At Arbor Terrace Highland Park, our team members are the heart of everything we do. Today, we are thrilled to celebrate Lilly Garcia, a remarkable Environmental Services (EVS) professional, whose compassion towards our residents and those she serves alongside have earned her this very special honor.
Lilly has been nominated for the Cintas C.A.P.E. Award (Cleaning to Advance the Patient Experience), a national recognition that shines a spotlight on EVS professionals who often work behind the scenes but play a critical role in healthcare and senior living communities. Even more special? Lilly had no idea she was nominated until it was announced to the team on January 7th of this year!
Environmental Services staff are essential to maintaining clean, safe, and healthy environments in healthcare and senior living communities. From sanitizing resident apartments to ensuring shared spaces are spotless, EVS professionals are on the frontlines of infection prevention and resident well-being.
The Cintas C.A.P.E. Award was created to recognize these unsung heroes, the EVS technicians in acute and long-term care settings who demonstrate exceptional kindness and courage while spending countless hours protecting the health and safety of others. Each day, EVS professionals across the country work tirelessly to eliminate germs, prevent infections, and create welcoming spaces for residents, staff, families, and visitors. The C.A.P.E. Award ensures their contributions do not go unnoticed.
Lilly was nominated by Christopher Dale, Executive Director of Arbor Terrace Highland Park, who shared the following heartfelt words:
“Lilly is one of the most compassionate and caring housekeepers. She always comes to work with a smile and has a true spirit to serve our residents. Lilly often goes out of her way to help other staff members and treats our residents as if they were members of her own family.”
Lilly’s dedication extends far beyond her daily responsibilities. In addition to expertly managing supply ordering, apartment cleaning, and organization, she is known for stepping in wherever help is needed, often supporting other departments to ensure the entire community runs smoothly.
Her commitment and work ethic have not gone unnoticed. In fact, Lilly was also named 2024 Arbor Star of the Year, selected from more than 100 employees, a further testament to the profound impact she makes every single day.
What sets Lilly apart above all is her heart to serve. She embodies The Arbor Company’s spirit of caring in everything she does. Residents feel her warmth. Teammates rely on her. And our community is better every day because of her presence.
She is the kind of team member who makes everyone’s job easier, puts residents first, and shows up every day with genuine compassion.
On the 7th of January, during a small gathering at Arbor Terrace Highland Park, Lilly was surprised with this meaningful recognition. It is a moment she more than deserves, and one we are incredibly proud to share with the rest of the world.
Congratulations, Lilly Garcia, on your C.A.P.E. Award nomination. Thank you for being the heart of our community and for reminding us all that true heroes often work quietly, with the utmost humility and grace.