Assisted Living Federation of America national award recognizes innovative best practices.
For immediate release – Alexandria, VA – The Assisted Living Federation of America (ALFA) has awarded Carlton Senior Living, LLC, headquartered in Martinez, California, its prestigious 2010 Best of the Best Award, a national recognition reserved for the nations most innovative and effective business practices in the senior living industry. 
The company is one of only 25 companies to receive a Best of the Best Award this year. All 2010 winners will be profiled in the May/June issue of ALFA’s flagship magazine, Assisted Living Executive. “These innovations recognize companies that have put their imaginations to work to continually improve and streamline operations, enhance resident care and services, train and retain quality employees, and much more,” says ALFA President and CEO Richard P. Grimes. “Plus, the industry-wide benefit of the Best of the Best Awards is the program’s ability to multiply excellence as these and other companies in senior living adopt these best practices as their own.”
Carlton Senior Living was recognized for its Advanced Caregiver Training (ACT) Program™, a training program designed specifically to certify wellness team associates to work in its first Enhanced Assisted Living™ community, Carlton Crown Plaza of Sacramento. The Carlton Crown Plaza offers 24/7 nursing services and serves the specialized needs of seniors with Parkinson’s, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, and other long-term conditions.
The ACT training exceeds state training requirements while offering continuous education on select diseases. Caregivers learn how to recognize and observe changes, provide immediate action when necessary, and report what they see. “We’re really training caregivers to be proactive with their care, instead of reactive,” says Shannon Dentel, RN, director of risk management.
ACT caregivers are able to participate more in the overall development of resident care plans. According to Dentel, that has translated into superior care and lower staff turnover among ACT participants, who also “get a lot of recognition when they go through this program.”
For details about each winning strategy, see the cover story of Assisted Living Executive’s May/June 2010 issue, or contact Marlene Hendrickson (mhendrickson[at]alfa[dot]org). The ALFA 2010 Best of the Best Award winners will also be recognized at the ALFA 2010 Conference & Expo, May 25-27, in Phoenix.
About the Assisted Living Federation of America: Founded in 1990, the Assisted Living Federation of America (ALFA) is the only national association exclusively dedicated to professionally operated senior living communities. ALFA’s member-driven programs promote business and operational excellence through national conferences, research, publications, and executive networks. ALFA works to influence public policy by advocating for informed choice, quality care, and accessibility for all Americans seeking assistance with long-term care. Visit www.alfa.org for more information.
About Assisted Living Executive magazine: ALFA’s flagship publication, Assisted Living Executive reaches more than 20,000 c-level and senior executives. Published six times per year, the magazine focuses on best practices and strategic solutions that advance operational excellence for senior living companies. Assisted Living Executive is an ALFA membership benefit and also available by subscription. Go to www.alfa.org/ALE for details. Visit the magazine’s digital edition at www.alfapublications.org.
