SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb., -The Village at Regional West is the first retirement community in the nation to receive a new award for outstanding programming from the National Center for Assisted Living (NCAL), a division of the American Health Care Association (AHCA).

The Village was honored for its National Assisted Living Week celebration “A Fair To Remember.” The award was presented to Village Manager Karen Vorse at the NCAL national convention held last month in San Antonio, TX, at a luncheon attended by over 1,200 NCAL members and was recognized in national publications including the Provider magazine and NCAL Focus newsletter.

The award is designed to recognize an assisted living community that successfully integrates residents, staff, relatives, volunteers and local citizens in a series of activities and community events.
Former Village activity coordinator Connie Sandoz, who now lives in Las Vegas, was instrumental in planning and staging the award-winning celebration.

The Village’s week-long event began with a Sunday evening potluck dinner of typical fair foods served in the dining room which was decorated like a big-top tent. Entertainment included a visit from “Flower” the clown, who made balloon animals for the residents, face painting by teen volunteer clowns, and a visit from the Scotts Bluff County fair queens.

Each day during National Assisted Living Week, residents enjoyed new activities that involved family, community residents and organizations, and the staff. The week’s highlights included a penny carnival with fair games provided by students from Community Christian School, participation in the Assisted Living Olympics at the Mitchell Event Center, entertainment by The Prairie Dogs bluegrass band, screening of the classic movie “State Fair,” and a visit to the Harvest Festival at the Farm & Ranch Museum.

“I couldn’t believe we won!” said Vorse. “We are so honored to receive a national award, but in all honesty, we simply planned a week full of fun activities for the enjoyment of our residents. It’s just one of many examples of the kind of hard work and teamwork our staff puts forth regularly to make living at The Village fun for our residents.”

The Village was also honored at the Annual Convention of the Nebraska Health Care Association and Nebraska Assisted Living Association held in September in Lincoln.

The Village at Regional West is a retirement community located in Scottsbluff that includes a 43-bed assisted living facility and 57 independent living apartments. It is owned by Regional West Health Services.

Regional West Health Services, with over 1,300 employees, provides comprehensive and innovative health care services for the people and communities of western Nebraska and the neighboring states of Colorado, South Dakota and Wyoming. With over 110 active physicians, 95 percent of whom are board certified or board eligible, plus an additional 25 consulting specialists, we offer care that spans more than 40 medical specialties. Regional West Medical Center, a subsidiary of Regional West Health Services, is accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations and is one of only three Level II Trauma Centers in the state of Nebraska.