Friendly Home’s Director of Social Work and Admissions, Tanya Arena, has been named the recipient of the 2019 James W. Sanderson Memorial Award for Leadership by New York. This prestigious honor recognizes personal leadership and commitment by an individual devoted to the field of long-term care, housing and services. She was recognized at the LeadingAge New York annual meeting in May in Saratoga Springs.
Tanya’s nomination for the award by the Friendly Home included letters of support from a Member, as well as one of the social workers who has worked closely with Tanya over the years. The Friendly Home Member wrote, in part, “Tanya is a true advocate for Friendly Home Members. She sets a great example of showing that employees are here to serve Members and to honor their unique preferences. Tanya is my friend.”
The social worker’s nomination included the following: “I have witnessed Tanya’s utmost devotion to and advocacy for our Members. As a leader, Tanya inspires our social work team to utilize our individual strengths to provide quality Member-centered care. Tanya sets the stage and provides the tools and support we need to promote Members’ involvement in their own care planning as well as their contributing to the Friendly Home community by serving as volunteers and committee members, thereby further enhancing our Members’ quality of life and sense of purpose.”
Arena, who recently announced her plans to retire in September, has been with the Friendly Home for 30 years. During her tenure, she has consistently demonstrated exceptional leadership both within the social work department and throughout the Home as the champion of the organization’s culture change journey. She has made an indelible impact on thousands of Members, patients, families and employees.
About Friendly Home:
Friendly Home is a non-profit, non-denominational nursing care and rehabilitation facility for older adults. Friendly Home offers a variety of health care services, including 24-hour skilled nursing care, short-term rehabilitation/transitional care and specialized memory care. Established in 1849, Friendly Home is committed to meeting the changing needs of older adults by providing services that enhance their quality of life and promote dignity, individuality and the highest level of independence. Friendly Home is part of the Friendly Senior Living continuum of caring communities, which also includes Cloverwood Senior Living, Glenmere Assisted Living & Memory Care, Linden Knoll and Lovejoy Transitional Care Center. For more information, visit friendlyseniorliving.org/friendly-home.
About Leading Age
LeadingAge is an association of 5,600 not-for-profit organizations dedicated to expanding the world of possibilities for aging. Together, we advance policies, promote practices and conduct research that supports, enables and empowers people to live fully as they age.
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