Angie Hunt, Director at The Cedars and Lisa Clark, Occupational Therapist
The Cedars Retirement Community incorporates wellness into all that we do – for our staff, members and residents. One of our newest outpatient programs, Living Well With Dementia offered from our Sam L. Cohen Rehabilitation Center, is gaining increased recognition. This past weekend, the Maine Occupational Therapy Association (MeOTA), honored our Angie Hunt with their OT Advocate Award, specifically for the work she has done to create Living Well With Dementia. Angie is the Executive Director of the Assisted Living, Rehabilitation Center and Skilled Care at The Cedars.
Here is the letter that was submitted by Lisa Clark, Program Coordinator of Living Well With Dementia, to MeOTA:
Angie (Hunt) is a physical therapist who is the Executive Director of The Cedars in Portland, Maine. The Cedars is a retirement community that offers a continuum of senior living options for elders: Independent Living, Assisted Living, Rehabilitation and Skilled Nursing Care. The Cedars’ philosophy revolves around caring for people in the areas of intellectual, leisure, physical, social, and spiritual health.
Over the past two years Angie has worked with occupational therapists in leading the development of a Living Well With Dementia program at The Cedars – an innovative outpatient wellness program for people with dementia. As Angie has facilitated this project and helped bring it to fruition, she has tirelessly advocated for and recognized the contributions of occupational therapy. She has recognized and encouraged the development of the program from the perspective of the occupational therapy philosophy. Angie has valued the importance of occupational therapy’s emphasis on engagement, meaningfulness, and participation in life activities that are the hallmark of our profession. She holds a strong value of person-centered and ethical care, which makes working with her very rewarding.
Angie’s support of and recognition of occupational therapy has been propelled forward by her incredible energy, upbeat attitude and respect for the importance of the quality of life of elders. Her smile and laugh and contagious positive attitude have all been key contributions in the development of this program. I labeled her my “Yes, let’s do it” Boss! She has honored the profession of occupational therapy by her strong recognition of its significance in our current health care arena, and put it to use in a unique, creative, and valuable program.
I am deeply appreciative of Angie’s embracing this viewpoint in our work together. In thirty years of practice, I have met few people who have her respectful and engaging collaborative style of energizing leadership. There are few people in the state who demonstrate and express the worth of our profession, more enthusiastically than Angie. I hope she is honored for her hard work by being chosen for this award.
Respectfully submitted,
Lisa L. Clark, MS, OTR/L