A Battle of Normandy veteran. A man who, at 93 years old, took a cross-country road trip in a van. A woman who served in the military before women were permitted to be on the battlefield.

Those are some of the patients Amanda Edgar has cared for in her six years at Life Care Center of Port Townsend.

“It is an amazing experience to get to talk to, care for and experience a portion of someone’s life when they’ve already lived so much,” said Edgar, who is the director of social services for the center.

Edgar was recently honored with the Life Care Centers of America’s “Whatever It Takes And Then Some” award for its Northwest Division, which recognizes her dedication to customer service.

She is one of eight employees from Life Care’s more than 200 facilities nationwide to receive the award.

“I have an incredible building, and the people inspire me to do what I do,” said Edgar. “I love our residents, and it’s nice to make their lives easier.”

Edgar noted that while it’s always nice to be recognized, she feels her win is an opportunity to share with the community the work the Port Townsend branch does day to day.

“Life Care Center of Port Townsend is filled with a team of people who genuinely love and care for the people who come in here for care,” she said.

RESPECT

Edgar, 32, was first introduced to the Life Care Center when she applied for its certified nursing assistant (CNA) class as a way to support herself and her children.

“Once I was in the class, I absolutely fell in love with the long-term care residents I was taking care of,” she said.

She started as a certified nursing assistant and then volunteered to step into the director position a month after having a child.

Kindness and compassion are her top priorities when caring for patients.

“I believe every person deserves to be treated with fairness, dignity and respect,” she said. “What they want for themselves should be our primary goal.”

Edgar noted that there are times when the news she shares with patients may not be what they want to hear, but recognizes that honesty is the best policy when helping people make decisions.

“People have the right to make ‘bad choices,’” she said.

“It is just my job to share with them why we feel those choices aren’t the best, and do what I can to make the choice they make as safe as possible.”

ABOVE & BEYOND

In her nomination, Edgar was particularly praised for an act of caring in 2016 during which a man who had no friends, family or community support was admitted to the facility for rehab.

When he was unable to get a ride home, Edgar used her day off to help him.

“I told him that no matter what, I’d find a way to get him home,” she said. Edgar brought him back to his home herself, took him to the grocery store to shop and pick up his prescriptions, and helped tidy his home.

“Honestly, for me, it didn’t feel like I was doing anything above and beyond,” Edgar said.

“I was just doing what needed to be done to keep my promise to him.”