Belvoir Woods Healthcare Center Family Council Receives a Kudos for Community Caregivers Award

Pictured  during LifeCircle Alliances’ Kudos for Community Caregivers Awards are (l-r) Christine Hyland, Executive Director LifeCircle Alliances; Kudos Award winner the Belvoir Woods Healthcare Center Family Council at The Fairfax,  Ft. Belvoir -  Betty Boerger; Ellen O'Neal Fuller and Anita Dominguez. Pictured second from right is Keynote Speaker, New York Times journalist and author Jane Gross.

The Belvoir Woods Healthcare Center Family Council is a 501©4 non profit made up entirely of family members and caregivers of residents who live, or have lived, in the skilled nursing facility at The Fairfax, a continuing care retirement community.  Their Board is made up entirely of volunteer family caregivers of current or former BWHCC residents.

The Council is modeled after the military tradition of having a sponsor welcome you and your family to a new PCS (Permanent Change of Station).  The Council has helped many families stay connected with loved ones and understand what is involved in their care at a long term care facility.  The Council shares the feedback of their meetings with the administration, the Residents Council and the Army Foundation.

Through their fundraising efforts, the Council has proudly sponsored the following:

• A Website designed to assist the family and friends of residents
• A welcome packet for new nursing floor residents
• Guest speaker programs addressing concerns, such as medications, supplies, hospice
• Various quality of life programs coordinated through Activities & Therapy Departments, including dog therapy visits, loaner scooters and wheelchairs
• On-going appreciation of BWHCC team members: nurses, aides, therapists, etc.
• Most recently, they worked together with administration on installation of free high speed wireless Internet (Wi-Fi), so BWHCC residents can have “virtual visits” with remote family members. 

LifeCircle was pleased to recognize such a worthy group of volunteers as the BWHCC Family Council.

Fairfax, VA – With 250 in attendance, guests at LifeCircle Alliances’ 2nd Annual Kudos for Community Caregivers Awards concluded this event was a resounding success.  Award recipients were recognized at the charity’s Second Annual Kudos for Community Caregivers Awards breakfast held at the Mason Inn Hotel & Conference Center on the campus of George Mason University, Fairfax.  This annual awards program recognizes outstanding volunteer caregivers in the Fairfax County area.  

The Honorable Kate Hanley acted as Mistress of Ceremonies.  During his comments, the Honorable Congressman Gerald E. Connolly included a statement to the U.S. House of Representatives recognizing the recipients of the awards and applauding the efforts of LifeCircle Alliances.

Executive Director, Christine Hyland reported that Joining Forces has taken note of the hard work and enthusiasm of all caregivers and the LifeCircle Alliances team.  They included these efforts on their White House Blog. Joining Forces is a national initiative, housed in the Office of First Lady Michelle Obama, that mobilizes all sectors of our society to give our service members and their families the opportunities and support they have earned.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2011/09/30/outstanding-community-care-givers-recognized

Lead sponsor was Coordinated Services Management, providing professional and caring management services for retirement community owners.   Additional sponsors for the event included Inova Health System; Thomas West Financial Services; CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield; Virginia Spine Institute; Reston Hospital Center; MVLE, Inc.; The Mason Inn; Fairfax Innovation Center; Needham, Mitnick and Pollack PLC; The Washington Group; Jean Galloway Ball PLC; Comfort Keepers; Buckley’s for Seniors; Vista Wealth Management; Graceful Care; Middleburg Bank; the Helen Kellar Institute for Human disabilities, St. John Neumann Catholic Church of Reston.  

LifeCircle is a 501c(3) nonprofit charitable organization in Fairfax County, Virginia. The mission of LifeCircle is to partner with the community to create independent living solutions for older adults and/or adults with developmental, intellectual and physical disabilities including our veterans.   LifeCircle also supports the needs of their families, caregivers and service providers.  

Five Fairfax County volunteer caregivers/organizations/groups had been chosen through an application and selection process conducted by the nonprofit earlier this year.  Each award recipient was recognized and received the Kudos for Community Caregivers Award during the event.   Among recipients was the Belvoir Woods Healthcare Center Family Council at the Fairfax, Ft. Belvoir, VA.

A third of our neighbors are providing care for a family member or friend.  The selected volunteer caregivers are among some 50 million Americans who act as caregivers, providing non-paid assistance for a family member or friend who is in need of support, physical aid and/or guidance with health and medical decisions.

The 2011 Kudos Award Selection Committee consisted of Eileen Ellsworth, Executive Director of the Northern Virginia Community Foundation; Andrew Carle, Assistant Professor George Mason University; Steve Gurney, Publisher, Guide to Retirement Living; and Betty Moorman, RN, LNHARegional Quality Assurance Nurse for Lead Sponsor Coordinated Services Management, Inc.

LifeCircle works within a public-private partnership with the 45 members (agencies, individuals, universities, government entities, including the Board of Supervisors) of Fairfax County’s Long Term Care Coordinating Council (LTCCC).   LifeCircle identifies, showcases and raises funds for the most creative and cost-effective ideas that come from the community.  By developing these collaborative partnerships they can build community capacity, create innovative long term care initiatives and enhance existing programs which will enable Fairfax County’s older adults and adults with disabilities including our vets to live independently in their communities of choice.

To learn more about LifeCircle Alliances’ programs for adults with disabilities, older adults and caregivers, contact Christine Hyland, Executive Director, 571-321-2018 chyland@lifecirclealliances.org or visit their website at www.lifecirclealliances.org.

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