The Westview News

Press Release
Employee of the Month
Date
January 23, 2025

      Linda Touchette gained the accolade of Westview Employee of the Month to close out the year in December 2024. At Westview Health Care Center, Linda’s role as a Certified Nursing Assistant fortifies the nursing department with direct care and constant compassion for the patients and residents. She initially joined the Westview staff in March 2022 following a shift in her daily vocation. In the setting of the Dayville, CT skilled nursing facility she can often be found on the Annex Wing team of caregivers. She is very proud of her colleagues individually and as a team—and as this recognition indicates—they are also quite proud of her.

     As mentioned, becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant is somewhat of a second career for Linda. Caring for others personally and professionally forms a lifelong passion in Linda’s life. She graduated from Tourtelotte Memorial High School and went on to Worcester State University to study Early Childhood Education. For over 20 years following that, she was the Owner and Director of “First Steps,” a child care center in Thompson, CT. When she began pursuing certification as a Nursing Assistant, she already carried a background in caregiving and compassion for others into her new vocation. Linda earned her status as a Certified Nursing Assistant through the CNA educational program at Westview Health Care Center. Over the last 3 years working with Westview, Linda appreciates her ability to continue connecting with people as a provider—and as this recognition heralds, her colleagues greatly appreciate her.

     Connecticut’s Quiet Corner is where Linda has called home for her entire life. Born and raised in Thompson, CT, she lives there to this day. Having her parents Muriel and Sherman in town nearby affords many opportunities to share family moments together. Linda and her husband Kenneth Clark have a large, loving family that spans four generations altogether. Linda’s daughter Nicole and her husband Jim live in Fort Worth, TX, Linda’s son Evan and his wife Laura reside in Windsor, ME, Linda’s son Austin and his wife Brianna live in Brooklyn, CT, and Kenneth’s daughter Cynthia and her husband live in East Baldwin, ME. All of Linda and Kenneth’s sons and daughters visit as often as they can and bring the joy of “grandbabies” into their parents’ lives. When the grandchildren come to town, Linda is happy to recreate “daycare at Nanny’s house” with her kin. Some of Linda’s favorite activities include tending her flower garden and creative pursuits like crafting hand-made greeting cards. She is the adoring owner of her Yorkie-Poo “Remy,” her cat “Willow,” and her two Silky Chickens who wear their fancy plumage proudly.

     In receiving this recognition for her outstanding efforts, Linda noted how much she values her calling and her commitment to compassion. “I am truly passionate about caring for the residents at Westview,” Linda stated. “Caregiving for any generation is an important part of my life, and I take pride in knowing that our patients rely on us for their health and wellbeing—and more. We are able to offer social connections, emotional understanding, and a sense of family to those entrusted to our care. It is very fulfilling to know that we can impact their happiness as well as their health.”

     Westview Executive Vice President and Administrator David T. Panteleakos also speaks to the fulfillment of providing care across a range of ages and stages in life. “At Westview we often say that we are ‘Caring for Generations’ as we provide for the wellness needs of our skilled nursing inpatients, therapy outpatients, independent and assisted living residents at Westview Commons, and students at Westview Child Care Center. Linda is a wonderful example among us in carrying that beacon.” Mr. Panteleakos went on to add: “It is wonderful that she brings her keen and kind experience from a range of care provider perspectives to our population at Westview. Congratulations to Linda!”

Westview Health Care Center is a 103-bed inpatient skilled nursing facility, which includes a distinct and self-contained 28-bed sub-acute short term rehabilitation unit and outpatient physical, occupational and speech therapies including: Sports Medicine, Adolescent/Pediatric, Adult, and Aquatic Outpatient Centers, all dedicated to providing outstanding quality health care services. The Dayville, Connecticut facility is consistently ranked among the top nursing facilities in the nation, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services as well as U.S. News and World Report, consecutively for the past years.