Now, 16 years later, that’s exactly what’s happened.

Hellvig was joined by colleagues, residents and family on Tuesday morning as she was presented with the Caregiver of the Year Award from LeadingAge Iowa. She said the honor was a “complete surprise.”

“They kept it a huge secret,” she said. “I had no idea what was happening when they came over here.”

LeadingAge Iowa is a statewide organization of nonprofit aging services providers. Hellvig was selected for this award from a large statewide pool of nominees, according to the organization’s press release.

-Submitted photo
Friendship Haven charge nurse Sara Hellvig, left, was nominated for LeadingAge Iowa’s Caregiver of the Year Award by Friendship Haven Administrator Erin Hoversten, right. Hellvig was presented the award on Tuesday morning.

“I’m extremely, extremely humbled,” Hellvig said. “I’m very proud to have received it. It means a lot to be recognized by people who are coworkers, but they’re also my friends. And it really means the world to get that recognition and validation of what I do.”

Erin Hoversten-Majewski, administrator of the Simpson Health Center at Friendship Haven, submitted the nomination.

“We are so blessed to have Sara on our team,” said Friendship Haven President and CEO Julie Thorson. “She absolutely puts residents and their families first.”

Hellvig showed true leadership, Thorson said, when she immediately acknowledged her teammates after being presented with the award.

“Humility, compassion beyond measure, patience, and proficiency … all words that accurately describe Sara,” Thorson said. “I am extremely proud to work alongside Sara Hellvig and congratulate her on this honor.”

Hellvig has a long history with Friendship Haven. In fact, her connection with Friendship Haven began long before she was even born. Her parents met at Friendship Haven in the 1970s when her father was a registered nurse there. So when Hellvig was looking for a place to start working as an aide, the choice was obvious.

“I kind of felt like it was just one of the best places to go,” Hellvig said.

She continued to work at Friendship Haven as she progressed toward earning her nursing license, but she didn’t really intend to stay forever, she said.

“I figured I’d get my nursing license and go do something else,” Hellvig said. “But over the years, especially here in the Journeys Dementia Care Neighborhood, I just really found my place and where I ended up making my career.”

Hellvig specializes in dementia care and said she enjoys that she’s able to take care of not only her patients, but the patients’ families.

“I have my gifts as a nurse … but I feel like I can use my heart to take care of people also,” she said.