“Family is Forever” will be the theme of National Assisted Living Week this year, the National Center for Assisted Living announced Wednesday. The annual observance will be Sept. 10 to 16.
“Anyone who has spent valuable time in an assisted living community has seen how staff can come to think of their residents like family,” said NCAL Executive Director Scott Tittle. “It takes a special person to work in our profession, and often, caregivers form bonds that can never be broken. This National Assisted Living Week, we want to recognize these amazing individuals who give their heart and soul to their residents, as well as those seniors and individuals with disabilities who leave a lasting imprint on their caregivers.”
NCAL, which established the observance in 1995, said that this year’s theme is inspired by a quote from the poet Maya Angelou: “Family isn’t always blood, it’s the people in your life who want you in theirs: the ones who accept you for who you are, the ones who would do anything to see you smile and who love you no matter what.”
The organization encourages assisted living communities across the country to organize activities during the week that celebrate the connections between staff members and residents. The “Family is Forever” logo is available for download from the NALW website. NCAL also plans to issue a planning guide and product catalog centered on ways to celebrate.
