11/13/2025
Today, Raeanne Burgess, one of our Life Enrichment assistants, was honored after being selected to receive the Excellence in Long Term Care Award through the Maine Health Care Association.
Working with Raeanne is nothing short of a delightful gift. Each day, she bursts through the
doors joyfully dancing, infusing the atmosphere with an exuberance that lasts throughout
her shift.
She began her journey at the Barron Center in 2004 as a housekeeper. Even back then it
was evident by the care she took transforming residents’ rooms into inviting places that
Raeanne was going far in her career. In 2019, she took her commitment to the next level by
completing the activity certification course and officially became a life enrichment
assistant, and 6 months ago, she took on the role of training a new colleague.
Raeanne’s unwavering dedication to service transcends the boundaries of her job
description. While some might say, “that’s not my job,” Raeanne constantly seeks to go
above and beyond, expanding her skills in the process.
Raeanne makes it her mission to connect with the newcomers and their loved ones. She
warmly invites spouses and partners to join in community outings and celebrations. To
ensure couples can strengthen their love, she helps plan special events, like a Valentine’s
Day luncheon and apple picking dates.
Raeanne is described as “very patient,” embodying the sprit that ensures she makes a
profound difference in the lives of all those around her. The new staff person whom she
recently trained said, “Raeanne presented each resident as a real person, suggesting ways
to interact with them as well as their activity interests. She wove in helpful tidbits, facts and
very important lessons throughout my early days while also being open to my
contributions.”
Raeanne’s sacrifice to the work at the Barron Center means the world to the residents, their
families, and to her fellow staff. She’s willing and dedicated to giving her time and energy to
enrich all our lives, that is the true essence of compassionate caregiving.
