Friendship, a leader in senior living and rehabilitation is proud to announce several of their team members are featured on the American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living’s (AHCA/NCAL) new website,getvaccinated.us.

“When we were contacted to help encourage others to get vaccinated, we immediately got to work,” said Vice President of Healthcare Operations Ben Higgins.  “We understand the great responsibility and honor we have to be first in line to receive the vaccine and to be a pace-setter for the rest of the Roanoke Valley and the nation.”

AHCA/NCAL represents more than 14,000 nursing homes and long term care facilities across the country that provide care to approximately five million people each year.  The organization has expanded its #GetVaccinated campaign with support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), to encourage long term care facility staff to receive COVID-19 vaccines.  They have set a nationwide goal to have 75% of all nursing home staff vaccinated by June 30, 2021.

The three Friendship team members featured on the national website are Linda Ross, administrative assistant at Friendship Assisted Living, Norine “Nani” Kaululaau, Friendship Assisted Living assistant director of dietary, and Sonya Mitchell, a certified nurse assistant at Friendship Health and Rehab Center South.  

“Seeing these team members on the site makes all of us here at Friendship so proud,” said Higgins.  “This past year has been hard.  Our strength and resolve has been on display since last March and time and time again, our team members continue to step up and put others above self.  We appreciate their continued dedication to our residents and each other.”

Friendship is proud to continue to be on the leading edge of the fight against COVID-19.  Friendship Pharmacy, located on the community’s North campus, was one of the first facilities in Virginia back in December to receive Bamlanivimab, a monoclonal antibody treatment for treatment of COVID-positive individuals.  Friendship has implemented touchless screening technologies, and has been using portable handwashing stations since last March to protect the health and well-being of staff and residents.  As of February 23, 2021, Friendship also announced its visitation policy, which is dependent on the vaccination status of both the resident and the visitor.  

To learn more about Friendship, individuals are encouraged to visit the company’s website, friendship.us, or call 540.265.2100.