Ocala Church Group Named FHCA 2015 Group Volunteer of the Year

Florida Heath Care Association Recognizes Judy and Fred O’Blenis and the members of Meadowbrook Church Small Group as 2015 Group Volunteer of the Year

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 11, 2015
CONTACT: Kristen Knapp, APR
(850) 701-3530 or kknapp@fhca.org

Tallahassee, FL - Florida Health Care Association (FHCA) has awarded Judy and Fred O’Blenis and the members of Meadowbrook Church Small Group in Ocala as the Association’s 2015 Group Volunteer of the Year. The award, which is given annually to a group who shows outstanding service to seniors residing in Florida’s long term care centers, was presented by FHCA during the Association’s Annual Conference last week in Orlando.
    
For the past 14 years, Fred and Judy O’Blenis have led the members of the Meadowbrook Church Small Group in volunteering with the residents of Palm Garden of Ocala. They interact weekly with the residents through the center’s life enrichment programs and special events. They also make a point to keep residents up to date on current events and offering helpful hand when needed. From calling BINGO or baking cookies to assisting with clerical duties, the O’Blenis’ and their team of volunteers have remained a steady constant and have helped Palm Garden grow its volunteer base year after year.  

“Their visits make everyone’s time more enjoyable and meaningful, bringing laughter and smiles, positive attitudes and oftentimes, a much-needed listening ear,” said Jennifer Mikula, administrator of the 180-bed Palm Garden of Ocala.

“FHCA is pleased to honor the Meadowbrook Small Group with this prestigious award,” said FHCA Executive Director Emmett Reed. “Their enthusiasm and dedication to serving the residents and supporting the staff of Palm Garden of Ocala is an inspiration to us all.”

Florida Health Care Association’s Long Term Care Excellence Awards are an annual recognition program. They include the Resident of the Year Award and Nursing Home and Assisted Living Facility Administrator of the Year and the Willis J. Gregson Associate Member of the Year Award. The Volunteer of the Year Awards recognize an individual and a group for their service to long term care, and a long term care center is annually honored for its community outreach.  For more information about FHCA’s Long Term Care Excellence Awards, visit the Quality Improvement section of the FHCA website at [url=http://www.fhca.org]http://www.fhca.org[/url].

ABOUT THE FLORIDA HEALTH CARE ASSOCIATION
The Florida Health Care Association (FHCA) is a federation which serves nearly 1,000 members and represents over 500 long term care facilities that provide skilled nursing, post-acute and sub-acute care, short-term rehab, assisted living and other services to the frail elderly and individuals with disabilities in Florida. The mission of FHCA is to advance the quality of services, image, professional development and financial stability of its members. As Florida's first and largest advocacy organization for long term care providers and the elderly they serve, the Association has worked diligently since 1954 to assist its members with continuously improving quality of care and quality of life for the state’s growing elder care population. For more information about the Florida Health Care Association, visit [url=http://www.fhca.org]http://www.fhca.org[/url].

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