Debbie Shortridge of Avante at Melbourne Named 2014 Resident of the Year

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  July 17, 2014                                       
CONTACT: Kristen Knapp, APR                                                                  
(850) 701-3530 or kknapp@fhca.org

Melbourne Nursing Home Resident Receives Statewide Honors

Tallahassee, FL - Florida Health Care Association (FHCA) has awarded Debbie Shortridge, a resident of Avante at Melbourne, as the Association’s 2014 Resident of the Year. The award, which is given annually to a long term care resident who shows outstanding service to seniors residing in Florida’s long term care facilities, was presented by FHCA during the Association’s Annual Conference last week in Orlando.
    
Ms. Shortridge, 54, has served as Avante at Melbourne’s Resident Council President for more than a year. In that volunteer role, she takes time to listen and advocate on behalf of the needs of her fellow residents, sharing their ideas and feedback with facility staff. Her active participation in this role has led to improved communication, increased resident and staff satisfaction and an overall enhanced quality of life. Ms. Shortridge also takes time each day to read the newspaper to residents who have vision problems so they can stay up to date on current events.

“Debbie brings her radiant smile and positive approach to everyday challenges. She is an excellent listener and makes others happy with her warm and caring spirit,” said Diane Boodram, administrator at Avante at Melbourne, a 110-bed skilled nursing facility.

“FHCA is pleased to honor Ms. Shortridge with this prestigious award,” said FHCA Executive Director Emmett Reed. “Her enthusiasm and dedication to her fellow long term care residents makes her an excellent role model for seniors across the state.”

Florida Health Care Association’s Long Term Care Excellence Awards are an annual recognition program. They include the Resident of the Year Award, as well as the Nursing Home and Assisted Living Facility Administrator of the Year, the Willis J. Gregson Associate Member of the Year, recognition of community volunteers for their service to long term care, and honors for an outstanding nursing home resident and a facility for community outreach.  For more information about FHCA’s Long Term Care Excellence Awards, visit the Quality Improvement section of the FHCA website at [url=http://www.fhca.org]http://www.fhca.org[/url].
    
ABOUT THE FLORIDA HEALTH CARE ASSOCIATION
Celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2014, the Florida Health Care Association (FHCA) is a federation which serves nearly 1,000 members and represents over 500 long term care facilities that provide skilled nursing, post-acute and sub-acute care, short-term rehab, assisted living and other services to the frail elderly and individuals with disabilities in Florida. The mission of FHCA is to advance the quality of services, image, professional development and financial stability of its members. As Florida's first and largest advocacy organization for long term care providers and the elderly they serve, the Association has worked diligently since 1954 to assist its members with continuously improving quality of care and quality of life for the state’s growing elder care population. For more information about the Florida Health Care Association, visit [url=http://www.fhca.org]http://www.fhca.org[/url].

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