Flag Dedication Ceremony Honors Veterans Who Live and Work in Florida's Nursing Homes and ALFs

On November 12, Florida Health Care Association honored long term care professionals and residents who served in the United States Armed Forces during a Flag Dedication Ceremony at the Association’s headquarters in downtown Tallahassee. The event featured Lt. General Lawrence Snowden, retired Marine Corp veteran with more than 37 years of service, including combat as a Company Commander with the 23d Marines in the assault on Iwo Jima; Steve Murray, Lieutenant Colonel, United States Air Force (retired), representing the Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs; the Lincoln High School NJROTC Color Guard and area skilled nursing facility (aka nursing homes) and assisted living facility caregivers and residents, several of who are veterans.



“Florida’s skilled nursing facilities represent more than 280,000 employees and care for over 71,000 residents statewide, and many of the men and women working and residing in those facilities served our great country,” said Emmett Reed, FHCA Executive Director. “We erected this flagpole and are proud to dedicate the flag this morning to honor these brave veterans for their service and the sacrifices they made for our freedom.”

The American flag dedicated as part of the ceremony was flown by American troops in Iraq, and embedded into the flagpole base is a remnant from Saddam Hussein’s palace. The flag and remnant were brought back from Iraq by FHCA Chief Lobbyist Bob Asztalos, a U.S. Navy reservist who was stationed there in 2005, serving as a senior chief hospital corpsman with the U.S. Marine Corps. “The flag is more than the fabric that it is made from. It has meaning for which people shed their lives,” said Asztalos.

Caregivers Gather to Celebrate Quality, Promote the Positive Images of Long Term Care

Over 100 caregivers from skilled nursing facilities (aka nursing homes) around the Broward and Palm Beach County areas were recently honored by former Sen. Ellyn Bogdanoff (R-Ft. Lauderdale) for their dedication and commitment to delivering high-quality, long term care to seniors. The Quality Care Celebration Event took place at Stratford Court of Boca Raton and featured seven local facilities which earned the American Health Care Association’s (AHCA) 2012 National Quality Award. Debra Howe, President/CEO of Airamid Health Services, also accepted an award on behalf of the organization having 100 percent facility enrollment in the Advancing Excellence in America’s Nursing Homes Campaign.



“Skilled nursing facilities employ over 280,000 people in Florida who deliver high-quality care to more than 70,000 residents and patients each and every day," said Emmett Reed, executive Director of the Florida Health Care Association, the state's first and largest advocate for Florida's skilled nursing/long term care providers and the residents under their care. "These caregivers matter, and today’s event is a celebration of the passion and commitment they bring to their residents and patients every day."

Thirty-eight Florida facilities received the 2012 AHCA National Quality Award. During the event, Sen. Bogdanoff recognized these local facilities: Boynton Health Care Center in Boynton Beach, which earned the Silver Quality Award; Bronze Quality Awards recipients Stratford Court Boca Raton; Whitehall Boca, Boca Raton; Wilton Manors Health and Rehabilitation Center, Ft. Lauderdale; Jupiter Medical Center Pavilion, Jupiter; Lakeside Health Center, West Palm Beach; and Rehabilitation Center of The Palm Beaches, West Palm Beach. The AHCA National Quality Award Program is centered on the core values and criteria of the Baldrige Performance Excellence Program and consists of an entry level Bronze Award, a more rigorous Silver Award and a final Gold Award.

The Quality Care Celebration Event also promoted the positive images of long term care in Florida. FHCA President Scott Allen debuted videos as part of a web-based public relations campaign which featured first-hand testimonials from family members and conversations with caregivers showcasing the quality care in Florida’s skilled nursing facilities. “Today we are sending a message to everyone across the state of Florida that quality in Florida’s skilled nursing and long term care facilities is good,” said Scott Allen.

“This event is an important opportunity to show our community that we are more than just a noble profession. We are delivering compassionate, quality health care to those who need it most," said Debra Howe, President/CEO of Airamid Health Services, a West Palm Beach-based organization which manages 44 skilled nursing facilities and five assisted living facilities across the state of Florida.

FHCA members showcase quality care through more than 100 facility tours statewide

Florida Health Care Association members continue to do an excellent job with educating legislators and political candidates about the important work they do. For the past several months, FHCA members have hosted over 100 facility tours, connecting legislators and candidates with residents and staff so they can see, first hand,  the high-quality care being delivered and how dynamic facilities have become in serving the needs of both short and long term care patients.

Last Friday, John Couriel, Republican candidate for Senate District 35, visited Berkshire Manor in North Miami, giving administrator JeNell Shephard and the staff an excellent opportunity to showcase the award-worthy quality care the facility is delivering.

Florida Presbyterian Homes in Lakeland, which is preparing to open a new assisted living facility, hosted Representatives Kelli Stargel and Seth McKeel, as well as representatives from the Pioneer Network and other long term care stakeholder groups. Administrator Maria Rivera, Executive Director John Hehn, together with FPH Chair Harry Pettit and other staff, joined these special visitors for a discussion of senior care issues. They also enjoyed lunch in one of the new family-style kitchen and dining areas in the new building.

Nursing homes offer compassionate, high-quality care for children in need

By J. Emmett Reed

Recent media coverage and opinion pieces on the Department of Justice's report related to children being cared for in nursing homes is another unfortunate attempt to demonize these facilities in the press. There are only six out of 685 nursing homes in Florida which specialize in serving children and young adults. The unfortunate reality is that these pediatric facilities are the safety net for children who cannot be cared for at home because either their medical needs are too complex or they have no family to rely on. “Fragile” does not begin to describe their care needs – they require ventilators, feeding tubes; they have traumatic brain injuries or may even be comatose. The staff dedicated to providing their 24-hour care is specifically trained in pediatrics. They include registered nurses, physicians, respiratory therapists, speech therapists, dieticians and social workers, to name a few. The reality is that good care costs money, as do the support services to ensure these children are given a nurturing and home-like environment. Medicaid doesn’t come close to covering the costs for what these children need, like 24-hour pulse and oxygen monitoring, specialized wheelchairs, off-campus outings with all the necessary staff so they can experience what it’s like to be a kid. Yet, despite a chronic funding shortfall, nursing homes continue to do all that it takes to deliver high-quality, compassionate care to those who need it most.

Pediatric nursing homes have a very specific set of requirements and regulations to care for children 21 and under. The areas where these children live are separate and secure, and yes, isolated away from the geriatric residents; however, they are designed specifically for children. You’ll find handicap-accessible playgrounds, toys, stuffed animals and a brightly-colored, kid-friendly living environment. Education is an important component, and through collaboration among the families, medical team and school system, each child’s schooling needs are met. You’ll also find more than twice the number of staffing hours per child than that which is required for seniors.

In many cases, staff are the only families these children know. They care for them and love them as if they were their own. Nursing homes have always been supportive of every individual receiving the most appropriate care in the safest and least restrictive settings, and we actively support programs that keep or safely transition these fragile children to a home and community-based setting. The unfortunate reality is that the DOJ report, and Mr. Grimm’s editorial, only focuses on the small fraction of children who are blessed to have a strong family support network. Many of these kids are there because someone in their life failed them, and their health deteriorated as a result. But just like they would with their own children, the staff working in these nursing homes experience joy and pride in their hearts when they see them thrive and, if they have somewhere safe to go, can return home. Wouldn’t our communities benefit if the news media took time to write about those stories and for once, give credit to these facilities for meeting an important need…I suppose those headlines wouldn’t be nearly as interesting though.

Florida Governor Rick Scott speaks at FHCA's 2012 Annual Conference

On August 1, Florida Governor Rick Scott spoke before a crowd of more than 400 long term care professionals during FHCA's 2012 Annual Conference & Trade Show in Orlando. Along with sharing his vision to get our state's economy back on track, the Governor told audience members about his positive experiences with his parents being cared for in nursing homes. He recognized the compassionate care being delivered to our state's seniors and the need for adequate funding to ensure that high-quality care remains a constant for years to come. He also echoed the messages of FHCA's leadership by encouraging audience members to get involved in grassroots advocacy and take time to come to Tallahassee to speak with their legislators about the important work they do.

After his presentation, FHCA presented Governor Scott with an award for his ongoing support of Florida's long term care professionals and the residents under their care.

FHCA Honors Governor Rick Scott for Protecting Florida's Frail Elders

On August 1 during FHCA's 2012 Annual Conference at the Hilton Orlando, the Association honored Governor Rick Scott for his ongoing support of long term care providers and the residents cared for in member facilities.

Governor Scott spoke in front of more than 400 long term care professionals, sharing his understanding of the challenges these dedicated caregivers face in light of shrinking reimbursements. He also spoke of the importance that job growth plays to the state's economic recovery. Long term care is the state's 14th largest employer, contributing over 259,000 jobs in both rural and urban communities.

Norman Estes (left) with Northport Health Services presented Governor Scott with the award, thanking him for recognizing the need to protect Medicaid funding for nursing homes when he released his 2012-13 budget prior to the legislative session and for signing HB 787 into law, a bill that helps put patients ahead of paperwork by eliminating some duplicative requirements and regulations.