Chicago Bulls, Chicago Bears, White Sox and Blackhawks, and travels to private Clubs and parties. She has 3 beautiful grandchildren that she cares for on days off. When his/her daughter asked if she would stay home to care for grandchildren more often, with her dedication to caring for residents and love for grandchildren decided she will work part time was a win for the facility. Our facility has noticed the employee’s absence and misses her contributions to the facility tenfold when not around. Thus would love to show appreciation for the dedication she showed us.
This is no doubt, already a win, win, win in our facility for over 34 years, which is why this employee deserves the Burton Behr Employee of the Year!

All 12 Candidates