NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MANORCARE SANDIA KICKS OFF
"HEARTS DESIRE" PROGRAM
54 Year Old Resident With Multiple Sclerosis to Visit Albuquerque Biological Park
(Albuquerque, NM - April 7, 2000) ManorCare Health Services' Sandia facility, located at 5123 Juan Tabo Boulevard NE, is pleased to announce the start of "Heart's Desire," a new customer service program developed by parent company HCR ManorCare. The Heart's Desire program offers independent, long term care and assisted living residents an opportunity to fulfill a wish or desire in the same way that other programs offer these opportunities to terminally ill children. The success of the program depends on the help and cooperation of Albuquerque-area organizations working in tandem with the Sandia facility.
The local kick off for Hearts Desire is scheduled for Wednesday, April 12, 2000, when Elizabeth Clark will visit the Albuquerque Biological Park. Clark is a 54-year-old Albuquerque native and ManorCare Sandia resident with Multiple Sclerosis. Her "Heart's Desire" is to visit the Albuquerque Biological Park, specifically the Aquarium, "see the sharks," and then go out for a delicious meal of Chinese food.
Clark chose to visit the Aquarium because, as a child, she had fish as pets. She is particularly fascinated with sharks and would like to see them up close. She has been a resident at ManorCare Sandia since 1995, which was before the Biological Park was built. As a result, she has not had the opportunity to visit this new attraction.
To make her wish come true, ManorCare Sandia has teamed up with GO-FORS, Inc., located at 3507-B Wyoming Boulevard NE, just south of Comanche. GO-FORS provides transportation and personal assistance to elderly and disabled clients. Clark is confined to a special type of wheelchair that requires a custom equipped vehicle. GO-FORS has a van that can handle Clark's wheelchair and has agreed to provide the transportation from ManorCare Sandia to the Aquarium, then to the restaurant, and finally back to ManorCare Sandia's location. Karla Schrecongost, Activities Assistant at ManorCare Sandia, and Edwina Waddington, Director of Development for GO-FORS, INC, will accompany Clark on her trip.
For more information on this program or to arrange a meeting with Elizabeth Clark during her activity, please contact Lori Liebman, ManorCare Sandia Admissions Director, at (505) 292-3333.
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About ManorCare Health Services
ManorCare Health Services, a division of HCR ManorCare, operates three skilled nursing facilities in Albuquerque: ManorCare Sandia, located at 5123 Juan Tabo Boulevard NE, ManorCare Camino Vista, located at 2216 Lester NE, and ManorCare Heights, located at 7900 Constitution NE. In addition to providing skilled nursing and rehabilitation programs, the Heights and Sandia locations also offer Arcadia units for residents with Alzheimer's disease. For more information about the types of services offered at these facilities, please contact them directly at 292-3333 (Sandia), 296-5565 (Camino Vista) or 296-4808 (Heights).
About HCR ManorCare
HCR ManorCare is the leading owner and operator of long-term care centers in the United States. HCR's 55,000 employees provide high quality care for residents and patients through a network of more than 450 long term care centers, assisted living facilities, outpatient rehabilitation clinics, home health care offices and management services for professional organizations. The company operates primarily under the respected ManorCare, Heartland and Arden Courts names. HCR ManorCare is committed to being the preeminent care provider in the industry.