11th Annual National Assisted Living Week® Theme Announced
National Celebration To Be Held September 11-17, 2005
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Amy Waye, (202) 898-6326
Washington, DC (March 17, 2005)—The 11th annual National Assisted Living Week® (NALW) will be celebrated September 11-17, 2005, beginning on Grandparent’s Day. This year’s NALW theme is A Fair To Remember.
The celebration highlights the crucial role assisted living residences play in helping our nation’s elderly to live as independently as possible while enjoying a meaningful quality of life. It also provides an opportunity to celebrate the exceptional involvement of families, staff, volunteers, vendors, and individuals from the local community in the lives of assisted living residents.
NALW was created in 1995 by the National Center For Assisted Living (NCAL) and, for the second year in a row, is being celebrated in conjunction with the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging (AAHSA) and the Assisted Living Federation of America (ALFA). This collaboration enables thousands of assisted living facilities to celebrate in unison.
This year’s theme recalls the local fairs of yesteryear, with blue ribbon bake-offs, petting zoos, and pony rides. Under this theme, staff will be able to create a fair-like atmosphere within the facility and engage the community with exciting events. The annual NALW planning guide is designed to help assisted living providers celebrate the theme in their residence and community. Providers will receive the planning guide this summer to prepare for the annual week-long celebration.
During NALW, providers also are encouraged to educate the public about their important role, residents served, and services available. Across the nation, assisted living residences care for nearly one million people every day. Assisted living residents receive supervision, assistance with personal care, and health care services as needed.
All three organizations welcome the return of last year’s NALW corporate sponsor, CNL Retirement Corp. A real estate investment trust, CNL is one of the nation’s leading investors in the seniors housing market and specializes in the acquisition of premium independent and assisted living communities.
The National Center For Assisted Living, the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging, and the Assisted Living Federation of America are committed to advancing the assisted living profession and the compassionate, quality care of residents. Combined, the three national associations represent nearly 10,000 not-for-profit and for-profit assisted living residences through affiliates located in most states.
