Aegis Living to be honored with ALFA's Best of the Best Award for New Education Program

News provided by

May 10, 2012, 11:45 ET

REDMOND, Wash., May 10, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Aegis Living, a national leader in assisted living and memory care communities, has been awarded ALFA's Best of the Best Award in the Human Resources and Staff Development category for its collaboration with Washington State University's School of Hospitality Business Management department. The program will be recognized at the ALFA Conference and Expo, May 16-18 in Dallas.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120510/SF04600)

Aegis Living was joined by Leisure Care, Merrill Gardens and Emeritus Senior Living in developing a curriculum with students from Washington State University's Hospitality program. Despite a growing need for senior housing, these four Seattle area senior living companies recognized a deficiency in education at the college level to fill positions needed in the growing senior housing sector. Working together with contacts from the School of Hospitality and Management an innovative semester long class was created to teach students about the senior housing industry.

The unique hospitality program includes educational sessions by professionals from each of the four companies who travel to WSU in Pullman, WA each week teaching the students about the operations of a retirement community. The class also includes a three-day field trip by the students to visit senior living communities, meet with operations staff and take tours of the communities. Student groups present an end of semester business plan for a senior housing model. Seven students from the program received scholarships sponsored by the participating senior living companies.

"Aegis Living is proud to be a part of this one-of-a-kind program creating future senior housing leaders. We appreciate the opportunity to work with Washington State University and its students," stated Jerry Meyer, Aegis Living's President and COO. "We look forward to sharing the program specifics with other senior living industry professionals at the upcoming ALFA conference."

About Aegis Living

Aegis Living is a national leader in assisted living and memory care, offering a progressive selection of senior residences to meet the growing needs of today's aging population. Providing the finest in senior lifestyle and living options available, "We're the people who make life better" emphasizes health, quality of life, well-being and community. Aegis Living is guided by a simple philosophy: strive to treat all people with the highest possible standards. Founded in 1997 and headquartered in Redmond, Washington privately held Aegis Living operates 28 communities in Washington, California and Nevada, with 5 in development. Additional information about Aegis Living is available at www.AegisLiving.com, Twitter @aegisliving and Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/AegisLiving

SOURCE Aegis Living