Exceptional Care & Training Center was the recipient of IHCA’s Excellence Award for Long Term Care Center 2022

The IHCA’s Excellence Awards Program recognizes the work going on in long-term care centers around Illinois every day. The award is judged on a variety of criteria, including the various processes and procedures that are put in place to ensure member centers are continuously working on quality improvement and resident- centered care.

Exceptional Care’s Sensory Spaces/Multi-Sensory Approach to improving resident care and quality of life was recognized in the nomination for this award. The foundation of our Sensory Spaces/Multi-Sensory Approach is to focus on the abilities and strengths of our clients. We allow them the opportunity to explore and learn about the environment around them, to enable them to interact with it, and most of all, to be given respect.

The goals of Sensory Spaces is for our clients to participate in activities of interest to them, to express themselves, and to replace maladaptive behaviors with appropriate communication and happy interactions. Sensory Spaces can be used to achieve hundreds of individual goals. Examples: increasing concentration and focus; providing mental and physical relaxation; decreasing aggressive behaviors; developing the senses of sight, touch, and hearing; teaching cause-and-effect; providing a sense of security and calmness; encouraging vocalization and communication; promoting social interactions; heightening awareness of the environment; improving coordination and gross motor skills; providing an opportunity to explore freely; and promoting cognitive development.

“We have a wonderful facility filled with loving and caring staff. We care about our residents as if they were our own kin. Our resident successes belong to all of us, and we celebrate along with them. Our name and reputation are built upon 42 years of dedicated and diligent service. It is a privilege to serve, and we are so proud to be affiliated with this facility, in this community,” wrote Nell Eakle, a 17-year employee of Exceptional Care.

In addition to the Long Term Care Center of the Year Award, two of our dedicated and deserving staff members were recipients of IHCA Staff &

Specialty Excellence Awards.

 Sheila Hamilton, our Food Services Director of 10 years

received the Food Service Professional of the Year.

 Clarence Baker, our Maintenance Director of 2 years

received the Environmental Services Professional of the Year.