A Little Voice of Happiness in the World

Elizabeth Dreas, cook at the Heritage Woods of Centralia affordable assisted living community, is one of the 15 individuals selected as a 2014 ALFA Hero award finalist.

By Rick Banas of BMA Management, Ltd.

Elizabeth Dreas of Heritage Woods of Centralia

As a cook at Heritage Woods of Centralia, Elizabeth (Beth) Dreas is doing what she likes best, serving others.

Her love for her work and for the residents who live here is never ending, says Tom Broughton, who serves as Administrator of Heritage Woods. The community features affordable assisted living apartments designed for adults 65 and older of all incomes, including those on Medicaid. The community also houses senior living apartments and rental homes for low-income adults 55 and older.

We are proud to say that Beth is one of only 15 individuals nationwide to be selected by the Assisted Living Federation of America as 2014 Hero Award program finalist. The program is designed to spotlight role models in senior living.

Elizabeth Dreas of Heritage Woods of Centralia

Beth embraces our values of Love, Compassion & Dignity, says Tom. She is relentless in seeing that residents come first, even if it means taking time away from her family. She is like the Energizer Bunny. She never stops and will not stop until every task is complete and every resident’s nutritional needs are met. Her love for her work and the residents she serves is never-ending.

When she interacts with residents, Tom adds, there is nothing but sunshine and smiles on both her face and the faces of residents. Our hope is the every staff member models her work ethic and her passion.

Outside of work, Beth volunteers in church and the community, touting the benefits of assisted living.

Beth learned to cook when she was living at a boarding school run by an order of nuns. The other kids would go home on weekends, she says. Beth, however, did not have a home to go home to so she would go to the kitchen and learn to cook.

“The kitchen is my comfort,” she noted.
“Cooking brings people together.”

Vote for Elizabeth Dreas - 2014 ALFA Hero Award

You can help Beth become one of the five ALFA Hero Awards program finalists to be honored in-person at the Assisted Living Federation of America’s 2014 Annual Conference to be held in May in Phoenix, Arizona.

The top five Hero Award finalists are being selected by popular vote. You can vote once a day everyday through Wednesday, Feb. 26, by going to http://www.alfaconference.org/heroes

We invite you to cast your votes for Beth. We also would appreciate your sharing this message with others and encourage them to vote.

As Beth says, “there are so many heroes. I just want to be a little voice of happiness in the world.”


All affordable assisted living communities managed by BMA Management, Ltd. are certified and surveyed by the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services. All assisted living communities are licensed and surveyed by the Illinois Department of Public Health.

“BMA Management, Ltd. is the leading provider of assisted living in Illinois
and one of the 20 largest providers of assisted living in the United States.”

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Gardant Management Solutions has 20+ years of industry-acclaimed operational history in developing, managing and consulting for senior living, assisted living and memory care communities.