FHCA 2012 Group Volunteer of the Year

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 30, 2012
Contact: Kristen Knapp, APR
(850) 701-3530 or kknapp@fhca.org

TALLAHASSEE, FL - Florida Health Care Association (FHCA) recognized Cleta’s Sing-A-Long of Ocala with the Association’s 2012 Group Volunteer of the Year Award. Cleta’s Sing-A-Long was honored in Orlando today during the FHCA 2012 Annual Conference in front of over 600 long term care professionals gathered from across the state of Florida. The Award is given annually to group which shows dedication and loyalty, along with a true desire to serve seniors residing in Florida’s long term care facilities.

For more than 19 years, Cleta’s Sing-A-Long has been visiting Palm Garden of Ocala every Saturday afternoon to sing the old, familiar hymns with residents. Although Ms. Cleta passed away three years ago, the group remains committed to helping Palm Garden’s residents practice their faith. Throughout the hour-long program, these dedicated volunteers mingle with the members, helping them find pages in the song books and asking for their input on the hymns that they sing.

“It takes a strong leader to make this happen week-after-week. The members of Cleta’s Sing-A-Long are a caring group of people who truly enjoy spending time with the residents, who in turn, view them as family,” said Jennifer Mikula, administrator of Palm Garden of Ocala, a 180-bed skilled nursing facility.

“FHCA is pleased to present Cleta’s Sing-A-Long with the 2012 Group Volunteer of the Year Award for their dedication and kindness to these long term care residents,” said Emmett Reed, Executive Director of Florida Health Care Association.

The 2012 Group Volunteer of the Year Award is part of Florida Health Care Association’s Long Term Care Excellence Awards. These awards annually honor a number of community volunteers for their service to long term care, as well as an outstanding facility for its community outreach.  Awards are also presented to a long term care Resident of the Year, Nursing Home and Assisted Living Facility Administrator of the Year and an Associate Member of the Year. For more information about FHCA’s Long Term Care Excellence Awards, visit the Quality Improvement section of the FHCA website at www.fhca.org.

ABOUT THE FLORIDA HEALTH CARE ASSOCIATION
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 www.fhca.org. 

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