Belmont Village Senior Living Expands Inclusive Employment Initiative Through Growing Partnerships

Ongoing collaboration with Best Buddies Jobs Program has grown to 14 team members, with continued expansion planned across Belmont Village communities

HOUSTON, Oct. 26, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- In recognition of National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), Belmont Village Senior Living is highlighting its steadfast commitment to creating meaningful employment opportunities for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and building a more inclusive workforce across its communities.

Central to this initiative is Belmont Village Senior Living's five-year partnership with the Best Buddies Jobs Program. As Best Buddies' first official jobs partner in the senior living industry, Belmont Village is working with the organization to identify rewarding roles across its communities and match those opportunities with program participants based on their skills, interests and career goals. Since welcoming its first Best Buddies participant, Amanda Ramos, to the Belmont Village Coral Gables team in March 2024, the collaboration has grown to 14 active team members across 10 communities.

"Fostering an inclusive workplace means more than opening the door to employment; it means creating opportunities for individuals to build impactful careers and become an integral part of our communities," said Mercedes Kerr, President of Belmont Village Senior Living. "Through our partnership with Best Buddies, we've seen firsthand how welcoming individuals with different backgrounds and experiences enriches our teams, strengthens relationships and contributes to the culture that makes Belmont Village special. We're incredibly proud of the progress we've made together and look forward to building on that success in the years ahead."

"What makes my job at Belmont Village so special is the people. The residents treat me like family, and I try to provide that same kindness and care in return," said Amanda Ramos, Best Buddies participant and Belmont Village Coral Gables team member. "Belmont Village has given me the opportunity to showcase my talents and be part of a community that values what everyone brings to the table. The support and sense of belonging I've found through both Belmont Village and Best Buddies have truly changed my life. I'm proud to come to work every day knowing I'm making a difference."

Belmont Village Senior Living's dedication to creating a supportive workplace extends beyond its partnership with Best Buddies. Most recently, the company joined forces with New Horizons, a nonprofit that provides employment and other services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, to hire a new team member at Belmont Village Burbank in California.

These efforts build on Belmont Village's longstanding focus on encouraging the growth and development of its team members. With a wide range of roles and an emphasis on personal connection, senior living offers unique opportunities for individuals of all abilities to contribute and thrive. Across departments, employees bring their diverse strengths and experiences to their work, building relationships with residents, families and colleagues while helping shape the vibrant culture that makes each Belmont Village community feel like home.

For more information about Belmont Village Senior Living and career opportunities, visit belmontvillage.com.

ABOUT BELMONT VILLAGE SENIOR LIVING

Founded in Houston in 1997, Belmont Village Senior Living is an integrated developer, owner, and operator of high-quality senior living communities, with more than 4,700 employees and 5,000 units in total. Its 34 locations across the nation and in Mexico City, provide award-winning assisted living and memory care programs and ongoing collaborations with Baptist Health South Florida, USC, UCLA, and more to continually improve their cognitive health and evidence-based enrichment programs. The company is a market leader in major markets including the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, South Florida, San Diego, and Chicago. Renowned for distinctive design, high standards of life and safety, and a reputation for leading edge, quality programming, Belmont Village Senior Living is certified as a Great Place to Work^®, has been ranked as one of FORTUNE Magazine's 50 Best Workplaces for Aging Services since 2018, and has been recognized by U.S. News & World Report as Best in Senior Living. www.belmontvillage.com. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram.

ABOUT BEST BUDDIES INTERNATIONAL

Best Buddies® is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to establishing a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment, leadership development, inclusive living, and family support for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Founded in 1989 by Anthony K. Shriver, Best Buddies is a vibrant organization that has grown from one original chapter to over 4,000 middle school, high school, and college chapters worldwide. Today, Best Buddies' programs engage participants in each of the 50 states and in 47 countries, positively impacting the lives of more than 1.5 million people with and without disabilities around the world. In many cases, as a result of their involvement with Best Buddies, people with intellectual and developmental disabilities secure rewarding jobs, live on their own, become inspirational leaders, and make lifelong friendships. For more information, please visitwww.bestbuddies.org or connect with us via Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.   

SOURCE Belmont Village Senior Living