2009 Independent Living Award Recipients

Medina County Family First Council, Senior Focus

The Medina County Family First Council is dedicated to strengthening families through family-centered, preventive and comprehensive services. The MCFFC’s Senior Focus boasts many successes. These include the design of a collaborative assessment team to provide proactive intervention by helping seniors access appropriate community, medical, and mental health resources. In addition Senior Focus completed the development, training and distribution of a Gero-Psych manual for professional use; created a housing pathways model; and most recently conducted a senior needs assessment to identify service gaps that would hinder an older adults’ ability to live independently.

James W. Campbell, MS, MD

James Campbell, MD, MS, chairs the Department of Family Medicine and directs Senior Health at MetroHealth, where he has undertaken a number of projects to improve the medical care of seniors. Two of which he is most proud are Concordia Care and the new Senior Health & Wellness Center, a $32 million 225,000-square-foot facility in Old Brooklyn.

Laura Mathews, BS, MS, LNHA

Laura Mathews, Manager of Parma Community General Hospital’s ElderCenter, demonstrates leadership in health care. Her attention to changing community assures the ElderCenter’s continuing growth through expanding funding sources and programs. Ms. Mathews’ innovative programs include The Club, a weekly retreat for individuals experiencing mild memory loss; Designed Around You (DAY), providing eight weeks of graduated day care to ease the transition between a hospital stay and returning to community living; and most recently, the creation of Club S.O.D.A., a daily program of Service, Opportunities & Development for adults ages 21 to 49.

Breckenridge Village

Breckenridge Village is a continuing care retirement community offering the finest in retirement living. Under the guidance of Davis Schell, MBA, LNHA , Executive Director, the community has received numerous awards and consistently high survey results and satisfaction scores. Breckenridge Village is known for it responsiveness to the needs of elders though research and the development of venues respectful of each older adults desire for independence. The leadership of Breckenridge Village fosters community involvement of staff, residents, and families and they continue to be strong advocates for older adults.

Judge Frank J. Horvath

The Honorable Frank J. Horvath just retired after 18 years as the Lorain County Probate Judge. Judge Horvath was instrumental in developing the volunteer guardianship program for older adults in Lorain County. During his tenure he supported high standards and developed the Guardianship Monitoring Programs to assure guardians are acting properly. As Probate Judge his role extended to the protection of at risk children and his activities with grandparents raising grandchildren resulted in many endangered children placed in a protected family centered environment. In addition to local leadership he was recognized as “Judge of the Year” in 2002 from the Ohio Association of Probate Judges.

Kelsey Loushin, LICDC

Kelsey Loushin, Director of Eldercare Professionals of Ohio (EPO), creates a spirit of networking wherever she goes. Ms. Loushin leads monthly meetings attended by 60; each meeting illustrates her dedication to enhancing the skills and knowledge of professionals, caregivers and older adults. Ms. Loushin’s dynamic leadership is what makes EPO successful as a business venture; she inspires and renews the energy of the network. In addition to her work at EPO, she is a sought after speaker on eldercare, mental health, and chemical dependency; provides consulting services to national and local EAP programs; and assists families with eldercare choices.

Patricia J. Schraff, MSSA, JD

Patricia J. Schraff of Schraff and King, LPA, began her journey serving elders as a case worker and continues through her professional career and her numerous volunteer activities. Ms. Schraff has taken the responsibilities of working with the elderly to the highest standard possible in our society; always maintaining the recognition of the individual's own skills. As a result, seniors and their families gain an understanding of the senior’s capacity for independence. Among her community involvement includes serving on the boards of the Long Term Care Ombudsman, Lake County Council on Aging, Alzheimer's Association of Greater Cleveland, and as an attorney for the Geauga County Department on Aging and Cuyahoga County Adult Guardianship Services.

2009 Independent Living and Awards Reception

2009 Conference on Independent Living Session Presentation

Western Reserve Area Agency on Aging

925 Euclid Avenue, Suite 600, Cleveland, OH 44115-1405
Phone: 216-621-8010 or 1-800-626-7277