WASHINGTON, D.C. – Beginning today and continuing through Saturday, Sept. 19, America’s assisted living communities are participating in National Assisted Living Week® (NALW). The national observance—which begins each year on National Grandparents’ Day—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 is “Caring is Essential,” reflecting the hard work and dedication of all the essential caregivers in assisted living communities across the country. The COVID-19 pandemic has changed much of the day-to-day life of the staff and the residents for the time being. Despite these hurdles, staff continue to provide high-quality care to residents in senior living and should be honored for the incredible work they do every day.
“With many friends and family still unable to enter the buildings due to COVID, caregivers in assisted living communities are playing an even more critical role to residents,” said Scott Tittle, Executive Director of NCAL. “This National Assisted Living Week, in addition to the hundreds of thousands of heroes working in assisted living today, we must recognize the special relationships residents have with staff and how those bonds enrich everyone’s lives.”
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.ahca.org or
www.ncal.org.