Grace Henson Honored With Fairhaven's Oliver Halsell Care Award

TUSTIN, CA, March 27, 2013 (Press-News.org) Mission Viejo resident Grace Henson has a unique way of describing what it means to care. She believes it can't be described. "It comes from the heart," she says. It is this heart for caring that helped her touch the lives of those she cares for and manages as director of nursing at Irvine's Regents Point/Windcrest senior living community.

Henson is being honored as the March recipient of Fairhaven's Oliver Halsell Care Award. Fairhaven, an Orange County mortuary and memorial park with locations in Santa Ana and Mission Viejo, created the recognition program in 2012 to pay tribute to individuals who have demonstrated exceptional care in their profession, community and the world at large.

"During her more than 30 years as a nurse, Grace has provided exceptional care for her patients and inspired countless others to follow her example," said Marla Noel, president of Fairhaven. "She epitomizes what it means to be both an outstanding caregiver and manager."

As director of nursing, Henson is responsible for the medical care of Regents Point/Windcrest's skilled nursing facility. This includes managing a staff of 22 licensed nurses and 30 CNA's. In this position, Henson has dedicated herself to ensuring the patient remains at the center of all decision making. With her leadership, Regents Point/Windcrest has been listed in the top 10 percent of nursing facilities in the State of California by Consumer Reports' Nursing Home Quality Monitor. Regents Point/Windcrest also offers independent living, assisted living, memory care and home care.

"When I accepted this position, I made a commitment to ensure that my staff is dedicated to doing four things: use their critical thinking, be professional, be compassionate and be ethical at all times," says Henson. "We must never forget that the patient is the only reason we're here."

Henson's successes as director of nursing are the culmination of a journey spanning more than three decades and dating back to her arrival in the United States from her native Philippines in 1979. During her first 15 years as a nurse, she worked full time in hospitals, while picking up extra shifts in her spare time at a nursing home. It was here where she realized her true calling: Serving Orange County's aging population.

She joined Regents Point/Windcrest in 1995, as nursing director and has picked up several honors along the way, including an Award for Nursing Excellence by the U.S. ElderCare, Inc. as well as being named one of the Top 10 Outstanding Women in the Nation for her work with the Filipino community.

In addition to her passion for nursing, the recently empty-nested wife and mother of three enjoys ballroom dancing and caring for her three Pomeranians, facing every new day with boundless joy and energy.

"Every day is a new life, a new experience and another challenge." she says. "I won't let anyone steal my joy!"

She will be honored at Fairhaven's Oliver Halsell Care Awards banquet in the fall at Fairhaven's Mission Viejo location. The banquet honors a year's worth of achievements among the local community.

About Fairhaven's Oliver Halsell Care Award
Fairhaven's Oliver Halsell Care Award pays tribute to Orange County individuals whose kindness and dedication to serving others is inspirational. These courageous individuals go above and beyond their job descriptions to serve with the utmost care and compassion. Fairhaven's Oliver Halsell Care Award winners come from many fields including private care, hospice, social work, counseling, assisted living, nursing, therapy and volunteer work.

For more information and to nominate a deserving candidate, visit Fairhaven's website: http://www.fairhavenmemorial.com/community/oliver-halsell-care-award or email CareAwards@FairhavenMemorial.com.

About Fairhaven
Founded in 1911 by Oliver Halsell to provide a peaceful and comforting place for families to honor their loved ones, Fairhaven Memorial Park & Mortuary is Orange County's most beautiful independently owned and operated full-service mortuary, crematory and cemetery. With the memorial park and mortuary in Central Orange County and an elegantly appointed mortuary in South Orange County, Fairhaven offers a wide range of pre-need and at-need services provided with care and compassion. Fairhaven is dedicated to celebrating the individual, providing services that are as unique and wide-ranging as the people they celebrate. Additional information is available at http://www.fairhavenmemorial.com. Connect with Fairhaven at http://www.facebook.com/fairhavenmemorial or http://www.twitter.com/fairhavenoc.