Kansas City, MO — Bickford of Ames’ medication technician Tabitha Crooks was recently honored as one of three nominees for 2023 Caregiver of the year at the company’s annual Pearl Ceremony in Kansas City. As part of the annual awards ceremony, Bickford headquarters sent a video crew to capture Ames’ residents and resident family members talking about the impact she’s had on them, and why she deserves the recognition. Here’s what they had to say. Congratulations, Tabitha! We’re proud to have you on our team.

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Lisa Demoss: She’s just a very kind and caring person. But for being as young as she is, as young as I think she is, she’s got a real motherly instinct about her with the residents. As long as there’s Tabithas in the world they’re gonna be in a good place. It was hard for me to bring my husband here. That was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. And Tabitha reassured me that they would take care of him, that he’d be OK. She goes above and beyond what’s expected every day, every day.

Marla Lepper: She isn’t the type that says, that’s not in my job description. She’s willing to do whatever needs to be done to make life here pleasant for the residents.

Ron Reis: I know it’s a very challenging job, you know, here. So again, it takes a very special person.

Addie McKaney: Oh, I just like everything about her. She’s just she’s just a sweetheart. Well, I just like to be with her. Anytime I’m with her, I feel better. She’s kind to everybody. We all love her. Hi Tabitha. Thank you very much for all you do for us, and it makes me happy to be around you, and I know others feel the same way.

Deborah Lebo: I think she just does everything anybody would ever be expect from her. So, yeah, that’s what I found is that she takes her job very seriously, and it just so gracious about doing her job. Not everybody can put that foot forward every day, and she does. I just think she goes that extra mile that not all employees do. My carpet really needed vacuumed. And so I’d ask her if she was coming, gonna be able to do that for me because, my attorneys were coming. And I wanted my room scheduled to get the vacuum going, and she went ahead and did that. And that was over and above her call of duty as far as I know. But she just fitted into her day. She’s a really good CNA and she has a lot of heart for me and other people that live here.