Searching for a supportive assisted living community for your loved one can be challenging because such facilities are not nationally regulated. What’s more, not all obtain the same state licensures, nor do they have the same standard of care.
So, it will come as good news to Westchester families that two local communities have been recognized among the nation’s best: Willow Gardens Memory Care and Willow Towers Assisted Living, both located on United Hebrew’s campus of senior care, have received the 2023 National Bronze Quality Award from the American Health Care Association (AHCA) and the National Center for Assisted Living (NCAL), a leading industry association for long-term and post-acute care.
“This recognition is a testament to our unwavering commitment to providing exceptional care and enriching the lives of our residents through quality improvement,” says Nora O’Brien, PT, DPT, executive director. “Of course, it’s all about our people. Our staff cares very much about the work that they do, and this honor reflects the dedication and effort they put into providing our residents with a vibrant lifestyle in a welcoming community.”
What the Bronze Quality Award Signifies
Willow Gardens and Willow Towers are among an elite group to be recognized: Just nine assisted living communities in New York State and 57 across the nation have also received the Bronze honors. The award is the first of three progressive award levels through the National Quality Award Program, presented by the AHCA/NCAL.
United Hebrew applied to be a part of the voluntary national program. Absent a federal mandate, the AHCA/NCAL National Quality Award Program program aims to set national benchmarks for quality and provide a pathway for providers of senior care services to journey towards performance excellence. The program is a rigorous three-level evaluation process that is carefully assessed by trained experts against nationally recognized standards for organizational excellence. These standards, rooted in the Baldrige Performance Excellence Program, empower organizations to continually excel, ultimately enhancing the quality of life and care for residents and employees.
Says O’Brien, “As the standard of excellence in our industry, this recognition signifies that we are performing well against national quality standards. Now, we’re building upon a strong foundation and will track and measure our progress toward the next level, a Silver Quality Award. Of course, achieving quality is about more than meeting requirements; the real reward is knowing that we are providing the very best possible experience for our residents.”
Rita Mabli, United Hebrew President & CEO, said: “We’re so proud of our staff for embarking on this journey and for serving as a model assisted living community in New York State and across the nation. The program helps us remain competitive as an organization, and helps provide the outstanding and compassionate care our residents and their families deserve.”
