News of COLLAGE and COLLAGE Members

COLLAGE Members' Conference Scheduled for November 5 through 7 in Charleston, South Carolina
August 26, 2008
Franke at Seaside, a ministry of Lutheran Homes of South Carolina and a COLLAGE member, has graciously offered to host the members' conference this year and all meetings will be on their campus. Franke at Seaside is located minutes away from beautiful beaches of the Atlantic Ocean and the historic city of Charleston. Franke is a part of the Seaside Farms planned residential and retail development, offering a broad range of shops, restaurants and many other amenities within walking distance of the campus.

A major theme this year is the most important needs of members and some of the planned changes that are in the works for the 2009 release of the COLLAGE software. The members’ conference helps COLLAGE organize and prioritize future software releases that impact assessments and reports. It also helps us determine training needs that would improve the program for everyone. In addition, members will enjoy a tour of Franke and Seaside and a horse-drawn carriage ride and tour of downtown Charleston. Please contact Neil Beresin at 610335-1283 or nberesin@collageaging.org

Westminster Canterbury Richmond Joins COLLAGE Consortium

July 2008

Westminster Canterbury Richmond, of Richmond Virginia, has joined COLLAGE, which now includes over 50 communities in 19 states. Westminster Canterbury was founded in 1975 by the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia and the Presbyterian Synod of the Mid-Atlantic. “COLLAGE fits perfectly with our goal for healthy aging -- to strengthen the body, inspire the mind and nurture the spirit of each person at Westminster Canterbury Richmond,” said Donald Lecky, CEO and President. READ MORE.

Program Abstract Accepted for Presentation

April 2008

COLLAGE's program "Using Health and Wellness Assessment Data to Advance Healthy Aging in Independent Older Adults" has been accepted for presentation at the 2008 Long Term Care Health Information Technology Summit on June 9th. The Summit is co-sponsored by AHIMA, AHCA/NCAL, AAHSA/CAST, AMDA, and NASL and is being held in Baltimore, Maryland. The COLLAGE program will focus on the experiences of aging services providers who participate in the COLLAGE consortium. Each forum participant will present an overview of how assessment data has been used to advance healthy aging.

Kendal Charitable Funds Makes Grant to COLLAGE

March 2008

Kendal Charitable Funds has awarded a grant for $50,000 to Kendal Outreach, LLC, to increase communication about and promote COLLAGE via its website. “COLLAGE will make a difference,” according to Beryl Goldman, Director for Outreach, Kendal Outreach LLC. “It is great to see the Kendal Charitable Funds support an area that is not usually a focus for institutions. Most organizations concentrate on the institutionalized rather than independent older adult. COLLAGE will assist people in maintaining the highest level of their independence by identifying health and wellness changes early and recommending appropriate intervention. Increasing the visibility of COLLAGE’s merits via the internet is critical to the success of our goal. By making COLLAGE available to more committed communities we further its objective of  independent living for vital seniors. This grant will help bring COLLAGE’s vision into reality.” READ MORE.

Mennonite Health Services Alliance and COLLAGE Sign Agreement

February 2008

COLLAGE has reached an important agreement with MHS Alliance. The agreement opens the door for MHS Alliance members to join COLLAGE at a multi-site discount rate. "We are encouraged by what COLLAGE has been able to offer organizations across the country....The program is committed and positioned well to help communities advance their most important healthy aging goals," said Keith Stuckey, Vice President of MHS Alliance. Read full press release.

Lutheran Homes of South Carolina Brings COLLAGE to Their Home Services Clients

January 2008

We're delighted to report that Lutheran Homes of South Carolina (LHSC) has added their BeWell Home Services clients to the COLLAGE family as of January 1, 2008. As their sixth "community" to join the COLLAGE family, it means that any client who comes in through their home care division door will be assessed using the Community Health Assessment and Wellness tool of COLLAGE. Welcome!  We look forward to helping LHSC staff and home care clients advance healthy aging.

COLLAGE Welcomes Lutheran Homes of Michigan
October 2007

Lutheran Homes of Michigan (LHM) has joined COLLAGE. “It’s an exciting time for us to participate in this endeavor,” said LHM’s CEO and President, David Gehm. "We’ve been actively looking for a way to improve our ability to advise our residents on matters of health, wellness and successful aging, as well as enable us to develop stronger system-wide interventions and outcomes. Participating in the membership consortium and using the COLLAGE tools will give us the opportunity to collect and organize  resident health and wellness data and will add a level of individual and program evaluation that we haven’t had up to now. We’re thrilled to participate and look forward to working closely with consortium members and developers,” said Gehm.  Read the full press release.