John-Ace Llera, health care aide

John-Ace Llera treats each person with dignity and kindness whether they are residents, families or colleagues. He actively listens to others, values their perspectives; he hears and respects their opinions and suggestions. John-Ace has a calm and professional demeanor. His manor of communication helps create a supportive, calm and safe environment, especially during stressful situations like when a resident is experiencing aggression during a state of delirium.

He encourages residents to participate in all activities, including attending church or he supports their spiritual preferences during personal conversations. John-Ace honours spiritual consideration and facilitates attendance. When he is not working, John-Ace leaves notes for his coworkers to remind them to porter residents to a service.

Recently John-Ace talked to management about the importance of connecting Catholic residents receiving end-of-life care with the chaplain as soon as possible to ensure they receive their last rights. He emphasized how this practice is vital in giving the family closure during a loved one’s palliative care journey and how it honours an important tradition.

John-Ace warmly welcomes new team members and ensures they feel supported and mentored. When he noticed long-time staff excluding a new staff member from conversations, John-Ace went out of his way to include her in discussions and to explain organizational procedures making her feel like a valued member of the team. This boosted the new staff member’s confidence and strengthened teamwork on the unit.