2011 award winners
Augusta Award – Ruth Ann Boska
Ruth Ann gives the gift of her presence by listening to others and assisting them in whatever way she can.
R
uth Ann Boska says God’s grace brought her to Good Samaritan
Society – Tyndall in September 1983. Before she began working at the center, Boska wasn’t familiar with skilled nursing care, but it didn’t take her long to realize that serving residents was her calling.
“It took me two weeks and I had fallen in love with these people,” Boska said as she received the Good Samaritan Society’s 2011 Augusta Award, the organization’s staff member of the year honor. “Without the residents we wouldn’t have a job, so we have to appreciate them and give them all the love we can. They are the reason we are there.”
As the business manager for the center in Tyndall, S.D., Boska’s work day is busy. But she always stops to help residents, family members or fellow staff members when they need something, says Julie Schenkel, administrator at Tyndall. She gives the gift of her presence by listening to others and assisting them in whatever way she can.
Schenkel says Boska is known for making each person at the center feel valued and welcome. Her passion is taking care of others and she has earned the respect of fellow staff members and residents.
Her compassion for residents was made especially evident when she befriended a resident who had been homeless and came to Tyndall to be near the prison where his son was an inmate.
At the man’s request, Boska made arrangements for him to visit his son and was the first person to give him a ride. After that, she scheduled rides for the resident so he could visit his son each weekend. If someone on the schedule was unable drive, Boska made sure she was available. The resident stopped to see her every day, until his health no longer allowed.
Although Boska’s main focus is serving as the business manager, she isn’t afraid to take on various other tasks. She has worked as a certified nursing assistant and has filled in on
the floor when necessary. She has unloaded delivery trucks that come to the center, shoveled sidewalks, worked in activities, provided in-service training and sat by the bedside of a dying resident.
Boska is quick to deflect attention away from herself and, instead, give accolades to her fellow staff members.
“I have wonderful co-workers. There’s no way that any one person gets more credit than the other. We are a team. It absolutely takes every department to make it work. It’s not what we’re getting, it’s what we’re giving back,” Boska says.
“We are a family-oriented center and strive to make this a home,” adds Boska. “It’s very easy to fall in love with the residents. There is always someone who touches your heart.”
Boska and her husband, David, have four children and 14 grandchildren.
The Good Samaritan • 2011 • Vol. 45 • No. 2
15
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24