September 25, 2008

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The UAB (University of Alabama at Birmingham) Center for Aging will announce 10 winners of the 2008 New Horizons Award at the seventh annual "A Celebration of Life" awards reception, 2 - 4 p.m., on Sunday, Oct. 19, at the UAB Highlands Hospital.

The reception and awards recognize the tremendous contributions of older adults to society as a whole and serves to thank those who have helped support research, education and service programs of the Center for Aging.

The New Horizons Award recipients, all non-profit agencies, are:

• Alzheimer's of Central Alabama, an organization and resource center established in 1991 by a group of family caregivers to serve as advocates to improve the quality of life for families dealing with Alzheimer's disease and related disorders.
• The Assistance League of Birmingham, a chapter of the National Assistance League, is dedicated to helping those within the community to have a better, more meaningful way of life through community volunteerism and philanthropic efforts.
• Collat Jewish Family Services, which serves the needs of older adults and people of all ages, the financially disadvantaged, and the mentally and emotionally distressed, providing comprehensive social services and outreach and education programs to both the Jewish and general community.
• Episcopal Place, an organization that serves low income senior citizens and persons with disabilities with140 apartments serving 150 residents from age 21 to 98 years of age.

• Fairhaven Retirement Center, one of 13 facilities of the Methodist Homes Corporation, whose mission is to provide a retirement community environment of abundant life, combined with the care of qualified professionals. Fair Haven is now Alabama's largest Senior Living Center.

• Hand-In-Paw, which provides effective animal-assisted therapy to special needs children, youth, adults, and the elderly with a focus on meeting their physical, mental, and social challenges. Hand-in-Paw provide services in over 50 facilities, including healthcare facilities, assisted living facilities, social service agencies, libraries and schools.
• The Lakeshore Foundation, whose mission is to enable people with physical disability and chronic health conditions to lead healthy, active and independent lifestyles through physical activity, sport, recreation, and research.
• The Seasoned Performers, founded in 1984, offers opportunities to senior adults to participate in theatre, bring live plays and dramatic readings to groups in community settings, and serves as a training base for senior adults wishing to expand their theatrical skills.
• Senior Talk Line (Crisis Center), which opened in 2001 to alleviate the isolation and loneliness that many senior citizens experience. The program not only gives seniors a place to voice their problems, but also provides caregivers and others concerned about elderly individuals with support and access to resources for the senior population.
• St. Martin's in the Pines provides a continuum of care and quality of life to aging individuals and their families through a comprehensive retirement community, with a skilled nursing center, an assisted living facility, a secure Alzheimer's community, Evergreen at St. Martin's, and a four story retirement apartment building.
  

The New Horizon Award recognizes not-for-profit organizations that have worked to enhance the health and well-being of older adults in the community. The award is named for New Horizons at UAB, a self-governing organization of older adults who design a curriculum to meet the diverse interests of its members.

Anyone wishing to make a donation to the UAB Center for Aging in honor of the recipients may send it to the UAB Center for Aging, 933 South 19th St., Suite 201, 35294.