Submitted photo Activities director Donna Jones, at right, talks to ERCC resident Nellie Shreves while holding the facility pet Molly.

ELKINS — Another Elkins Rehabilitation & Care Center employee has obtained training that will help improve the quality of life for those living at the facility.

Activity Director Donna Jones recently received her certification as a Certified Dementia

Practitioner. The certification was given by the National Council for Certified Practitioners.

The certification is a perfect example of Jones’ passion to help facility residents and their family members.

“I became involved in this type of work to assist residents and to improve their quality of life,”

Jones said. “This is just another way I can help make resident lives here at ERCC better.”

ERCC Administrator Tara Shaver said she was proud of Jones, but that she was not surprised that the long-time employee at the facility received the certification.

“Donna is a hard worker and she takes our mission to provide the best care to all residents very seriously,” Shaver said.

ERCC has a unit at the facility dedicated to residents who suffer from dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease.

The Reflections unit is made up of 15 beds and it is specifically dedicated to residents who suffer from memory loss.

Jones is planning to put the skills she learned through the certification process to work very soon. She is going to organize and lead a discussion group for family members of residents at the facility who suffer from Alzheimer’s Disease and dementia.

She also plans to enhance the activities for residents in the Reflections unit. In addition to Jones’ already busy schedule, she will need to recertify every two years to maintain her Certified Dementia Practitioner credentials, Shaver said.

“I’m looking forward to my continuing education on this topic,” Jones said. “I love to learn new ways to make lives better for residents and their family members.”

ERCC is a 111-bed, non-profit, short and long-term skilled and intermediate care and rehabilitation facility located in Elkins.