National Nursing Home Week Celebrates 40 Years of Quality Care

ALBANY, NY (05/15/2007)(readMedia)-- The 40th annual National Nursing Home week, May 13-19, celebrates nursing home professionals and residents, and helps educate the public about long-term care facilities and the services they provide. This year's theme, "Treasure our Elders", recognizes the significant contributions the elderly have made throughout their lives and continue to make while a part of nursing home communities.

Facilities across the State are hosting week-long events and activities to mark National Nursing Home week. Events include a "Senior Prom" hosted by Woodhaven Nursing Home in Port Jefferson Station, New York where facility residents and local high school students will mingle for an evening of dancing and entertainment. Residents at the Ossining, New York Cedar Manor Nursing & Rehabilitation Center are creating a "Treasure Quilt" composed of individually decorated panels that highlight their best memories.

"During National Nursing Home Week, we honor all of our residents and the nursing home workers who make quality care possible," said Richard J. Herrick, President and CEO of the New York State Health Facilities Association. "This anniversary gives us an opportunity to reflect on the many accomplishments the nursing home industry has made over the last 40 years and to educate the public about our advanced skilled homes for rehabilitation and complex care and the larger role they play in strengthening New York's healthcare system."

The nursing home industry has undergone a number of changes over the last four decades. The industry continues to move away from hospital settings to resident-centered environments using newer technologies and improved techniques to better serve residents and keep them better connected with their families. Innovations include ventilator care, dialysis services, access to pets and using the internet.

Today, facilities also employ a diverse team of professionals including nurses, psychologists, clinical pharmacists and therapists who empower residents to direct the type of care they receive in consultation with this team of experts. In the past, a nursing home facility would the final destination for elderly patients. Enhancements in the delivery and quality of care enable residents to spend less time in nursing home facilities and enjoy more time with their families.

"Many residents come to skilled nursing facilities for short term rehabilitation therapy or recovery from complex medical care and often return to their own homes and communities," said Nancy Leveille, Senior Director of Member Operational Support at the New York State Health Facilities Association and a long term care nurse with 30 years of experience. "In addition to traditional long term care residents, services are now being provided to a younger population and many facilities are providing a higher level of skilled care, including advanced wound care and IV therapy, dialysis and ventilator care to meet the changing needs."

In his proclamation designating May 13 - 19 as Nursing Home Week in New York State, Governor Eliot Spitzer said, "Nursing home facilities offer supportive services that meet the unique personal needs of our older citizens and they advance a mission of responsibility for them - a responsibility that we will all share - by helping them live well and age well."

For more information about National Nursing Home Week events taking place around the State, contact Saleem Cheeks at 518-618-1512.

The New York State Health Facilities Association (NYSHFA) is a statewide membership organization of approximately 250 licensed nursing facilities. The membership is diversified and represents individual and multi-facility operations of proprietary, voluntary and government sponsorship. Members take care of approximately 40,000 ill, aged and infirm New Yorkers. Members of NYSHFA are dedicated to the highest standards of care and to the quality of life of all residents.

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