Lori has been instrumental in the success of our Age-Friendly Care initiatives, particularly the Acute Care of the Elderly (ACE) Activity Cart pilot on Cardiac Telemetry. Her dedication, compassion, and leadership have not only elevated the quality of care for our older adult patients but have also inspired a cultural shift among staff toward more empathetic, individualized care. As a committed member of the Age-Friendly Care Committee, Lori consistently goes beyond her role. She brings energy and passion to every project, whether she is serving as a standard patient at the RN Skills Fair, by making delirium education both fun and memorable, or conducting weekly audits, and initiative-taking rounding to promote mobility and personalized care. Lori does not shy away from the hard conversations. She engages staff in crucial discussions that lead to improved patient outcomes and experiences. Her house-wide roving in-services on delirium, dementia, and depression have significantly enhanced staff understanding and confidence in caring for older adults.

During the past three months with our ACE cart pilot, Lori participated in half of the 237 patient interactions. She took the initiative to create activity packets for units, ensuring that cognitive engagement resources were always available, even when the cart was not. Her thoughtful interactions have transformed patient experiences: agitated patients become calm, confused patients become oriented, and many remember their conversations with Lori even after discharge, despite her not being their primary nurse. Lori’s impact extends beyond her direct patient care. She checks in with patients outside her assignment, offers activities, and simply listens. Her example has inspired others to do the same. Thanks to her diligence, patients are being mobilized more frequently, and staff are more attuned to the importance of seeing patients as whole people rather than just diagnoses.

Lori is a vital member of both the Age-Friendly Committee and our department’s Professional Development Committee. She embodies Sutter Health values every day and is a driving force behind the palpable improvement in older adult care on our unit. While some may question whether this fits the traditional mold of a DAISY Award, I assure you, it does. Lori has not just made a difference in the life of one patient; she is making a difference in the lives of many, both patients and staff alike. I am incredibly fortunate to collaborate with her and to grow Age-Friendly Care together at Sutter Memorial Medical Center.