Scottsbluff, NE - The Village at Regional West will host a special recognition gathering for the 2009 National Center for Assisted Living (NCAL) and National Assisted Living Association (NALA) award winners. The event will be held at the Village at Regional West multi-purpose room on Thursday, October 15, at 2 p.m.

Karen Vorse is the recipient of the 2009 NALA and NCAL Administrator of the Year award. According to NCAL, Vorse was chosen because of “her passionate commitment to residents. She obtained Medicaid certification for The Village so that a long time resident didn’t have to move out when his financial resources were depleted.”In addition, Vorse allowed three staff members to attend classes with a Tai Chi master so that they could learn proper training techniques to facilitate Tai Chi classes at The Village. The classes were so popular with Village residents that the classes are now offered to the general public. As stated in the nomination, “Vorse touches the hearts of residents and their families through caring and gentle leadership, striving to be fair and leading by example.” Vorse was recognized at the 60th Annual AHCA/NCAL Convention and Exposition held in Chicago this month.

“I would not be where I am today without the support, loyalty and dedication of The Village at Regional West staff,” said Vorse. “I am continually overwhelmed by their commitment to serve with excellence and their willingness s to go above and beyond.” Vorse has been the administrator at The Village for the past six years.

State winners were chosen by having their information submitted to NALA and judged at the State level. The Village at Regional West State winners include:

·Bridgette Gildemaster, NALA Volunteer of the Year award, Youth Division.
·Jerette Dally, NALA Activities Director of the Year award.
·Valarie Wilder and Carol Batt, NALA Group Award.

The Village at Regional West was the 2006 and 2007 recipient of NCAL’s national Assisted Living Week Programming award.

The National Center for Assisted Living (NCAL) represents more than 2,600 not-for-profit and proprietary assisted living and residential care communities dedicated to continuous improvement in the delivery of professional compassionate care and services for the elderly and disabled.

Regional West Health Services, with over 1,800 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 30 medical specialties. Regional West Medical Center, a subsidiary of Regional West Health Services, is accredited by The Joint Commission and is one of three Level II Trauma Centers in the state of Nebraska.