SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb., – The Village has done it again!

For the second consecutive year, the National Center for Assisted Living has presented a national programming award to The Village At Regional West.
In 2006, The Village was the nation's first recipient of the new award for its National Assisted Living Week celebration, which was titled "A Fair To Remember. Now it's the nation's second recipient as well.

With an audience of some 4,000 American Health Care Association members looking on, Village Administrator Karen Vorse stepped to the microphone at the Hynes Convention Center in Boston, Mass. last week to accept the award on behalf of the residents and staff at The Village.

"It was overwhelming," said Vorse. "To think that we were chosen from all of the dedicated people and facilities that were represented there was really humbling."

The award was developed in 2006 by the National Center for Assisted Living to recognize the assisted living facility that most successfully integrated the previous year's National Assisted Living Week theme into their activity plans. The goal is to develop outstanding theme-based activities and community events for assisted living residents, families, staff and volunteers to enjoy.

Building on the theme, "Hearts in Harmony," the staff developed activities that demonstrated affection for the things that the residents value, including relationships with family and friends, gratitude for those who defend our country’s freedom, music, games, good food and more.

"We fulfilled the goal of demonstrating hearts in harmony on many different levels and our residents just loved it." said Char Slie, who was instrumental in planning and staging the award-winning weeklong celebration. Slie provides music therapy and is the special events consultant.

The festivities began with a Sunday evening potluck dinner with friends and family. Entertainment included a performance by the residents' rhythm band and by a young musician and dancer as well as a presentation by a motivational speaker.

The week's highlights included writing cards of encouragement and making friendship bracelets and care packages to send to U.S. troops in observance of September 11. In addition, residents roasted marshmallows and shared stories around a campfire; participated in the local assisted living Senior Olympics; celebrated the heart smart apple with apple bobbing and other activities; and enjoyed wine tasting and a Mexican fiesta.

Village Administrator Karen Vorse credited Slie and the entire staff for working as a team to plan and organize of all the activities.

"We weren't planning it to win awards. We didn't even think of it because the odds of winning twice are huge," said Vorse.

"We tried to look at things that are valuable to our residents and incorporate them into a week full of fun activities for their enjoyment. It's such an honor that our efforts have been nationally recognized two years in a row," she said.

The Village was also recognized at the Annual Convention of the Nebraska Health Care Association and Nebraska Assisted Living Association that was held September 20 in Lincoln, Nebr.

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 1,400 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 100 active physicians, 95 percent of whom are board certified or board eligible, plus an additional 25 consulting specialists, Regional West offers 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.