Senator Diane Black to Receive Executive Leadership Award

NASHVILLE, Tenn., Aug. 4 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Tennessee
Association of Homes and Services for the Aging (TNAHSA) plans to honor
Senator Diane Black with the Executive Leadership Award at their annual
conference in Nashville on Tuesday, August 5. Black is being recognized for
her long history of advocacy for Tennessee's underprivileged, elderly and
disabled, including her work with TNAHSA as sponsor of a bill passed earlier
this year, which ensures the availability of hospice care to residents of
assisted living facilities. Senator Black was also a member of the Legislative
Long-Term Care Advisory Committee that steered the Long-Term Care Community
Choices Act of 2008, which was signed into law by Governor Phil Bredesen in
June.
The Act reallocates state funding for the elderly and disabled, making
home and community-based health care services more accessible and affordable
for Tennesseans. Senator Black represents the 18th senatorial district, which
includes Robertson County and most of Sumner County, Tennessee.
A Tennessee public official for more than a decade, Black has served as a
Senate member of the 104th and 105th General Assemblies and a House member of
the 101st through 103rd General Assemblies. She is the current chairman for
the Senate Republican Caucus and a member of the Senate Judiciary and Finance
Committees and the Senate General Welfare, Health and Human Resources
Committee.
Senator Black's active community involvement includes serving on the
boards of The Tennessee Center for Nursing and Volunteer State Community
College along with various civic memberships. Black has received numerous
awards this year, including the Champion for Seniors in Assisted Living Award,
the Tennessee Home Education Association Statesman Award and named the Junior
League of Tennessee Legislator of the Year.
"A registered nurse, Senator Black brings impressive insight and
understanding to her position and has been an integral player in recent
legislation which expands long-term care options for residents of Tennessee,"
said TNAHSA Executive Director Carrie Ermshar.
"While many Tennesseans in need of extensive health care have
traditionally relied upon nursing homes and long-term care facilities, this
Act makes it possible to receive higher level health services at home and in
Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs), preserving many aspects of the
lifestyles residents enjoy," said Ermshar.
"There is a growing trend of assisted living and CCRCs across the
country," said Larry Minnix, president and CEO of the American Association of
Homes and Services for the Aging (AAHSA). "This new legislation represents a
huge step for Tennesseans in need of long-term health care. We applaud the
efforts of Senator Black and Governor Bredesen, as well as bill sponsors
Senator Lowe Finney and Representative Dennis Ferguson, along with all those
who worked with diligence and compassion to make this a reality."
TNAHSA represents skilled nursing facilities, assisted living facilities,
senior housing services and various agencies serving senior adults throughout
Tennessee. An affiliate of AAHSA, TNAHSA provides leadership, advocacy,
education and communication services. For more information about TNAHSA,
please visit www.tnahsa.org or call 615-256-1800.
SOURCE Tennessee Association of Homes and Services for the Aging

Jennifer Allen of Lovell Communications Inc., +1-615-297-7766,
Jennifer@lovell.com, for Tennessee Association of Homes and Services for the
Aging