The Kendal Corporation Recognizes the Achievements of Four Communities
July 18, 2023
NEWARK, DE — With Pride Month 2023 in our rearview mirror, The Kendal Corporation is recognizing three of its communities for their commitment to the organization’s belief that spirit and a culture of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) will strengthen communities, people, services and experiences. The company is also recognizing one community that has received an AVP Seal and a favorable Fitch Rating.
“For the past two years, The Kendal Corporation has distinguished itself by implementing DEIB initiatives and establishing a system wide DEIB committee to help cultivate welcoming environments on campuses and for services across the country,” said Howard Braxton, Senior Vice President of Marketing, Communications and Sales at The Kendal Corporation. “The DEIB committee works to serve each Kendal affiliate’s unique community needs. These initiatives are intentionally practiced to benefit residents and staff, Kendal’s top priority.”
“Everyone, including older adults, should feel they belong,” Braxton added. “Kendal will continue to enhance DEIB efforts so that everyone throughout Kendal will feel included and like they belong.”
Many Kendal affiliates have earned SAGECare certifications, illustrating their dedication to supplying exemplary service to LGBTQ+ elders. To earn SAGECare accreditation each community must meet specific standards and undergo holistic cultural competency training to understand better how to best serve older adult residents who identify as LGBTQ+. Employees are trained to understand the culture, needs and concerns of LGBTQ+ older adults.
Kendal at Oberlin, in Ohio, has been recognized as a LGBTQ+ Long-Term Care Equality High Performer (L.E.I.) by SAGE and by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation. This accreditation is part of the first validated survey on LGBTQ+ inclusion in long-term care and older-adult housing communities.
Lathrop Community, in Northampton, Massachusetts, was deeply involved in this year’s Pride celebrations, as Lathrop volunteers recently participated in their local Pride Parade as a lead sponsor. In late June, Lathrop held an educational session to commemorate the anniversary of the Stonewall Riots in 1969.
The Admiral at The Lake, in Chicago, was the only senior living community to walk and ride on a float in the 2022 Chicago Pride Parade. Volunteers participated again in 2023, and the senior living community extended its campus festivities throughout June. The Employee Engagement Committee supplied Pride flags and more to residents and held a series of educational sessions discussing the history of Pride. The Admiral’s Pride Month programming is just part of their work related to diversity, equity, inclusion, access and belonging.
In other Kendal news, for the fifth year in a row, Kendal on Hudson received the AVP Seal based on its actuarial study results for fiscal year 2022. The AVP Seal is a designation developed by A.V. Powell & Associates that indicates a community is placed at the top tier among its peer life plan communities during the specified fiscal year. Less than 40% of clients meet these criteria, which are based on an internal peer review of a community’s most recent actuarial study.
Kendal on Hudson, located 25 miles north of New York City’s Central Park in the town of Sleepy Hollow, has also gained a Fitch Rating BBB+ with a stable outlook. The Fitch Ratings are forward-looking opinions on the ability of the entity to meet financial commitments.
“Kendal on Hudson is proud to receive these prestigious financial stamps of approval,” shared Steve Fishler, Interim CEO. “Kendal on Hudson is committed to unwavering financial excellence and prudent management of our resources. It’s important to appreciate community recognition for these efforts.”
Founded on Quaker principles and guided by its Values and Practices, the operating Kendal affiliates provide independent living, assisted living, memory support, skilled nursing, and rehabilitation care. Kendal-affiliated senior living communities are in New Hampshire; New York; Massachusetts; Virginia; the Washington, D.C., Metropolitan Area; Illinois; Pennsylvania; and Ohio. Also, Enso Village, a Zen-inspired life plan community, is currently under development in Healdsburg, California.
