Martha A. Roherty joins CEAL board
Martha A. Roherty, executive director of the National Association of States United for Aging and Disabilities since 2008, has joined the board of directors of the Center for Excellence in Assisted Living.
Roherty also brings the perspective of a family caregiver to her service on the CEAL board; her husband has early-onset Alzheimer’s disease, and her adult son has autism.
“At a time when 10,000 Americans are turning 65 each day but the funding to support the Older Americans Act is not increasing, our nation needs to focus on innovative, effective and person-centered ways to serve older adults and individuals with disabilities,” she said. “CEAL’s emphasis on expanding access to assisted living services for those who need it, while simultaneously promoting high-quality, person-centered services, is crucial to our nation’s ability to support individuals who require these supports.”
CEAL’s members include the AARP, the Alzheimer’s Association, the American Assisted Living Nurses Association, the American Seniors Housing Association, Argentum, LeadingAge, the National Center for Assisted Living, The National Cooperative Bank, Paralyzed Veterans of America and the Pioneer Network.
Roherty has held leadership positions in government and associations for more than three decades. Before joining NASUAD, she served as the director of the National Association of State Medicaid Directors. She also has worked for The Finance Project, the National Association of State Budget Officers, the National Governors Association and the National Conference of State Legislatures.
Roherty holds a master’s degree in public policy, with a concentration in finance, from the University of Maryland.
James “Mac” McClelland receives Senior Service Award
Woodstock Terrace Assisted Living in Woodstock, VT, presented James “Mac” McClelland with its annual Senior Service Award on Monday.
The award recognizes a senior volunteer who dedicates his or her time to benefit others, and it acknowledges the work seniors do to give back to their communities.
For the past eight years, McClelland has served the patrons of the Norman Williams Public Library as a volunteer, helping in various capacities such as repairing and repurposing books and assisting with the library’s annual literary festival, “Bookstock.”
Woodstock Terrace also recognized the Norman Williams Public Library for its commitment to providing access to literature and information to people of all ages and supporting lifelong learning for all.
McClelland and the library each received a $500 gift from Woodstock Terrace Assisted Living during a special ceremony held at the senior living community.
“Our community is largely made up of a senior population,” McClelland said. “At 72 and a senior myself, I think that it’s wonderful to see how much pride seniors take in giving back and making a lot of what we do here at the library possible. I think it’s safe to say the library wouldn’t run without the seniors in our community.”
Eric Fritz, executive director of Woodstock Terrace, said: “At Woodstock Terrace Assisted Living, we are dedicated to providing our residents with everything they need to live healthy and happy lives in which they are encouraged to continue learning and growing every day. We’re proud to honor an amazing individual who values these same ideals with this award.”
