Behind the initials. (AAHA or AHCA, nursing home associations) (Family Matters)

I want to share with you some information that may give greater insight into the workings of the "front office," which provides the leadership and direction for your loved one's nursing home.

At the entrance to the nursing home, you may have noticed a decal bearing either the initials AAHA or AHCA. This decal signals the home's membership in one of two groups: the American Association of Homes for the Aging(AAHA), or the American Health Care Association (AHCA).

Although AAHA represents not-forprofit nursing homes and other related care facilities while AHCA membership is primarily composed of proprietary (for profit) institutions, the purpose of the two groups is similar - to provide a common ground for sharing positive concepts of nursing home management, and to offer their members opportunities to solve mutual problems.

Both organizations provide on-going education to administrators, owners and staff members. This year I attended both the AHCA Annual Conference (October 16-20 in Anaheim, California) and the AAHA Annual Meeting and Exposition (October 24-27 in Orlando, Florida). Attending both conferences renewed my insight into the quality of concem manifested by these fine associations.

Each conference provided quality educational seminars and many exhibits of new, innovative care products. To give you an idea of what members gain from attending these meetings, I will comment on one seminar and one exhibit which were of particular interest to me.