Nursing home hairdresser named Gordon Bartlett Humanitarin

Cindy Daigneault’s nomination for the Belknap County Nursing Home’s Gordon Bartlett Humanitarian Award read, “She shows compassion and understanding of the residents’ wants and needs. A trip to the BCNH Beauty Shop is not just for having your hair cut or set. She makes the residents’ visit a warm and loving experience. Whether a resident wants a perm or color, Cindy is there to please.”

At a special luncheon honoring long-time county employees held at the nursing home yesterday, County Commissioner Edward Philpot (D-Laconia) read from Daigneault's nomination just before presenting her with flowers and showing her the plaque that features her name along with those of past winners of the award. The special honor was started in recognition of the late Gordon Bartlett's devotion to the nursing home when he was a county commissioner. Philpot said that Daigneault’s commitment to the residents she serves certainly measures up to Bartlett’s lengthy affection for the nursing home.

Activities Director Ann Kyle nominated Daigneault for the recognition. Kyle also said of the awardee, “There are no breaks in her daily schedule. She has lunch with the residents. She is available to them at all times. A trip to the beauty parlor also features hand massages, make-up, beautiful music playing all of the time, and a lot of fun conversation. “

“On the more practical side, she works independently extremely well, and she always stays within budget. We always talk about quality medical care for our residents coming first, but making residents feel very special and respected at all times is very important too. That’s what Cindy does for the residents,” Kyle concluded.

Daigneault will celebrate her fourth anniversary at the home in February. A Certified Nurses Assistant (CNA), she is candid about why she wanted to work for the nursing home.

“I was a single mother at the time. I worked as a CNA and could not afford benefits for me and my two kids. Working for the county solved that problem,” she said.

“I didn’t really know it at the time, but the residents are the real reason I came to work for the nursing home. It means so much to me to be able to help the ladies who live here feel good about themselves. They spend an hour a week with me. It just makes their day. Seeing how they react to the compliments they get is just so rewarding."

Daigneault’s new husband, Tom, and her son and daughter, Josiah and Marlinda Deshaies, hid behind one of the columns in the dining room as Philpot made the announcement. She did not see them until after he had announced her as the Gordon Bartlett Humanitarian Award designee for 2009.

The Belknap County Nursing Home was the constant concern of the late county commissioner and state representative, Gordon Bartlett of Belmont. His dedication to the facility really knew few bounds. The Humanitarian Award commemorates that dedication.

Awardees must have demonstrated outstanding ideals and compassion and display the highest contributions to the quality of life of the residents of the home. A demonstrated personal commitment to the nursing home’s mission and goals is vital, and the awardee must uphold the home’s core values of reverence, integrity, compassion, excellence, and vision.