Honoring residents’ rights

In September, Schowalter Villa Executive Director Jeff Ritcha, and Schowalter Villa resident Elaine Bingamon, were invited to attend a Governor’s Proclamation signing declaring October as “Residents’ Rights Month” in Kansas. The special designation given to the month celebrated the dignity, rights and individuality of long-term health care residents across the state and highlighted the importance of listening to their voices. 

The proclamation request was made by the PEAK program (Promoting Excellent Alternatives in Kansas), through the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS), which encourages long-term care communities to adopt a more individualized approach to care rather than a one-size-fits-all approach. Schowalter Villa is a Foundation Home of the PEAK program.