Bridges® by EPOCH Communities Resident, Team Members Honored with Connecticut Assisted Living Association Awards
June 30, 2023
FAIRFIELD COUNTY, CT — The Connecticut Assisted Living Association (CALA) has recognized one senior resident and several team members at Bridges® by EPOCH memory care assisted living communities in Trumbull and Norwalk for their outstanding achievements and excellence in senior care.
CALA honored Ovidio “Vidio” Peverini, a resident at Bridges® by EPOCH, with an Outstanding Resident Achievement award. A native of Romania, Peverini is the resident cheerleader; even with dementia he is still fluent in three of the six languages that he speaks. He is a Vietnam veteran, husband, and father, and the smile rarely leaves his face. Peverini is a natural leader and advocate, and the team at Bridges® by EPOCH at Trumbull often counts on him to help engage and motivate other residents during the life enrichment programs.
Additionally, three team members from Bridges® by EPOCH were selected to receive the special honor of Outstanding Resident Service award for going above and beyond their job descriptions to provide outstanding care and services to residents.
Gary Seri, Dining Service Director at Bridges® by EPOCH at Trumbull, knows what his residents prefer. Whenever a new resident moves in, he asks what kind of food brings them joy — and if he doesn’t have it on hand, he’ll go to the store to get it. Even when he’s doing his own grocery shopping, if Seri sees something he knows a resident likes, he’ll buy it and deliver it the next day. One of the newer residents at Bridges® was used to eating a bagel with lox for breakfast every day. But it wasn’t just any bagel and lox — it was from one specific local shop. Now, Seri stops at that shop on his way to work each day to pick up this breakfast favorite for her.
Joel Mathurin, Caregiver at Bridges® by EPOCH at Norwalk, was recognized for being a problem-solver, great listener, and a team player with a kind, empathetic approach. Mathurin’s strength is managing the challenging behaviors that often come with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. His calm, patient demeanor is one reason the Bridges® team frequently calls on him to diffuse difficult situations.
Kendreal McKoy, Caregiver at Bridges® by EPOCH at Trumbull, is described as a selfless resident advocate. McKoy goes to great lengths to do what’s right for the resident — no matter what. McKoy regularly takes on tasks outside her responsibilities because she truly cares about the residents. She makes it her mission to ensure her residents’ rooms are neat, their closets are organized, and their bathrooms are tidy and clean, and if McKoy finds that a resident needs something that their family cannot immediately provide, she’ll go to the store herself and get it.
Founded in 1995, CALA’s mission is “to enhance the quality of life for those we serve.” The organization focuses on being an active resource for members, implementing continuing education services and professional development efforts, all while supporting and advancing the common business interests of assisted living service providers throughout Connecticut.