The Assisted Living Federation of America (ALFA) has announced the winners of the ALFA 2013 Hero Awards, which honor extraordinary individuals who serve older adults in senior living communities. Six heroes were chosen as representatives and role models for the tens of thousands of senior living community professionals. The winners were honored today at the ALFA 2013 Conference and Expo.

During this luncheon, the ALFA Hero Award winners were recognized for championing quality of life for the residents they serve and their embrace of the resident-centered philosophy of senior living. Special guest former First Lady Mrs. Laura Bush helped present the awards to the six winners.

The 2013 ALFA Hero Award winners are:

   -- Leo Aguilar of San Juan CapistranoA Silverado Senior Living community 
      located in San Juan Capistrano, California 

   -- Jane Bongiovanni of Plymouth CrossingsA Benchmark Senior Living community 
      located in Plymouth, Massachusetts 

   -- Fern Marshall of Emeritus at Colorado SpringsAn Emeritus Senior Living 
      community located in Colorado Springs, Colorado 

   -- Deborah Martin of The SeasonsA Genesis HealthCare community located in 
      Lewisburg, West Virginia 

   -- Alexis Parks of Holley Court TerraceA Brookdale Senior Living community 
      located in Oak Park, Illinois 

   -- Sarah Snavely of The Woods at Cedar RunAn IntegraCare community located 
      in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania

“The 2013 ALFA Hero Award winners are exemplars of the great work done every day in senior living communities across the country,” said Richard P. Grimes, President and CEO of ALFA. “Their dedication and passion for serving seniors are the reasons more older adults choose to call senior living communities their home.”

ALFA is also recognizing, after the conference this year, a number of individuals as the ALFA 2013 Champions of Senior Living. More information about the ALFA Hero Awards and the ALFA Champions of Senior Living is available at www.alfa.org/hero.

About ALFA

The Assisted Living Federation of America (ALFA) is the largest national association exclusively dedicated to professionally-managed, resident-centered senior living communities and the seniors and families they serve. Since 1990, ALFA has advocated for choice, accessibility, independence, dignity, and quality of life for all seniors. ALFA’s programs promote business and operational excellence through education, research, publications, professional networking and online tools designed to foster innovation and entrepreneurism in the field of senior living. Visit ALFA’s Web site at www.alfa.org.