WASHINGTON, D.C. – Beginning today and continuing through Saturday, Sept. 18, America’s assisted living communities are participating in National Assisted Living Week® (NALW). The national observance—which begins each year on National Grandparents’ Day and is supported this year by official sponsor First Quality—honors the individuals who reside, work, and volunteer in assisted living and residential care communities with special activities and events.
Created by the National Center for Assisted Living (NCAL) in 1995, this year’s NALW theme – “Compassion, Community, Caring” – honors the resilient individuals in assisted living communities across the country who worked so hard, went above and beyond, and never gave up during the COVID-19 pandemic. This has been an enormous, unprecedented challenge that brought together residents, staff, and everyone in these communities in a way unlike before. Assisted living staff have continued to provide high-quality care to residents in senior living and should be celebrated for the incredible work they do every day.
“Caregivers in assisted living communities play a critical role in the lives of residents,” said Mark Parkinson, President and CEO of the American Health Care Association and NCAL. “This National Assisted Living Week, we celebrate and honor the hundreds of thousands of heroes working in assisted living today. They are like family for our residents and have developed deep bonds that enrich everyone’s lives. They truly are the definition of compassion, community, and caring.”
The annual observance encourages assisted living communities around the country to offer a variety of events and activities to bring together residents, staff, and volunteers, while adhering to infection control requirements and precautions in place for COVID-19. Participants are asked to share their celebrations throughout the week on social media with the hashtag #NALW.
For more information on National Assisted Living Week, please visit
www.nalw.org.
ABOUT AHCA/NCAL
The American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL) represents more than 14,000 non-profit and proprietary skilled nursing centers, assisted living communities, sub-acute centers and homes for individuals with intellectual and development disabilities. By delivering solutions for quality care, AHCA/NCAL aims to improve the lives of the millions of frail, elderly and individuals with disabilities who receive long term or post-acute care in our member facilities each day. For more information, please visit
www.ahcancal.org.