Friendship Salem Terrace Wins Statewide Award for Excellence in Resident Programming

August 26, 2024

SALEM, VA –Friendship Salem Terrace received first place recognition in the 2024 D. A. “Woody” Brown Community Involvement Awards for Facility Newsletter. For over 30 years, the Virginia Health Care Association - Virginia Center for Assisted Living (VHCA-VCAL) has acknowledged the outstanding activity programs that involve, entertain, educate and enrich the individuals in their care. 

Newsletters are a special form of communication in senior living that foster a sense of belonging and community. To qualify for the awards, Assisted Living Communities must submit three different issues of their newsletter published over the course of a year. Judging is based on content, readability, creativity, special features, relevance, timeliness and resident/employee involvement. Friendship Salem Terrace Program Director Mike Puckett said, "We are excited to win this award because our newsletter captures the vibrant spirit of our residents and staff, blending creativity, relevance, and engagement into each thoughtfully crafted issue.”

“We applaud the creative efforts and hard work that go into developing excellent programing and events to enrich the lives of residents and promotes person-centered care. We are very proud of the unique efforts VHCA-VCAL members like Friendship Salem Terrace make to engage their residents and patients every day.” said Keith Hare, President and CEO of VHCA-VCAL.  

The 2024 D.A. “Woody” Brown Community Involvement Award recipients will be recognized at the annual VHCA-VCAL Awards Banquet, held in Norfolk on September 11. The award program was named in honor of Mr. D. A. “Woody” Brown, the first Director of Operations of Autumn Corporation, a Vietnam Veteran, and a dedicated, enthusiastic leader in long term care.  

About Friendship

Friendship Retirement Community is a nonprofit senior living community that offers a variety of housing and on-site healthcare services to serve a wide range of residents, including those with limited financial means. With four campuses, the earliest dating back to 1919, Friendship has grown to offer the full continuum of care—independent living, assisted living, home care, outpatient therapy, inpatient rehab, long-term care and Alzheimer’s and memory care. In a time when 4-in-5 residential care facilities are run by for-profit companies, Friendship, as a non-profit, continues to strive to invest profits back into our communities and to focus on being a good neighbor. Visit friendship.us for more.

About VHCA-VCAL

The Virginia Health Care Association and the Virginia Center for Assisted Living (VHCA-VCAL) is a member-driven organization dedicated to advocating for and representing the interests of over 360 Virginia nursing and assisted living facilities, the residents and patients they serve thanks to the selfless efforts of dedicated care-giving staff. We’re proud of our role as the Commonwealth’s largest association representing long term care. VHCA-VCAL’s strength, effectiveness, and integrity are significantly enhanced by the diversity of its membership which includes proprietary, non-profit, and government-operated facilities dedicated to providing the highest quality of care. Learn more at www.vhca.org.