Elant’s Elderact & Heartsong Programs Earn Innovative Practice Awards From Nyshfa

March 23, 2010 - PRLog -- Elant recently announced that two Elant programs, Elderact and Heartsong, have recently been awarded Innovative Practice Awards by the New York State Health Facilities Association.

“It is always rewarding to have an initiative recognized like this, but to have two included in one year is just amazing,” said Nick Lanza, senior vice president of operations of Elant, Inc. “Both Elderact and Heartsong are programs that have made significant impacts on our residents.”

Elderact, created in 2007 at Elant at Wappingers Falls, was developed in collaboration with the Wappingers Falls Rotary Club to provide seniors a means of giving back to their communities through volunteer projects.

Some of those projects have included the assembly and donation of gift baskets for a local battered women’s shelter, the donation of home-made dog biscuits to the local animal shelter, and the assembly of more than 400 hot cocoa bags for troops serving overseas.

“Caregivers often miss the fact that residents can contribute back to their communities,” said Dana Diorio-Casey, executive director of Elant at Wappingers Falls. “If we look beyond the limits of the elderly and realize that they have the desire and capability to give back to their communities, the experiences and results can be powerfully positive for all involved in this wonderful project.”

Since its inception, Elderact has been presented before the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging, at Rotary International Day at the United Nations, and before several other Rotary clubs, whose members have created Elderact clubs in their own areas.

Heartsong, created by Elant at Fishkill Music Therapist Lisa Wohlmuth in 2007, provides individualized musical therapy to offer comfort to residents with terminal illnesses or those receiving palliative care. The program couples music and song with guided imagery to help reduce depression, anxiety, loneliness and pain.

“Lisa combines wonderful musical talents with a comforting concern for those she treats,” said George Michaels, executive director and vice president of Elant at Fishkill. “The fulfilling emotions and reflections of one’s life that Lisa’s program provides is invaluable to our residents and families.”

The Innovative Practice Awards were initiated to demonstrate the New York State Health Facilities Association’s commitment to showcasing the high-quality services its members provide to their residents. Selections are based, in part, on whether a program can be replicated in other facilities, therefore contributing to an improvement of quality services statewide.

Heartsong has since been implemented at all seven of Elant campuses. Elderact has expanded to include Elant at Fishkill, and is in the planning stages of implementation at several of Elant’s other campuses.

Both Heartsong and Elderact will be presented to the NYSHFA membership during an education session at the NYSHFA Annual Convention Lake Placid, N.Y. in June. Elant will be presented with a plague for display during the convention.
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About NYSHFA: The New York State Health Facilities Association  is a statewide membership organization of more than 260 licensed nursing and assisted living facilities. The membership is diversified and represents individual and multi-facility operations of proprietary, voluntary and government sponsorship. Members take care of more than 43,000 ill-aged and infirm New Yorkers. Members of NYSHFA are dedicated to the highest standards of care and to the quality of life of all residents.

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About Elant, Inc.: Elant, Inc., a community-based, not-for-profit organization, is a leading provider of services for older adults and chronically ill people of all ages. Elant is a comprehensive network of organizations that provides a full range of health and housing services to the Hudson Valley and beyond. On any given day, Elant serves more than 3,500 people through its network of communities, home care agencies, and services. Elant’s mission is to provide personalized, high-quality care and lifestyle options to persons of diverse generations, cultures, means, and needs.