Florida News Straight From the Source
LeadingAge Florida honored six representatives of member communities during its 55th Annual Convention and Exposition held at the Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center, July 29 – August 1, 2018. [Read more…] about LeadingAge Florida Presents Awards for Excellence in Senior Living at its 55th Annual Convention and Exposition
The American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) has recognized LeadingAge Florida members for their heroic efforts to care for Florida seniors in the days following Hurricane Irma, which hit Florida in September 2017. LeadingAge Florida received a Silver Power of (A)* Award for “Project Lifeline: Caring for Seniors in the Aftermath of Irma.” [Read more…] about LeadingAge Florida Receives National Recognition for Heroic Efforts After Irma
LeadingAge Florida, Florida’s only association representing the entire continuum of care for older adults, announced today the promotion of Dawn Jiménez to Vice President of Operations.
Ms. Jiménez joined LeadingAge Florida nearly four years ago as its Executive Operations Manager. In her new role, she is responsible for overseeing the association’s overall operations, as well as its continuing professional education and events, group purchasing, and event exhibits and sponsorships.
“Dawn has been a tremendous asset to me and to our association,” said Steve Bahmer, LeadingAge Florida President and CEO. “I’m very excited to have her join our leadership team. She is a terrific problem-solver, communicator and leader, and she will serve our members exceptionally well.”
Jiménez is a native of the San Francisco area, where she began her career in finance with the Ford Motor Company. She later moved up quickly at Triad Systems Corporation (now Epicor), where she was a National Account Manager and the Western Area Education Manager.
A graduate of St. Mary’s College in California, Jiménez earned a degree in Industrial and Organizational Psychology and was a member of the college’s first National Champion women’s soccer team. She lives in Tallahassee with her two daughters and her husband, Dr. Alexander Jiménez, an orchestral conductor and professor in the College of Music at Florida State University.
Established in 1963 as a Florida not-for-profit corporation, LeadingAge Florida is committed to assisting its members in achieving excellence as providers, businesses and employers. The Association provides up-to-date regulatory information, a wide variety of educational opportunities, representation before the Legislature and government agencies, group purchasing services, and opportunities for networking with peers.
At today’s meeting of the Constitution Revision Commission (CRC), Commissioner Brecht Heuchan asked that Proposal 88 be temporarily postponed. Further, Comm. Heuchan said that he will withdraw the proposal. Proposal 88 would have amended the Florida Constitution to include a nursing home and assisted living facility (ALF) residents’ bill of rights.
As we’ve said from the beginning, the proposal would have done nothing to improve the lives of nursing home and ALF residents. Instead, it would only have served to benefit trial attorneys and divert already scarce resources that should be spent on the care of frail seniors. We are grateful to our members for speaking out during this process, expressing their deep and ongoing commitment to providing the highest quality of care to their residents.
We are pleased that Proposal 88 will be withdrawn, so that nursing homes and ALFs can continue their good work, focusing financial resources on maintaining the high-quality services they already are providing. The importance of dollars being spent on quality care for residents is reflected in the recently released statement by the state Agency for Health Care Administration, which highlights the high quality of care provided by Florida’s nursing homes.
LeadingAge Florida members remain committed to our state’s frailest seniors and will continue to serve them that the highest level possible.
Established in 1963 as a Florida not-for-profit corporation, LeadingAge Florida is committed to assisting its members in achieving excellence as providers, businesses and employers. The Association provides up-to-date regulatory information, a wide variety of educational opportunities, representation before the Legislature and government agencies, group purchasing services, and opportunities for networking with peers.
Governor Rick Scott announced today that the Florida Health Care Association, Florida Senior Living Association, LeadingAge Florida and the Florida Assisted Living Association have agreed to support the Governor’s rule to have emergency generators to power their air conditioning units during emergencies. These associations, which represent thousands of nursing homes and assisted living facilities (ALFs) in Florida, have worked with the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) and the Department of Elder Affairs (DOEA) through the rule-making process and have agreed to drop their challenges against the agencies and work with their members to have emergency generators. Hundreds of nursing homes and ALFs in Florida have already agreed to follow the Governor’s rule and are working to install the necessary equipment. While the rule challenges against the currently proposed nursing home and assisted living facility generator rules have been dropped by all parties, these rules are still awaiting ratification by the Florida Legislature. The legislature must ratify these rules during the current legislative session.
Governor Scott said, “Following the tragic loss of life at the Hollywood Hills Rehabilitation Center last year, I immediately ordered our state agencies to require each nursing home and ALF in Florida to have emergency generators to keep their residents safe during a disaster. My goal throughout this process was to ensure that every facility in Florida can provide a safe environment for its residents. These rules accomplish this important goal by having generators and fuel supply resources at every nursing home and ALF in Florida. This is a big win for our state and makes Florida one of the first states in the nation to require emergency generators at nursing homes and ALFs. The bottom line is that we fought for residents and they will be safer because of these rules. I look forward to the legislature ratifying these life-saving rules.”
AHCA Secretary Justin Senior said, “We have put together a rule that we believe can help save lives. Nursing homes and assisted living facilities are homes for some of Florida’s most vulnerable populations, and these rules are vital to ensuring patient safety. We are glad that the hard work of Governor Scott and stakeholders will establish standards that will keep Florida’s vulnerable populations safe.”
DOEA Secretary Bragg said, “When Florida families make the decision to place their loved ones in long-term care facilities, they expect that they will be safe and well cared for at all times. Since September, our Department has been working to ensure the safety and welfare of Floridians in assisted living facilities during periods of prolonged power outage. We are glad that all parties were able to come together and create procedures that will ensure protection for these populations.”
Florida Health Care Association Executive Director Emmett Reed said, “The health and well-being of our state’s frail elders is our members’ number one priority. Our association has worked with Governor Scott, AHCA and DOEA since September on how our members can implement these important life-saving rules. We are glad that all stakeholders were able to come to the table, work together and agree to lasting policy that will keep residents and patients safe in Florida.”
Gail Matillo, President of the Florida Senior Living Association said, “Throughout this process, we have remained supportive of the Governor’s original intent – to ensure vulnerable Floridians are kept safe during emergency situations. We believe these rules will benefit both Florida seniors and the communities invested in providing them with quality living environments.”
Shad Haston, Chief Executive Officer of Florida Assisted Living Association said, “Our assisted living facilities are implanted in communities all over the state and ensuring resident safety has been a key issue since the storm this fall. Governor Scott was able to bring key stakeholders together, and work through the rules ensuring that facilities large and small will be able to implement them.”
Steve Bahmer, President and CEO of LeadingAge Florida said, “Ensuring the safety of Florida’s seniors has always been the primary goal of LeadingAge Florida and our members, and we appreciated the Governor’s leadership on this as Hurricane Irma moved through our state. The state has stayed in close contact with our association during the course of this process, and we support the implementation of these rules to ensure that Florida’s seniors are safe.”
With this agreement AHCA and DOEA have filed notice of change to the permanent nursing home and assisted living facility generator rules. The notice of change can be found here for nursing homes and here for assisted living facilities.
Florida Health Care Association and LeadingAge Florida will host a Nursing Center Emergency Preparedness Summit this Friday, September 22, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The summit will discuss the governor’s emergency rule regarding the safety of nursing center residents during natural disasters. Speakers at the summit will address recent proposals to equip nursing centers with generators, including technical issues, implementation, regulatory requirements, and funding sources. For more information about the event, please visit http://emergencyprepsummit.com/.
What: Nursing Center Emergency Preparedness Summit
Who: Experts who will discuss Florida’s nursing centers and the unique level of care required for residents during natural disasters.
Confirmed Attendees Include:
Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis
Florida Surgeon General Celeste Philip, MD
Department of Elder Affairs Secretary Jeffrey Bragg
Representatives from Florida’s long term care profession, generator suppliers, construction industry, fuel suppliers, and utility companies, along with federal and state regulators and management personnel.
Invited Guests:
Florida Governor Rick Scott
Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis
Agency for Health Care Administration Secretary Justin Senior
Numerous legislative leaders
When: Friday, September 22, 2017
10 a.m. – 4p.m.
Where: University Center Club
403 Stadium Drive
Tallahassee
At the 54th Annual LeadingAge Florida Convention and Exposition, the association recognized outstanding members, employees, and residents in eight categories. The awards highlight the best in the aging services field and recognize outstanding members and communities that have gone far beyond to serve their communities, employers, and residents.
“The LeadingAge awards showcase the quality of LeadingAge Florida communities and the ways they are innovating to provide the best possible care for Florida seniors,” said LeadingAge Florida President & CEO Steve Bahmer. “Our award winners are the best in the field of aging and seniors services. They represent their communities and LeadingAge Florida at the local, state, and national levels. I appreciate their passion, dedication, and commitment.”
LeadingAge Florida presented awards in the following categories:
Lifetime Achievement – Peter Dys, CEO Emeritus, Shell Point Retirement Community:
This is one of LeadingAge Florida’s most prestigious awards and has not been bestowed since 2006. This award is meant to honor an individual who, through his or her body of work, has provided LeadingAge Florida and the state with significant, transformative leadership in aging services. The person selected for this award is a visionary leader and builder – someone who has made exceptional contributions over the course of a career and has positively impacted and advanced the aging services field.
Chairman’s Award – Dr. Erwin Bodo:
The Chairman’s Award is one ofLeadingAge Florida’s most prestigious awards. This award recognizes an individual who has demonstrated a passion for aging services, a depth of commitment to LeadingAge Florida, and a lasting impact on the field of aging services that is truly peerless in our state.
Executive of the Year – Elizabeth Sholar, Administrator and Senior Director of Health Care Services, Fleet Landing:
This award is presented to the CEO, Executive Director, Administrator or Manager of a member community who has demonstrated the highest qualities of leadership, a willingness to mentor others, and innovation and significant contribution to the work of LeadingAge Florida.
Service Coordinator of the Year – Lisett Fernandez-Montero, St. Dominic Gardens:
The Service Coordinator of the Year Award recognizes one of Florida’s many committed service coordinators who has demonstrated an outstanding commitment to residents through innovative programming and supportive services, creative problem-solving, and genuine concern for each resident’s well-being.
Employee of the Year – Kevin Mannix, Director of Dining Services, Cypress Cove at HealthPark Florida:
Delivering excellent care – providing an excellent resident experience – relies on excellent employees. The Employee of the Year Award recognizes employees in LeadingAge Florida member communities who demonstrate extraordinary dedication, provide consistently excellent customer service, deliver outstanding performance, and demonstrate a commitment to the enhancement of the quality of life for residents.
Trustee of the Year – Francis “Chance” Irvin, Chair of the Penney Retirement Community Board of Directors:
Good governance for sound strategy, clear vision, and strong leadership, and trustees are the at the heart of that good governance. The Trustee of the Year Award is presented to a volunteer who has served with distinction on the board of a LeadingAge Florida member home and has demonstrated a significant contribution of time and effort to the betterment of a not-for-profit community and its residents.
Best Practice – The Memory Bridge Program of Water’s Edge Extended Care at Sandhill Cove:
All across Florida, LeadingAge Florida members are innovating, challenging conventional thinking, and driving newer, better ways to deliver the highest quality of care. The Best Practice Award recognizes an individual or group of individuals from a LeadingAge Florida member community who develop programs and services that are models of excellence, innovation, and best practices at work.
Volunteer of the Year – Shirley “Bunny” Weston, Resident at Bishop’s Glen, a Retirement Housing Foundation Community:
Much of the work getting done in LeadingAge Florida communities relies on the energy, passion, and commitment of volunteers. This award recognizes a resident, resident organization or non-resident who is a volunteer who enhances the quality of life for residents, preserves the dignity, well-being and independence of residents, and demonstrates the mission of the member community in a number of ways.
For 54 years, LeadingAge Florida has served as a nonprofit statewide association of more than 250 mission-driven communities, representing the full continuum of care for seniors with members ranging from affordable housing to nursing homes and from assisted living facilities to continuing care retirement communities. LeadingAge Florida is proud to serve quality leaders who devote themselves to creating a culture of excellence that motivates and inspires others throughout the aging continuum. LeadingAge Florida’s members are trusted with providing quality care and services to Florida’s seniors. LeadingAge Florida promotes practices that support, enable and empower people to live fully as they age.
Roger Stevens, Chief Executive Officer of Westminster Communities of Florida, was installed as Chairman of the LeadingAge Florida Board of Trustees during the association’s annual meeting in Orlando this week.
A gubernatorial appointee to the Governor’s Continuing Care Advisory Council, Mr. Stevens has extensive experience representing aging services providers. Mr. Stevens is a Licensed Nursing Home Administrator, a Certified Public Accountant and a former manager at an international CPA firm with experience in feasibility studies, new facility development, financing, start-up and operation.
“Roger is a thoughtful, insightful, and very accomplished leader,” said LeadingAge Florida President & CEO Steve Bahmer. “Westminster Communities of Florida truly reflects the full continuum of aging services, including affordable senior housing, independent living, assisted living, and skilled nursing care. As a result, Roger has a broad view of the aging services field that will be a true asset in guiding the only Florida association which represents that full continuum.”
As part of the LeadingAge Florida Annual meeting, LeadingAge Florida members elected the following individuals to leadership positions:
• Troy Hart – Chair-Elect
• Josh Ashby – Immediate Past Chair
• Kevin Smaage – Secretary
• Lisa Lyons – Treasurer
• Mary Jo Zeller – ALF/HCBS Chair
• Joel Anderson – CCRC Chair
• Janet Stringfellow – Housing Chair
• Robert Goldstein – Nursing Home Chair
• Jolynn Whitten – Associate Member Representative
• John Capes – LeadingAge Advocate
• Bruce Jones – LeadingAge Advocate
• Kevin Knopf – LeadingAge Advocate
• Charee Russell – LeadingAge Advocate
• Kip Corriveau – South West Region Chair
• Teresa Scott – North Region Chair
These board members join current board members:
• Garry Hennis – At-Large Trustee
• Jim Richman – At-Large Trustee
• Gail Wattley – Central Region Chair
• Juana Mejia – Southwest Region Chair
Dr. Ben Carson, Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development, kicked off the 54th Annual LeadingAge Florida Convention & Exposition with a lunchtime keynote address that highlighted new HUD programs and approaches to providing affordable housing to seniors.
“We were honored to hear from Secretary Carson this afternoon,” said LeadingAge Florida President & CEO Steve Bahmer, “and to learn about his vision for ensuring our most vulnerable seniors have access to affordable housing.”
More than 350 LeadingAge members and partners attended the address, including more than 100 providers of affordable senior housing. In Florida, access to housing continues to be a serious problem, with waiting lists for seniors to find an apartment ranging from three to seven years.
LeadingAge Florida is paying particular attention to proposals regarding HUD 202 funding in Washington, DC. Last week, the House HUD appropriations subcommittee passed an FY18 spending bill which would fully fund Section 202 Project Rental Assistance Contracts and increase funding for Service Coordinators. The full committee could take the bill up as early as July 17.
During his address, Secretary Carson discussed a number of approaches intended to ensure affordable housing for seniors, including the emergence of public/private partnerships that have paired developers and housing providers to revitalize affordable housing projects without additional demands on taxpayers.
“We are honored to have heard HUD Secretary Dr. Ben Carson speak to our members at the LeadingAge Florida convention,” said Melissa Gilreath, Elderly Housing Management Corporation and LeadingAge Florida Housing Chair. “It was a terrific opportunity to begin building a relationship with him and his team that we hope will lead to increased affordable housing options for seniors in Florida.”
On Monday, July 17th, Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development Dr. Ben Carson will serve as the Lunch Keynote Speaker at the LeadingAge Florida 54th Annual Convention and Exposition.
WHERE: 1500 Masters Blvd
Championsgate, FL 33896
WHEN: Monday, July 17, 2017
Lunch Program Begins 11:45 a.m. EDT, International Ballroom
Media Availability: 1:15 p.m. EDT, Wentworth
For questions, to confirm attendance, or to reserve credential for the event please contact:
Greg Ungru
Director of Communications
LeadingAge Florida
[email protected]
(850)339-8271
For 54 years, LeadingAge Florida has served as a nonprofit statewide association of more than 250 mission-driven communities, representing the full continuum of care for seniors with members ranging from affordable housing to nursing homes and from assisted living facilities to continuing care retirement communities. LeadingAge Florida is proud to serve quality leaders who devote themselves to creating a culture of excellence that motivates and inspires others throughout the aging continuum. LeadingAge Florida’s members are trusted with providing quality care and services to Florida’s seniors. LeadingAge Florida promotes practices that support, enable and empower people to live fully as they age.
