Under normal circumstances, working in health care can be tiring and difficult, but adding in the struggles of the COVID-19 pandemic can make the work physically and mentally exhausting. In 2020, Luthercare established a Heroes Program to recognize and appreciate its health care heroes, including nurses, aides, and support staff.

The program had three components. Hourly employees working in locations with COVID-positive cases received "Hero Pay" added to their regularly hourly rate. They also earned a "Hero Day" for every 160 hours worked per month that could be used as time off or could be cashed out at the end of the year. For every 80 hours worked in a pay period, they received an entry in a giveaway drawing for a "Hero Getaway," $5,000 toward a vacation of their choice.

Luthercare's Heroes Program was born out of discussion among the members of the Luthercare leadership team as they sought ways to recognize employees for working above and beyond on a daily basis during the pandemic. They wanted to provide something more than purely financial rewards, Carl McAloose, Luthercare president and CEO, explained. As they looked within the organization and in their personal lives at the normal things they were missing in 2020, they thought of the vacations that health care workers might hope for when the pandemic ends.

"That sprouted the idea of giving our team members in these direct-care environments something to look forward to, while also helping to ensure that we had staff available to provide this critical care. The Heroes Program was born of these two needs," McAloose said.

In January, the "Hero Getaway" giveaway drawing winners were selected and awarded their $5,000 prize. The winners are Heather Craig, a licensed practical nurse in the Luther Acres Healthcare Center, and Brenda Murphy, a licensed practical nurse in the Luther Acres Personal Care community.

Both winners expressed shock and delight upon learning they were the recipients of the "Hero Getaway" prize.

"There are so many people who deserve this," said Murphy, who has worked at Luther Acres for five years. "Our team is amazing here, and our team is a family. They are wonderfully supportive, and I feel very lucky."

Craig has worked at Luther Acres since 2018. Through the pandemic, she has navigated distance learning for her five children and picked up double shifts or extended hours when needed at the skilled nursing Healthcare Center. She noted that it has been challenging to work through the pandemic and lose beloved residents to COVID-19, but she has been inspired by the sense of teamwork and the staff's concern for the residents and their families, in addition to their own families.

Murphy and Craig both said they were still thinking about what they might do with the prize.