News Release Florida’s Long Term Care Heroes Announced

Individuals and Facilities to Receive Statewide Honors for Advancing Quality for Florida's Elders

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 25, 2013
Contact: Kristen Knapp, APR
850.701.3530 or kknapp@fhca.org

Tallahassee, FL – Florida Health Care Association has named its 2013 Volunteers and Resident of the Year, statewide honors which are annually given to individuals dedicated to advancing quality care and quality of life for seniors and persons with disabilities residing in Florida’s nursing and assisted living facilities. The Adult Volunteer of the Year, Group Volunteer of the Year and Resident of the Year Awards are part of FHCA’s Long Term Care Excellence Awards and will be presented during the Association’s 2013 Annual Conference at The Westin Diplomat Resort & Spa in Hollywood, Fl. in August.

Award recipients include the following:

• Resident of the Year: Virginia McQuaig, 85, resident of Pines of Sarasota
• Adult Volunteer of the Year: Richard Weale, for his service to East Bay Rehabilitation Center in Largo
• Group Volunteer of the Year: Gospel From the Heart Ministries of Ocala, for their service to Palm Garden of Ocala

Along with individual awards, FHCA will recognize the 67 Florida facilities which earned a 2013 American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL) National Quality Award. These facilities have undergone a rigorous process based on the core values and criteria of the Baldrige National Quality Award Program and will be honored for their dedication to achieving and advancing quality care excellence. Florida has the highest number of Quality Award recipients for a single state, with 10 facilities achieving the Silver – Achievement in Quality Award and 57 facilities achieving the Bronze – Commitment to Quality Award.  A full list of Florida’s National Quality Award recipients can be found on FHCA's website. 

“These award recipients reflect the best in long term care, and we are proud to honor them for the positive difference they are making in the lives of Florida’s elderly and persons with disabilities,” said Emmett Reed, Executive Director of FHCA, Florida’s first and largest advocacy organization for long term care providers and the residents under their care.

Volunteers of the Year and Quality Award recognitions will take place during the FHCA 2013 Annual Conference on Monday, August 5, with the Resident of the Year Award presented on Tuesday, August 6. Additional awards to be presented include the Nursing Home and Assisted Living Facility Administrators of the Year, Arthur H. Harris Government Services Award, Willis J. Gregson Associate Member of the Year, Media & Community Involvement Award and the Association’s most prestigious honor, the Walter M. Johnson, Jr. Circle of Excellence Award. 

For more information about award presentations or FHCA’s 2013 Annual Conference & Trade Show, contact Kristen Knapp at (850) 701-3530/(850) 510-4389 cell or kknapp@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 [url=http://www.fhca.org]http://www.fhca.org[/url].

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