CS/CS/HB 767 Modernizes, Empowers and Strengthens Senior Living

Florida Senior Living Association thanks the Florida Legislature for passing CS/CS/HB 767, Assisted Living Facilities. The bill was sponsored in the Florida House of Representatives by Rep. Michael Grant (R-75) and in the Senate by Sen. Gayle Harrell (R-25). The bill provides policy-driven direction that modernizes seniors’ assisted living experience, empowers seniors with stronger consumer protections to better manage their care, and strengthens facilities’ ability to serve seniors as residential models with a heath care overlay in a nationally competitive service industry. The bill received unanimous support from the House (119-0) and the Senate (39-0).

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The Florida Senior Living Association (FSLA) presented a special set of awards during the 2019 Annual Senior Living Conference, held the week of July 15 in Ponte Vedra, Fla. at the Sawgrass Marriott Golf Resort & Spa.

Ali Wiggins, Director of Sales and Marketing for Guardian Pharmacy, was presented with the Distinguished Service Award for her efforts to help her community in Marianna, Fla. after Hurricane Michael. She worked hard to bring attention to the devastation even after news outlets had moved on from the story. “We are no longer in the national news. We have been completely forgotten. But Michael is still among us,” she wrote in a Tallahassee Democrat column. She also participated in a special project initiated by Senator Marco Rubio to address the immediate need for funding in the Florida Panhandle. They were successful, and north Florida will now hopefully see more resources. Download the photo of President Melinda Skirvin and Ali Wiggins: https://floridaseniorliving.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Ali-Wiggins.jpg

“We are so proud of Ali for her leadership and service to her community,” said Gail Matillo, President and CEO of FSLA. “Each of our award winners has brought something special to our profession, and we are honored to be able to recognize their excellence and dedication.”

The association also presented its annual Nauti Awards, named for the nautilus shell in FSLA’s logo. The symbol invokes the ocean surrounding the state as well as the Golden Ratio of proportional perfection which connects all living things. The awards honor members who provide quality work that inspires and energizes those around them. Download the photo of President Melinda Skirvin and Ali Wiggins: https://floridaseniorliving.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Ali-Wiggins.jpg

The Caregiver of the Year Award was presented to Lupe Villareal, an employee of Villas at Sunset Bay, a Milestone Retirement Community. Villareal has been working in senior living since 1999, and residents at Villas at Sunset Bay describe her as dedicated, warm, organized and thorough. In addition to meeting the needs of the residents, she also acts as a mentor to other caregivers, frequently providing leadership and training to new staff. Download the photo of President Melinda Skirvin and  Lupe Villareal: https://floridaseniorliving.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Lupe-Villareal.jpg

Chad Carnes, District Director of Operations with Brookdale Senior Living, received the Employee of the Year Award. His attention to detail on state regulatory compliance, labor and budget reviews while simultaneously nurturing and caring for residents makes him truly unique. Carnes leads by example, working with a smile and a positive attitude and instilling confidence and leadership skills in staff and family members alike. His staff feels more capable, smarter and part of a team through his leadership. Download the photo of Vice Chair Shelley Esden and Chad Carnes: https://floridaseniorliving.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Chad-Carnes.jpg

This year’s Executive Director of the Year Award was presented to Veronica Yestrumskas of HarborChase of Coral Springs. Yestrumskas has been praised for her empathetic listening, and she often develops a partnership-style relationship with family members that encourages open dialogue and feedback. She is also innovative, recently launching evening activities as an additional life-enrichment program. In addition to her duties as executive director, she embraces a dual role as Director of Hospitality, lending a hand in culinary operations and community engagement and assisting a partner with resident care. Download the photo of Past Chair Gwen Thibault and Veronica Yestrumskas: https://floridaseniorliving.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Veronica-Yestrumskas.jpg

Megan Berhalter of Brookdale Phillippi Creek in Sarasota received the Sales and Marketing of the Year Award. Her executive Director, Kurt Greenlaw, accepted the award on her behalf and stated Berhalter is an expert at making residents feel right at home. When a family member is struggling to make a decision, she always works to find a positive solution for everyone. Download the photo of Vice Chair Shelley Esden and Kurt Greenlaw: https://floridaseniorliving.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Kurt-Greenlow.jpg

The Volunteer of the Year Award was presented to Mary Schneider of Symphony at Waterways, a Milestone Retirement Community. At 91, Mary has been volunteering six days a week for the past three years, coming in for at least five hours a day and often longer. Her devotion and sense of humor are her signature characteristics, and she does whatever needs to be done, including playing table games with residents who have memory issues, sewing tablecloths for special holiday celebrations, and creating beautiful flower arrangements for the dining room each week. Download the photo of President Melinda Skirvin, Mary Schneider and Vice Chair Shelley Esden: https://floridaseniorliving.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Mary-Schneider.jpg

Ponte Vedra Beach and the surrounding areas are full of exciting adventures, opportunities to kick back and relax, and much more!

Make your visit to St. Augustine and Ponte Vedra Beach even more affordable with these free attractions and events. From admission to national parks (and a FORT!) to free concerts, there’s something for everyone! Read more.

We’ve compiled a list of some of the restaurants in the area, but don’t take our word for it – there’s something for every palate. Read more.

It’s literally never a dull moment on Florida’s Historic Coast. Learn more about the area and plan out your free time. And best of all, ENJOY!

VERO BEACH, Fla. – April 25, 2019 – Harbor Retirement Associates (HRA), a senior living development and management company based in Vero Beach, announces that two of its Chefs, Anthony Polito and Ke’o Velasquez, recently received top marks at the first ever culinary competition during the 2019 Argentum Senior Living Executive Conference & Expo. The conference was held from April 15 to April 17 in San Antonio, Texas. Chef Polito is currently the Director of Hospitality for the new HarborChase of Dr. Phillips in Orlando and is no stranger to earning accolades in culinary arts winning last year’s culinary competition at the Argentum conference in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Chef Velasquez is currently the Director of Hospitality at HarborChase of the Park Cities in Dallas, Texas.

“We’re thrilled that two of our culinary powerhouses made such a significant impression at this friendly competition during the Argentum Senior Living Executive Conference,” said Kim Lewis, Chief Operating Officer of Harbor Retirement Associates. “Their amazing dish is a perfect example of the exciting and creative cuisine we proudly serve to our residents and their guests. With a strong focus on delivering the best in hospitality, our culinary team is dedicated to both surprising and delighting our diners.”

In the cooking competition, Polito and Velasquez received the highest total points against competitors from five other senior living organizations. The HRA team received perfect scores in three out of four categories: “Taste,” “Creativity,” and “Plating.” For their winning dish, they prepared “Guajillo Chili-Rubbed Wagyu Beef Brisket with a Mole Verde, Fire-Roasted Poblano Pepper and Texas Pecan-Horseradish Cheddar Cheese Tamale and Pickled Calabacita Slaw.”

“By integrating seasonal and regional ingredients with contemporary cooking and plating techniques, Chefs Anthony and Ke’o represent the modern era of culinary arts in our industry,” said Christopher Thompson, Vice President of Hospitality at HRA. “It is this approach that will shift the dynamics of culinary artistry and hospitality in senior living and redefine the industry for years to come. As a company, we are thrilled to be recognized as leaders in hospitality and creating an exceptional culinary experience for our residents.”

HRA as an organization is focused on providing exceptional dining and hospitality for its residents and guests. The organization currently operates 35 communities, with 6 under development. Typical HRA community features include full-service dining, housekeeping and laundry services, scheduled transportation and a dedicated staff of associates available 24 hours a day. All communities feature the exclusive Chef’s Fare Dining program with customized dining experiences in multiple restaurants. All communities also offer HRA’s award-winning Life Enrichment program, designed to provide social, devotional, fitness and recreational opportunities that have a positive impact on residents.

For more information on HRA, visit www.HRASeniorliving.com.

About Harbor Retirement Associates

Harbor Retirement Associates (“HRA”) is a regional senior living development and management company, focused primarily on Assisted Living and Memory Care communities, but also engaged in the development and operations of Independent Living and Skilled Nursing communities. HRA operates 35 communities in 9 states and is partnering on the construction of 8 more communities in 5 additional states. HRA manages over $150 million in revenue and approximately $1 billion in assets while employing 2,500 associates.

Florida Senior Living Association’s Legislative Advocacy Days is a great opportunity to learn the legislative process as well as to educate legislators about the effect of current proposed legislation on senior living in Florida. You will receive CEs for this event while networking with fellow executive directors, the FSLA Board, industry partners, and some of Florida’s key legislators. We encourage you to join us January 22 -23, 2018 for this event and share your knowledge and passion. Help us shape the future of senior living! Registration information coming soon.

Click http://conta.cc/2iEghu8 for more information.