Hillcrest Commons Nursing & Rehabilitation Center Receives National Award

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living recently announced the selection of Hillcrest Commons Nursing & Rehabilitation Center as a recipient of the 2017 Silver-Achievement in Quality award for its outstanding performance in the health care profession.

Hillcrest Commons is one of only nine facilities in Massachusetts, and one of 191 facilities in the nation, selected to receive the silver award in 2017. The competitive award program highlights select centers across the nation that serve as models of excellence in providing high-quality long term care.

"We are proud to have received the Silver Award and we’re pleased that an independent panel of examiners saw the high value we place on quality care and service excellence," said Delores Duncan, administrator at Hillcrest Commons, which is an affiliate of Berkshire Healthcare. "Our focus at Hillcrest has always been on people. We want to continue to evolve our quality care and service to even greater heights."

"We congratulate the entire Hillcrest team on this achievement," added Bill Jones, president of Berkshire Healthcare. "It's a great example of how we are advancing quality across our affiliates with more and more Berkshire facilities earning recognition for quality care."

Fifteen of Berkshire’s skilled nursing and assisted living facilities have earned the Bronze award from AHCA/NCAL; 13 have also reached the Silver level; and two hold the distinction of the Gold award, the highest level in the program.

New Camp Is Safe Place for Children Suffering Loss to Addiction

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
06:26AM / Saturday, December 27, 2025

Last year's Happy Campers courtesy of Max Tabakin.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A new camp is offering a safe place for children who have lost a parent or guardian to addiction. 

 

Director Gayle Saks founded the nonprofit "Camp Happy Place" last year. The first camp was held in June with 14 children.

 

Saks is a licensed drug and alcohol counselor who works at the Brien Center. One of her final projects when studying was how to involve youth, and a camp came to mind. Camp had been her "happy place" growing up, and it became her dream to open her own.

 

"I keep a bucket list in my wallet, and it's right on here on this list, and I cross off things that I've accomplished," she said. "But it is the one thing on here that I knew I had to do."

 

The overnight co-ed camp is held at a summer camp in Winsted, Conn., where Saks spent her summers as a child. It is four nights and five days and completely free. Transportation is included as are many of the items needed for camping. The camp takes up to 30 children.

 

"I really don't think there's any place that exists specifically for this population. I think it's important to know, we've said this, but that it is not a therapeutic camp," Saks said.

 

She said the focus is on fun for the children, though they are able to talk to any of the volunteer and trained staff. The staff all have experience in social work, addiction and counseling, and working with children.