This month, ElderWood Senior Care celebrates its 30 th anniversary. President and CEO Robert M. Chur opened his first skilled nursing facility, now ElderWood Health Care at Heathwood in Williamsville, in 1978. Today, ElderWood operates 10 skilled nursing and rehabilitation facilities, five assisted living residences and two independent living communities in western and central New York. ElderWood cares for more than 3,500 residents and patients each year and employs more than 2,900 staff members.

Western New York's population is aging rapidly withthose 85 and older growing faster than any other age group. The elderly in Western New York will grow in number even as the overall population declines. The 65-and-over population will expand 26 percent by 2030, with its frail-elder population, or those 85 and older, expected to increase by 36 percent, according to the Cornell Institute for Social and Economic Research, 2002 Population Projections.

"This trend will put new pressures on the health care system," said Chur. "Over the past thirty years, ElderWood has grown to meet the needs of our seniors. We will continue to evolve and address the new challenges our community will face as the population ages."

ElderWood has met success by continually identifying needs and developing new programs to meet those needs. The company has expanded its subacute care and rehabilitation programs to help individuals who need more time to recover following illness, injury or surgery. In 2000, ElderWood opened the area's first ventilator unit outside of a hospital.

The program improved the quality of life for ventilator-dependent residents, who use battery-powered, laptop-sized ventilators as they move about the facility. In 2006, ElderWood implemented a cardiac transitional care program for those with complex cardiac conditions. "As we continue to grow, our first priority will not change - to provide the highest quality care and the highest quality of life for the residents and patients," said Chur.

All of ElderWood's skilled nursing facilities in western New York have earned the Step I or Step II Quality Award from the American Health Care Association (AHCA), the most prestigious honor in long-term care. Since the award was created in 1996, only 12 facilities in New York State have achieved AHCA Step I or Step II status. Three are located downstate; the other nine are ElderWood facilities. "As proud as we are of our awards, what's significant is what they say about us - that ElderWood makes quality care a priority," said Chur.

In the late '90s, ElderWood added assisted living to its continuum of care. Assisted living is ideal for the senior who needs support with the activities of daily living. All of ElderWood's assisted living residences are licensed by New York State. Four of the residences offer the Medicaid-eligible Assisted Living Program (ALP) to those residents whose needs meet the program's qualifications.

ElderWood's newest venture has been the addition of two patio home and apartment communities. Maplewood Commons in Cheektowaga and Crestwood Commons in Wheatfield provide a carefree living option for active seniors. If residents eventually need rehabilitation or a higher level of care, they can progress seamlessly to an ElderWood assisted living or skilled nursing facility.

"Thirty years is a milestone anniversary for ElderWood," said Chur. "Our growth and success is due to the hard work and innovation of many individuals within the ElderWood organization."

ElderWood operates facilities in Amherst, Cheektowaga, Grand Island, Hamburg, Lancaster, Liverpool, Waverly, West Seneca, Wheatfield and Williamsville, N.Y. For more information, visit www.elderwood.com.