Adult Care Services and The Margaret T. Morris Center, an assisted living community solely specializing in caring for those with Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia, will be hosting a 3-day Dementia Care Mapping workshop Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, January 26 through Thursday January 28, 2010 at The Springhill Suites in Prescott. Dementia Care Mapping (DCM) is a method to evaluate the delivery of person centered care and, in general, to improve the quality of care delivered to persons with dementia in formal care settings. The workshop is made possible by a grant to Adult Care Services through The Emerald Foundation of Tucson. For more information regarding the course, registration and scholarship guidelines, please contact Michael Direen at 928-441-1030.

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October 1, 2009 ACS Board News

Board of Directors News Charles Taylor, Taylor & Padgett Financial Group, stepped down from the Board after seven years of service. Charlie brought his financial expertise to the Board, as well as a heartfelt commitment to The Margaret T. Morris Center and The Susan J. Rheem Adult Day Services. We sincerely thank Charlie for his support.

Adult Care Services also welcomes four new Board members: Michael Geboy, Fetu Escoto- Dyke, Patricia Bessey, and Dr. Richard DeMark:

~Michael Geboy~Executive Director/ Partnership Director, Southwest Health Professions Education Center, VA Medical Center.

~Fetu Escoto-Dyke~Owner and Operator, along with her husband, Clay, Star Struck! Event Planning.

~Patricia Bessey~Recently retired to Prescott; former Client Services Associate with UBS Financial Services in Connecticut.

~Dr. Richard DeMark~Adjunct Professor Oral Pathology, School of Dental Hygiene, Rio Salado Community College; Phoenix, AZ, and a practicing dentist in Prescott for many years.

Being part of the Board is an important contribution to the company, and we are grateful to all of our Board members for their time and dedication.

For Immediate Release July 3, 2009
National Health Publication Recognizes The Margaret T. Morris Center

The Margaret T. Morris Center, Prescott and northern Arizona's finest assisted living community solely specializing in caring for people with Alzheimer's disease and other forms of memory loss, has been featured for its quality care in the June 2009 issue of Advance for Long Term Care Management. Advance is a national publication for health care providers. To read the article, click here (a separate tab will open).

The Margaret T. Morris Center opened in 1999 and is recognized nationally and internationally for its philosophy of person centered care. In addition, it is the only free-standing memory care community to hold CARF accreditation in the state of Arizona. To learn more about CARF, click here.

For Immediate Release January 14, 2009

The staff and families of Adult Care Services are extremely grateful to General Manager Ruben Garcia and LaFonda Mexican Restaurant for their recent generosity. LaFonda donated proceeds from their business on December 28 to help support our non-profit centers: the Margaret T. Morris Center, an assisted living center for older adults with demenita, and The Susan J. Rheem Adult Day Services, adult day centers in Prescott and Prescott Valley. We could not exist without the support of our donors, as we very much appreciate the willingness of the management of LaFonda to help. Thanks also to all the people who made it a point to eat at LaFonda that day as a means of supporting us!
Rhonda Sandler
Executive Director
Adult Care Services

For Immediate Release January 10, 2009

GENEROUS DONATION
Reuben Garcia, General Manager of LaFonda Mexican Restaurant at 628 Miller Valley Road in Prescott presents and award check to Yvonne Napolitano, Director of Community Relations of Adult Care Services. Proceeds were donated from LaFonda to Adult Care Services from a portion of the sales on Sunday December 28, 2008.

For Immediate Release December 11, 2008
"THE WHOLE ENCHILADA BENEFIT"

The Margaret T. Morris Center and The Susan J. Rheem Adult Day Services, programs of Adult Care Services, are proud to announce a benefit in the organization's honor. "The Whole Enchilada" sponsored by LaFonda Restaurant will be held on Sunday December 28, 2008 from noon until 8:00pm. Ruben Garcia owner of LaFonda is located at 628 Miller Valley Rd. in Prescott. All are welcome. For more information about the benefit or information on The Margaret T. Morris Center or The Susan J. Rheem Adult Day Services, please contact Yvonne Napolitano, Director of Community Relations at 928-445-6633.

For Immediate Realease October 1, 2008
Board of Directors Selects New Executive Director

The Board of Adult Care Services is pleased to announce that Rhonda Sandler will be the new Executive Director beginning October 1, 2008 upon the retirement of Susan Rheem. Although the board considered a national search, it became apparent that the best candidates were already in the ACS family. Rhonda has been with ACS for over two years as Chief Operating Officer and spent 20 years in her last position as the Assistant Dean for the College of Law at Arizona State University. Rhonda states, "I am looking forward to continuing the legacy of Adult Care Services and working with the quad-city community to meet the needs of our expanding older population, particularly those who are challenged with the difficulties of Alzheimer's disease. We have great staff at The Margaret T. Morris Center and The Susan J. Rheem Adult Day Services, who, on a daily basis, are providing wonderful care." Rhonda can be reached at 928-771-2335 ext. 11.

2008 Silver Sentinel Champagne Brunch Honors Susan J. Rheem

Susan J. Rheem founder and Executive Director of Adult Care Services which includes The Susan J. Rheem Adult Day Services and The Margaret T. Morris Center is being honored at the 2008 Silver Sentinel Champagne Brunch on November 16, 2008 ~ 1:00pm at the Hassayampa Golf Club. Cost is $75 per person. Proceeds from the event after expenses will go to the Susan J. Rheem Scholarship Fund and will assist families needing support for respite services at the day center programs. Susan retired on October 1, 2008 after 26+ years of service with Adult Care Services. Seating is limited at the event. For information about the event or to donate to the scholarship fund please contact Karen Brewer at 928-771-2335, ext. 12.

For Immediate Release July 22, 2008
Margaret T. Morris Center Receives $300,000 Grant

The Margaret T. Morris Center (MTM), Prescott's premier assisted living community dedicated to promoting quality of life for people with Alzheimer's disease and other dementias, is the recipient of a $300,000 grant awarded by The Emerald Foundation of Tucson. The grant will fund a three year project led by MTM to educate caregivers at the Center and eventually statewide on the philosophy of Person Centered Care and Dementia Care Mapping as developed by the late Dr. Tom Kitwood of the Bradford Dementia Group in England. In addition, the grant supports education and training for horticultural activities. For more information on the grant and The Margaret T. Morris Center, contact Yvonne Napolitano, Director of Community Relations at 928-445-6633.

6th Annual Margaret T. Morris Center Charity Golf Tournament August 25, 2008

The Margaret T. Morris Center will be hosting its' 6th Annual Golf Tournament at the prestigious Talking Rock Golf Course in cool Prescott, Arizona on Monday August 25, 2008. Cost is $650 for a foursome or $180 for a single player. Join us for a great day of golf, prizes, food, and fun. All proceeds benefit the programs of Adult Care Services and The Margaret T. Morris Center. For more information contact: Yvonne Napolitano, Director of Community Relations at 928-445-6633.

Download our latest newsletter and read Susan Rheem's farewell and the appointment of Rhonda Sandler and ACS's new Executive Director.

Download our summer newsletter and meet The Smudzins, residents at MTMC. You'll also read about our award-winning garden; and see the results of our annual satisfaction survey.

The Margaret T. Morris Center
Congratulates Dr. Candace Reid
Recipient of the 2007 Nate Goff Award

Candace Reid, D.O., Medical Director at The Margaret T. Morris Center, has been chosen by Yavapai Regional Medical Center to receive the 2007 Nate Goff Award.

Dr. Goff, who passed away in 1997, was instrumental in establishing a community-based hospice program in the Prescott area. The annual award was established in his honor to recognize YRMC staff physicians who consistently demonstrate excellence in providing end-of-life care.

“Dr. Reid is certainly deserving of this honor,” says YRMC CEO Tim Barnett. “She is an excellent physician who always demonstrates consistency and sensitivity.”

The Margaret T. Morris Center and Adult Care Services is proud to have Dr. Candace Reid as part of our staff!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 3, 2007
CONTACT: Gaye Horton 859-514-9177

Kieckhefer Strolling Garden Wins AHTA Garden Design Award

March 16-22 is National Horticultural Therapy Week and The American Horticultural Therapy Association recently announced its 2007 award winners at their annual conference in Silver Spring, Maryland. The Kieckhefer Strolling Garden at the Margaret T. Morris Center in Prescott, Arizona was named the winner of the AHTA Therapeutic Garden Design Award. Pamela Catlin, HTR, Horticultural Therapist at the Margaret T. Morris Center, an Assisted Living community for People with Alzheimer's Disease and other dementias accepted the award.

This award recognizes excellence in therapeutic garden design and programming maintained for therapeutic purposes and has the following characteristics:

• Scheduled and programmed activities including horticultural therapy programming, events, and activities intended to encourage the participation
  of special populations.
  
• Improved accessibility through modified features and the availability of adapted equipment and tools.
  
• Well-defined perimeters to direct visitors to garden displays.
  
• The inclusion of intensive plantings and open environments benignly designed to enhance people-plant interchange, and a sense of safety.
  
• Universally designed for all people, regardless of age and ability.
  
• An intensified recognition of the opportunity to experience comfort, sensory stimulation, and independence within the designed garden or landscape.

About AHTA: The American Horticultural Therapy Association (AHTA) is helping
horticultural therapy (HT) gain increasing acceptance as a unique and
dynamic human service program. AHTA is the only national organization
concerned with the promotion and development of HT programming. For more
information about AHTA and the awards program visit www.ahta.org. For more
information about The Margaret T. Morris Center contact Yvonne Napolitano,
Director of Community Relations at 928-445-6633.

Press Release April 2008: The Margaret T. Morris Center Education and Training Program Receives Licensure
The Margaret T. Morris Center, an assisted living community specializing in care for people with Alzheimer's disease and other dementias is proud to announce the recently awarded licensure of the MTMC Training and Education Department. Licensure was awarded by the Arizona State Board for Private Postsecondary Education. The licensure now mandated by the state of Arizona for community caregiver training programs, ensures legal operations, ethical practices, and quality education in the private postsecondary sector. For more information about MTMC contact Yvonne Napolitano, Director of Community Relations 928-445-6633. For more information the state board for the private postsecondary sector go to azppse.state.az.us.