NEW ORLEANS—Homecare advocate and leader David Totaro, chief government affairs officer for BAYADA Home Health, received a lifetime achievement award from the National Alliance for Care at Home on Monday, Nov. 3.
“His leadership has empowered providers and caregivers to speak up, to use their voice and to share their stories,” Kenneth Albert, president and CEO of Andwell Health Partners and the chair of the Alliance’s board of directors, said as he announced the award on the second day of the Alliance’s Annual Meeting and Exposition in New Orleans. Albert said Totaro had been a mentor to him, especially as he and others worked to combine the National Association for Homecare and Hospice and the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization into a single alliance, which is hosting its first major event.
“His sage guidance and quiet leadership has been instrumental in helping us to navigate the merger,” Albert said.
Totaro, who is a member of the Alliance’s board and recently announced his planned retirement from BAYADA, also founded Hearts for Home Care, a BAYADA-based national advocacy group with more than 13,000 members. He said that it takes multiple voices working together to move the needle on advocacy.
“It takes more than one person. I’ve always said that – it’s bigger than one individual,” he said. “So I want to thank everyone who’s been involved over the last 10 years.”
Totaro then turned around and gave a separate award, the “Care at Home Partner Award,” to technology company Axxess, saying the company isn’t just a software company but “a true advocate for the future of care at home.”
“Their commitment to empowering the workforce, enhancing success and access to care and advancing innovation has made a meaningful and enduring difference across our community,” Totaro said.
“This award is especially meaningful because it reflects the power of collaboration,” said Adrian Killebrew, vice president of sales for Axxess. “We’re truly grateful to be recognized as a partner in advancing care where it belongs—in the home.”