Willow Care Administrator Receives Missouri Health Care Association Award

Marie Head, RN, BSN, LNHA, Administrator of Willow Care in Willow Springs, has been awarded the David Duncan Administrator of the Year award.

“Marie has virtually been a part of our organization her entire life,” reads her nomination, “Marie started at Willow Care Nursing Home May 27, 1991 immediately after graduating from RN school...later Marie was named Assistant Director of Nurses and eventually became the Director of Nurses and served in this role until  2016 when she was selected as Administrator of Willow Care Nursing Home.

Marie brings a kind, compassionate approach to the leadership in the facility. She takes time with her residents, families and staff; she knows all by name and takes a personal interest in them, making sure each knows they are valued. During these difficult times of Covid-19, Marie personally contacted families reassuring them their loved ones would be cared for. No matter how difficult the challenge she always sees the good. She is loved by her staff, even as our industry has been faced with staffing issues, Marie maintains a very low staff turnover percentage. Her strong spiritual beliefs are reflective of how she runs her building, always striving to do the right thing for the good of all. It's those qualities that make Marie stand out from all the others.

Despite the overwhelming challenges of Covid-19, Marie has managed to keep her families, residents, and staff satisfied. She's promoted multiple fun activities for her residents and staff.  I have to chuckle at the most recent. The facility made a water slip-and-slide out of a black plastic. Each resident was given the opportunity to be seated in a yellow floating duck and pulled by the staff down the strip while going through water sprinklers. The Facebook responses were incredible. Perhaps I should not mention the mechanical bull she displayed during National Nursing Home Week. Marie's goal is to bring laughter and contentment to all.”