A Positive Presence: Jamie Snare is a caregiver who truly cares and looks out for her residents and coworkers alike

When it came to the LeadingAge PA Direct Caregiver of the Year Distinguished Service Award, they wanted to make sure they chose someone with a lot of heart and integrity, along with values that align with those of people who serve in senior care communities.

With the 2023 award winner Jamie Snare, you get all that and so much more.

For Snare, going above and beyond the task at hand is easy. She loves to make sure her residents have everything they need, and she does what it takes to keep them happy and healthy.

“In addition to performing her job at an exemplary level, Jamie demonstrates an extraordinary commitment to her community,” Shenango Presbyterian Senior Care Executive Director Kevin Henderson said.

Snare has a lot of leadership abilities and a lot of care in her heart, and that is all thanks to her mother. Snare’s mom worked at group homes and even went as far as to bring residents home with her to help provide them with that change of scenery, and seeing that firsthand made Snare want to do the same thing.

However, Snare has more than broken out of her mom’s shadow. While her mom had her own touch when it came to helping out her residents, Snare has a way as a direct caregiver that makes her stand out from the rest.

“Jamie takes it upon herself to provide exceptional support and service to new team members,” Henderson said. “She discerns quickly their individual needs and moves efficiently to provide key information, recommendations or direction.”

Snare is a great coworker. She is someone that a lot of people look up to, and all new team members tend to drift toward Snare because of her natural instincts and leadership abilities.

She is not afraid to take people under her wing, and just like with her residents, Snare knows how to have heart-to-hearts with her coworkers.

Speaking of residents, Snare has a way of connecting with them in a special way. She is genuine in her ways because she truly cares about the good of her residents. She always wants to make them feel comfortable and at home when they are at Shenango.

“Jamie puts her heart and soul into caring for her residents,” Henderson said. “When Caroline, a resident, lost her daughter suddenly, Jamie spent extra time with her to help her through the grieving process. When Jamie asked what she could do to help further, Caroline said she would love some McDonald’s coffee and French fries. Jamie hopped in her car and within 30 minutes, Caroline was smiling and feeling better.”

Snare loves putting a smile on people’s faces, and that is why she goes above and beyond her job title. She does not have to do half the things she does for her residents and their families, but because of how much she genuinely cares, she makes sure they all feel loved.

In fact, she did this especially well for both her residents and her coworkers during COVID. Snare sacrificed her own time and so much more to make sure her residents got the extra care they deserved, as well as to make sure her coworkers were not shorthanded and did not get burned out.

“Throughout the pandemic, Jamie has always picked up extra shifts or stayed over her shift to make sure her residents always get the care they deserve and that her coworkers are not left in a bind,” Henderson said. “She is a team player and can be counted on to help and go the extra mile. The residents love her and her teammates respect her!”

Now that is a caregiver worth standing by. She is always looking out for the good of the people around her.

Plus Snare has started initiatives that are loved and appreciated by everyone at Shenango. They are initiatives that help uplift others and that make people feel special.

“Jamie is responsible for creating the monthly ‘Positivity Board’ in her department,” Henderson stated. “Each month has a new theme to support her department’s area of focus. She includes cards and notes from residents and families and also makes sure that important dates and learnings are posted to keep everyone in the loop.”

This Positivity Board holds people accountable while also giving people something to look forward to. Keeping up with what is going on in and around the community is important, and spreading the awareness is only made possible by someone like Snare.

And Snare does it for no reason other than she cares so much about her residents. She gets to know them on a personal level, and she wants them to be genuinely happy… Along with her coworkers.

“I love the residents and I do get very attached to them,” Snare said. “I enjoy the team members I work with each day.”

Henderson knows the rest of the Shenango Presbyterian community enjoys getting to see Snare every day as well. They love getting to know her and they appreciate her presence.

For that reason and many more, Snare is more than deserving of winning the Caregiver of the Year award.