The Orchards at Bartley Receives the Prestigious Best Practices Award

(October 5, 2005, Jackson, NJ) The Orchards at Bartley Assisted Living, a leading provider of quality assisted living, was honored with an award for " Best Practice in Assisted Living - The Dining Experience" by the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services. The award was presented to The Orchards at Bartley at an awards ceremony on September 26, 2005, at the New Jersey Hospital Association in Princeton, NJ.

"The Department of Health and Senior Services congratulates our Best Practice award winners, and thanks everyone who participated in the program. Assisted living residents will benefit from all of your innovative efforts. We encourage everyone to learn more about these best practices by visiting our web site (http://www.NJDOHSS.gov), where we've posted the winning programs", said Elinor Fritz, RN, MA Director Long Term Care Assessment and Survey.

Following the awards ceremony, Brian Cook, Executive Chef and Susan Shaffer, Executive Director at The Orchards presented The Orchards' award winning program that was entitled, Listen, Learn and Communicate with your customers EVERYDAY.

"It was a privilege and an honor to share The Orchards' best practices in dining services with my peers and colleagues", said Brian Cook, Executive Chef of the Orchards. "We listen, learn and communicate everyday with our residents."

In addition, Susan Shaffer spoke of the difference in providing a dining "service" and providing a dining "experience." "The essence of what we do everyday is about the passion we all have to do our jobs and the compassion we all share for the resident's we care for."

The Orchards at Bartley, located at 100 North County Line Road, Jackson, N.J. offers residents numerous indoor and outdoor common areas. Recreational and social programs, chef-prepared meals, transportation services, assistance with daily living, and personalized nursing and healthcare plans are some of the amenities provided for residents. Those who make The Orchards their home enjoy a small-town ambience featuring a "Main" Street with a theater, exercise center, beauty and barbershop, library and other "shops."

The Orchards also features a 21 suite Memory Support Program for residents with a primary diagnosis of dementia or Alzheimer's who need specialized assistance and sensory stimulation programs.

Unlike many assisted living residences, The Orchards offers a continuum of care should residents' healthcare needs change. Bartley Healthcare Nursing and Rehabilitation, located adjacent to The Orchards on the Bartley Campus, has been a recognized leader in quality nursing and rehabilitative care since 1985. The Bartley Campus is fully accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO). For more information about Bartley Healthcare, please call (732) 730-1700 or visit us on our Website.