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By Jeff McDanald

Special to the Journal

LeadingAge Kentucky has recognized two Wesley Village Senior Living Community employees for making Wilmore a better place to grow old. 

Chef Tony Robinson and CNA Kaitlin Mertz were recognized for their achievements at a special dinner on Friday, August 30, at Wesley Village. Robinson won the Community Living Award, and Mertz won the LeadingAge Kentucky Scholarship.

Residents and staff celebrated the nominees with an evening of food and song. The special “Friday Night Fare” featured local musician Scott Collins and friends with a tribute to the music of John Denver in the Encore Cafe. Not surprisingly, the food for the evening was orchestrated by Chef Tony, who served a Village favorite of gourmet chili dogs, steak fries, and baked beans. 

Chef Tony Robinson grew up in Frankfort with fond memories of helping in the kitchen with Sunday pot roast dinners at his Mimi’s house. He sharpened his skills at Sullivan College’s Culinary Arts program and joined Wesley Village in 2015.

Upon his hiring, Robinson quickly built a loyal following for his unique takes on Southern-fried chicken, shrimp’ n grits, and meatloaf. Robinson credits “God working through me” for any good he’s able to accomplish these days. 

In the nearly three years that CNA Kaitlin Mertz has been with Wesley Village, she has worked in every neighborhood on the campus – caring for residents in Licensed Personal Care, Nursing Care, and Memory Care.

Residents often ask for Mertz by name. “I know when I need something, Kaitlin will take care of me,” said one resident. Mertz plans to practice trauma nursing after earning her degree through Campbellsville University’s ADN and BSN programs. 

Robinson and Mertz will pick up their actual awards at the LeadingAge Kentucky Annual Conference in Louisville on September 17-18. 

LeadingAge Kentucky is part of the national organization LeadingAge, located in Washington, DC. It represents more than 5,000 nonprofit aging service providers and other mission-minded organizations nationwide. 

In Kentucky, LeadingAge members include nursing facilities, assisted living facilities, retirement communities, and other care providers for the elderly and disabled. LeadingAge uses applied research, advocacy, education, and community-building to develop and innovate solutions to support older adults.

Wesley Village is a 501(c)(3) organization and Kentucky’s first CCRC continuing care retirement community. For more information about “Friday Night Fare” and the other life-enriching programs at Wesley Village Senior Living, contact Alan Beuscher at (859) 509-6893 or abeuscher@wvillage.com.