Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 21 , 2005

THE BRIGHTVIEW SENIOR LIVING DIVISION OF THE SHELTER GROUP AWARDED THE HIGHLY COVETED LIFESPAN GOLDEN Q AWARD FOR 2005

The Golden Q recognizes a LifeSpan member organization's pursuit of excellence in senior care. This prestigious honor was created to recognize a LifeSpan provider whose programming demonstrates effective and innovative delivery of quality care and improves the quality of life of their residents.

This year, LifeSpan bestows the Golden Q to Mays Chapel Ridge Independent and Assisted Living Community, a Brightview Senior Living organization, which is being honored for its continued excellence in customer service, and vibrant innovative programming since opening in February 2002 , specifically its “Helping Hands Volunteer Program.”

“The Helping Hands Volunteer Program” was designed for both Independent and Assisted Living residents at Mays Chapel Ridge. The program encourages resident participation in daily tasks and gives them a sense of purpose by allowing them to contribute to their community.

According to the study led by Prof. Nancy Morrow-Howell of George Warren Brown (GWB) School of Social Work at Washington University in St. Louis, older adults who volunteered had better assessments than non-volunteers on three measures of well-being: daily functioning, self-rated health and self-rated depression. Volunteering 100 hours a year, or nearly 2 hours a week, may produce the best results for older Americans.

At Mays Chapel Ridge, the hours each resident donates are tallied and volunteers are recognized for their contributions to the community at a semi-annual Volunteer Banquet which keeps the involvement high. The Helping Hands program has generated a lot of enthusiasm with 45% of the residents participating (74 of 164 residents). Over 2000 hours have been tracked since “Helping Hands” started in the fall of 2003. The program has improved the residents' quality of life by sharing their talents and skills with the surrounding areas. Volunteer duties include Welcoming Committees, Linen Committees (folding 200 linen napkins daily), Linus Blanket Program (supplying hand-made quilts to hospitalized children), Gardening, Mail Distribution, Resident Visitations and a performing men's choir known as “The Ridge Boys”. Residents say, “I like associating with others and having fun” and “It's better than good…it's something to do that feels great!”

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