[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 143 (Monday, October 21, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1943]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




TRIBUTE TO THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF HOMES AND SERVICES FOR THE AGING 
                       ON THEIR 35TH ANNIVERSARY

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. THOMAS M. FOGLIETTA

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, October 21, 1996

  Mr. FOGLIETTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay special tribute to 
the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging who will 
celebrate their 35th anniversary this October in Philadelphia.
  On November 26, 1961, a group of dedicated long-term care 
professionals met for 4 days at New York's Arden House to discuss the 
future role and mission of nonprofit providers in long-term care. Out 
of those discussions came the American Association of Homes and 
Services for the Aging.
  From its earliest days, the association and its members believed in a 
philosophy of care and service to the Nation's elderly. Its leaders 
coined the phrase ``social components of care'' to describe how 
significant both the nurturing and spiritual aspects of long-term care 
were in ensuring quality of care for residents of the Nation's health 
care and senior housing organizations. The association also pioneered 
the concept of resident decisionmaking, believing in the right of 
residents of homes for the aging to have a voice in their care and in 
the activities of the facility.
  The association's vision for the future is one in which every 
community offers an integrated and coordinated continuum of high 
quality, innovative and affordable health care, housing and home, and 
community-based services. Within this framework the qualities of 
compassion, benevolence, individual dignity, self-determination, 
diversity, and social responsibility will be most highly valued.
  As 1996 draws to a close, there are 5,000 full members of the AAHSA, 
39 State association partners, and 800 affiliate members. Its 
membership includes not only nursing homes and continuing care 
retirement communities, but also subsidized and market-rate housing for 
low- and moderate-income elderly as well as home and community-based 
service organizations. The association sponsors a nationally recognized 
accreditation program for continuing care retirement communities and 
initiated the International Association of Homes and Services for the 
Aging to share the knowledge of aging services across international 
borders.
  From October 28 to 31, the AAHSA will hold its annual meeting in 
Philadelphia. In light of this organization's commitment to continuing 
improvement in the care of our Nation's elderly we are honored to host 
this event which will draw over 5,000 people to our city. Mr. Speaker, 
I ask that my colleagues join me in congratulating this association on 
35 years of service to the Nation's elderly.

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