LeadingAge Washington Merges With Washington Adult Day Services Association to Strengthen Long-Term, Post-Acute Care Services Network

DUPONT, Wash., Aug. 6, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- After months of deliberation by both associations' board of directors and the approval from Washington Adult Day Services Association (WADSA) membership, LeadingAge Washington (http://www.leadingage.org) announced that it has merged with WADSA. Terms of the merger, operationally effective Aug. 1, 2012, were not disclosed. The joining of forces builds upon LeadingAge's presence and voice in Olympia as they advocate for funding to sustain long-term care services and support for persons with disabilities and chronic care needs, according to Chief Executive Officer Deb Murphy of LeadingAge Washington.

"The merger between our organization and the former Washington Adult Day Services Association strengthens and deepens member networking and partnership opportunities, enhances the development of business opportunities to expand adult day services and strengthens our post-acute care position in a growing, complex managed care and fee-for-service health care environment," said Murphy.

The merger reinforces the post-acute care system awareness and availability of care options for those discharged from the hospital. Oftentimes hospitals discharge to nursing facilities and don't realize that, in some situations, the patient can be discharged to home with adult day health care providing needed nursing or rehabilitation services. LeadingAge Washington's not-for-profit and mission-focused members work to ensure that older and disabled adults get the right services, at the right time, in the place they call home. "With virtually all post-acute care services now represented under one organization, care providers can work together more effectively to support patient choice and independence with improved health outcomes for older and disabled adults," said Murphy.

Founded in 1951, LeadingAge Washington, formerly Aging Services of Washington, is the state association representing 159 not-for-profit and mission-driven organizations dedicated to providing quality housing, health, adult day, community and other related services to well over 30,000 older and disabled adults. The Washington Adult Day Services Association, founded in 1981, is the coalition of adult day centers in Washington.

Sara Myers, Executive Director of WADSA, will join the LeadingAge Washington staff as the new Director of Adult Day Services. Myers noted that WADSA did not have the bargaining power, influence or the relationships to be at those tables when it came to partnerships with other long-term care providers and advocacy for long-term care.

"We were too small an entity, but as a part of LeadingAge Washington, we can participate in discussions about post-acute care because LeadingAge Washington has a stronger presence in the post-acute care world, so now adult day health centers can be a part of the post-acute care continuum," said Myers.

Contact:

Annie Runnels
253-964-8870
Communications Coordinator
LeadingAge Washington
[email protected]

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SOURCE LeadingAge Washington