Executives from Life Care awarded Starnes a $1,000 cash prize during an awards session at the company’s Annual Management Meeting. She was chosen from among thousands of associates in her division. She was one of only eight associates from Life Care’s more than 220 facilities nationwide to receive the award.

While Starnes does her job well every day, she was praised for a particular act of caring in 2011.

A resident was getting ready to celebrate his wife’s birthday and their wedding anniversary. Starnes wanted to make the day as special as possible since she knew the resident could not be home for the occasion. She talked to the resident about their favorite meal, getting the recipes and cooking the dinner for them herself. She also brought flowers and a card for the resident to give to his wife as a surprise.

The resident and his wife were able to share a wonderful evening together in the private dining room, sharing a home-cooked meal and celebrating their life together – thanks to Starnes.

“I like to make people happy and make people smile,” said Starnes.

Starnes has also been known to dance with residents to their favorite music in order to improve their balance and endurance.

Life Care Centers of America’s Whatever It Takes And Then Some customer service campaign rewards associates for their extraordinary acts of kindness. Monthly awards are presented in Life Care facilities nationwide based on nominations from fellow associates, family members, residents and guests. Each facility then chooses an annual winner, from which the divisional winners are selected.

“Dedicated caregivers routinely go far above and beyond their job descriptions, and Sonya Starnes certainly demonstrates by her example their professionalism and compassion for the residents they serve,” said Beecher Hunter, Life Care president. “We are proud of Sonya and the thousands she represents in their selfless approach to the needs of others.”