Employee of the Month

Elizabeth Thorstenson garnered recognition as the January Employee of the Month at Country Living at Westview Commons. Elizabeth is a server in the dietary department at the Dayville, CT independent and assisted living facility; providing the residents with compassion, conversation, and camaraderie as well as their chosen cuisine. She joined the team at Westview Commons in July 2022, after working in Westview Health Care Center’s dietary department on a part-time basis beginning in December 2021. The personal interactions that Elizabeth experiences with the residents as she performs her role are cherished moments to her. She relates to her patrons with full acceptance of who they are as individuals, and appreciates how they build their relationships over time through shared understanding. This feeling was made evident through her commentary. “Our residents are so great! I want to be a good listener whenever they need it. The managers, servers, and all of us working here are always open to the residents’ insights—and we all benefit by gaining some of their lifelong knowledge,” Elizabeth stated.

"We all benefit by gaining some of their lifelong knowledge..."

During mealtimes, Elizabeth takes the residents’ orders with personalized detail. She takes responsibility in delivering their food with all of their dietary needs and preparation preferences considered. Elizabeth expresses great faith in Westview Commons’ leadership in the dietary department and in the administration of the facility; knowing that their menus present deliciously designed options for everyone’s dining desires. She performed some kitchen prep-work in her tenure at Westview Health Care Center, and thus possesses firsthand knowledge of the team efforts required to prepare well-made food on a large scale. Prior to her time in Westview’s organization, Elizabeth worked as a server in another local retirement village. All of this background experience helps her to realize the wonderfully rewarding role of serving senior communities, and how much she appreciates the opportunity to work with the kind personalities living at Westview Commons.

Elizabeth grew up in Brooklyn, CT and graduated from the H. H. Ellis Technical School in Danielson, CT. As a teenager she began receiving babysitting requests from friends and family, and to add to her self and client confidence, she earned an OSHA 10 CPR/Babysitting License. She maintains that it is important to know such essential life-saving skills for any of her professional pursuits in any setting. Her large and loyal family includes her mother Lisa and father Mark, her sister Kayce, and her brothers Tony, Ben, and Ryan. In quieter moments she enjoys reading suspenseful mystery novels, seeking their thrilling plots as narrative escapes. To stay fit, Elizabeth consistently exercises by lifting and running throughout the week. She also enjoys traveling and hiking as an athletic activity with a hint of adventure; often journeying to New Hampshire to explore the Granite State’s beautiful, mountainous terrain. Going forward, her ambition is to continue to see new destinations by travelling throughout the United States. She carries an intrepid spirit with her on these road trips and cherishes the step-by-step touchpoints along the way.

Currently, Elizabeth also has a part-time side job that she performs with a house cleaning business, and looks to her future with entrepreneurial aspirations to someday become an owner of such a service offering. No matter what vocation she finds herself in, her passion for uplifting others through her work is substantial. Elizabeth enthusiastically enjoys her present position in foodservice at Westview Commons, and she made this clear in her acceptance statement: “I am thankful to be a part of the Westview and Westview Commons community! I have grown to meet so many new people who are kind hearted—Westview Commons is quite welcoming and it has a great atmosphere. Again, I am thankful to be appreciated with this honor!”

"I greatly appreciate the carefully curated dining experience that Elizabeth and our fantastic dietary team provide..."

Westview Commons Executive Vice President David T. Panteleakos praises Elizabeth’s compassionate delivery of resident meals and the connections she builds within their resident community. “The atmosphere during meal service in Westview Commons’ Great Room is as warm as the plates being delivered, and Elizabeth is a great contributor to this element of daily life for our residents.” He added: “I greatly appreciate the carefully curated dining experience that Elizabeth and our fantastic dietary team provide for our community at Westview Commons. Congratulations to Elizabeth!”

Country Living at Westview Commons is a 75-unit independent and assisted living community conveniently located in picturesque Northeastern Connecticut. Affiliated with Westview Health Care Center, a nationally-ranked nursing facility according to CMS and U.S. News and World Report for the past years, Westview Commons is a 115,000 square foot catered living facility dedicated to a genuine 5-star experience including outstanding service, culinary expertise and professional in-house entertainment. Located in Dayville, CT, Westview Commons combines convenience, tranquility and comfort; providing a lifestyle that seniors deserve.