UP Home, Maplewood Manor receive awards

The United Presbyterian Home of Washington and Maplewood Manor of Keota have each received the Governor's Award for Quality Care from Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack, honoring them for being among the best facilities in the state. Only eight awards were given to Iowa care centers this year.

The award, established in 1999, recognizes health care providers in Iowa that demonstrate the provision of the highest quality care to its residents.

Letters from Vilsack praised the care centers for their efforts.

"While we are fortunate that most of our nursing facilities are well-run and provide top-quality care for their residents, [your facility] is among a handful of those facilities to be best in our state," Vilsack wrote to the administrators of Maplewood Manor.

To Maplewood Manor, Vilsack wrote, "Among the comments excerpted from the nomination form was the notation that your staff is 'marvelous - efficient, cheerful, and so caring and dedicated. The activities provided are special to each individual and this keeps residents contented in their home away from home.'"

To UP Home administrator Michael D. Moore, Vilsack wrote, "Among the comments excerpted from the nomination form was the notation that 'the United Presbyterian Home is like "no other in the state. First and foremost, a marvelous caring staff? works hard to maintain a very friendly, clean, homelike environment.' Also noted was your staff's willingness to do 'whatever it takes to make the nursing facility as homelike as possible.'"