Bruce McCandless Veterans Community Living Center at Florence

02/13/2026

February Employee of the month: the one and only Rhonda Lippis-Moschetti!!!!
Rhonda was nominated for her outstanding dedication, leadership, and selflessness. She consistently puts residents and staff first, volunteering countless hours on committees and coordinating events that recognize everyone’s hard work. Rhonda greets others with a warm smile, values every contribution, and generously shares her knowledge to help residents and families navigate payment and insurance concerns. A trusted mentor, leader, and friend, she truly deserves this recognition for her unwavering commitment and heartfelt care. Congratulations, Rhonda!!!!

02/13/2026

02/10/2026

𝐌𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐟𝐟: Erica Falk, a CNA who currently works on our Big Horn Bluff neighborhood.
𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐭 𝐌𝐜𝐂𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐕𝐂𝐋𝐂? I have been working here for about 7 years.
𝐀𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐝𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐬 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐫 𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐡 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐞? I wanted to make a difference in someone else's life, so I got my Certified Nursing Assistant license. I wouldn't change my career path. This is my first and only job as a CNA.
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐝𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐣𝐨𝐛? I get to spend time with our heroes and their significant others, hearing their stories. Getting to know them and their family is one of the greatest experiences.
𝐃𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞? 𝐈𝐟 𝐬𝐨, 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬? I do have family members who have served. You never know what someone went through until you hear them out. They fought for us. It's our time to be there for them.
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐨𝐛𝐛𝐢𝐞𝐬? I love spending time with my family. I love being outdoors, hiking, fishing and taking long walks in nature. I enjoy different arts and crafts, and I love to free write in my own time.

02/05/2026

CNAs - ELEVATE YOUR CAREER! Check out our HIRING BLITZ Feb. 18!

01/30/2026

𝐌𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐟𝐟: Kaylee Todd, a CNA who currently works in our Big Horn Bluff neighborhood.

𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐭 𝐌𝐜𝐂𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐕𝐂𝐋𝐂? I worked here for 2 years, then left and came back for another 2 years. In total, I’ve worked here for 4 years.

𝐀𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐝𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐬 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐫 𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐡 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐞? I've been a CNA for 8 years now, and I am currently moving toward my RN to expand my knowledge and the level of care I will be able to provide.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐝𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐣𝐨𝐛? The most rewarding for me is being the difference in our residents’ lives, building bonds with all of them and providing quality care in their time of need.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐨𝐛𝐛𝐢𝐞𝐬? I love to go horseback riding, being outdoors and being with family.

01/27/2026

𝐌𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐟𝐟: Joyce Hawk, food service manager!

𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐭 𝐌𝐜𝐂𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐕𝐂𝐋𝐂? As food service manager, I have 4 months at Bruce McCandless; previously I was the kitchen manager for 6 years from 2014 to 2020.

𝐀𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐝𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐬 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐫 𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐡 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐞? I have been a certified dietary manager for 22 years, and graduated from culinary arts school in 2008 from Pueblo Community College. I have experience in prison kitchens, long-term care kitchens and at the State Hospital's dining services program. I was also an adjunct baking professor shortly after graduating from PCC.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐝𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐣𝐨𝐛? I love mentoring staff, sharing experience and being a guide. Folks who work in kitchens are special to me for the care they give residents in ways unique to foodservice - the intimate knowledge of residents' likes and dislikes, being part of the "showing love" through food. This manner of service through food, caring for residents and the staff that serve them, is what fuels my passion for my work.

𝐃𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞? 𝐈𝐟 𝐬𝐨, 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬? I do not have family with military service. In my previous role here, I developed a profound respect and love for those who have served our country. Classic kitchen structure closely mimics that of military organizations, and I relate strongly to that parallel. I am happy to be servicing those who have served the United States.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐨𝐛𝐛𝐢𝐞𝐬? I have several artistic hobbies, which include making jewelry - particularly wire wrapping and wire work. I have a deep addiction to beads, bead stores and the tools used in wire working. I have done Native American beadwork both on the loom and pe**te stitching on rattle handles, feather and other items. I have dabbled with pen and ink drawing, water color painting, stained glass and woodworking. I enjoy making shelves to contain my supplies. During warm weather, my husband and I camp at every opportunity, usually lakeside where I can fly fish from my kayak.

01/21/2026

𝐌𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐟𝐟: Shanon Carney, director of nursing!

𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐭 𝐌𝐜𝐂𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐕𝐂𝐋𝐂? I started at Bruce McCandless on Sept. 15, 2025.

𝐀𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐝𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐬 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐫 𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐡 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐞? My career in healthcare began at age 16 as a CNA in Canon City, specializing in long-term care. While I’ve worked in hospital and dialysis settings after obtaining my nursing license, long-term care remains my true passion. My commitment is to advocate strongly for our residents, improve their quality of life and challenge the stigma associated with "nursing homes" by leading and educating my team.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐝𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐣𝐨𝐛? The greatest reward is seeing our residents happy and laughing. When they are enjoying themselves, it confirms that we are successfully meeting their needs and creating a true home environment.

𝐃𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞? 𝐈𝐟 𝐬𝐨, 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬?Although I don't have military experience myself, my grandfather was a POW in the Korean War, and my uncle served in Vietnam. Growing up, my grandfather's involvement with the VFW meant I was active in community service for the veteran community, and I am deeply proud of the sacrifices our military has made for our country.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐨𝐛𝐛𝐢𝐞𝐬? I am a mother of three. My hobbies include working, children's sports and school activities, working some more and late night binge watching TV dramas when I know I should be sleeping.

01/19/2026

𝐌𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐟𝐟: Meghan Danielle, a CNA who works in our Big Horn Bluff neighborhood.

𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐜𝐂𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐕𝐂𝐋𝐂? I've worked at McCandless for 2 years and 8 months.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐝𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐣𝐨𝐛? It is an honor taking care of our veterans and their spouses.

𝐃𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞? 𝐈𝐟 𝐬𝐨, 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬? Marines and military service run deep in my family. My son is even named after my grandfather who was a Sgt. 1st Class General in the U.S. Marine Corps. I love that I can give back just a little bit to our heroes who have given us everything for this great nation.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐨𝐛𝐛𝐢𝐞𝐬? I love the outdoors and being with my family.

01/13/2026

𝐉𝐚𝐧𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐄𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐲𝐞𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐡: Denise Leibel

Denise is a nurse in our memory care neighborhood. Denise goes above and beyond providing exceptional care to our residents with an extraordinarily positive attitude each day.

"I am honored to give back to our veterans in their time of need," Denise said. "They deserve the utmost care and respect as a small token of our appreciation for their sacrifice and service to our country. I am blessed to be chosen as employee of the month, but it is truly a collaborative effort. I am so grateful for our team and so thankful for their help and support."

Thank YOU for your dedicated hard work! Congratulations!

01/12/2026

𝐌𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐟𝐟: Tim O'Dell, a CNA on our secured Four Seasons Trail neighborhood.

𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐭 𝐌𝐜𝐂𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐕𝐂𝐋𝐂? I have worked at McCandless for 15 years.

𝐀𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐝𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐬 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐫 𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐡 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐞? The least understood facet of my career path as a CNA is how physically and mentally exhausting it is, caring for these exceptional people day in and day out and becoming attached to them like family and watching them decline. But it is also just as equally rewarding learning from their lifetimes of wisdom and experience.

𝐃𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐥𝐮𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐣𝐨𝐛 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐭 𝐌𝐜𝐂𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬? My father and both grandfathers were in the U.S. Army during Vietnam and WWII respectively. This has shown me the trials and horrors they have gone through and why the utmost patience and understanding is absolutely required and deserved for these amazing people and all who have served our country whether in our care or not.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐨𝐛𝐛𝐢𝐞𝐬? In my sparse spare time, I enjoy fishing, time at the range and time with my family.

12/31/2025

Take your career to the next level by caring for America's Heroes. Here, we honor and celebrate our Veterans, Veterans spouses and Gold Star parents each and every day. We would love to have you join the Bruce McCandless family! Click the link below!

 This position is open only to Colorado state residents.Please note: This recruitment may be used to fill multiple vacancies.Most State of Colorado employees are eligible for a great benefit package! Please see the Supplemental Information section below for details!Client Care Aide II - Bruce McCan...