The Parkinson’s Program of Manhattan at Meadowlark Hills receives the 2013 “Excellence in Social Accountability” award for providing high-quality services to elders with Parkinson’s disease and education to the broader community.

As a non-profit organization and continuing-care retirement community, Meadowlark Hills provides Parkinson’s disease (PD) education group meetings and support services at no cost to local community members and caregivers. The Parkinson’s Program of Manhattan partners with local businesses to continue to raise awareness, such as hosting the annual “Speedy PD Race for Parkinson’s disease,” a fundraiser and race at Tuttle Creek State Park. The program also partners with Kansas State University’s Speech-Language Pathology department and individuals majoring in geriatrics, to continue the teaching of future clinicians, practitioners, and educators entering elder care.

“Across the State of Kansas, aging service organizations are helping to strengthen and support their broader community,” said Debra Zehr, CEO & President of LeadingAge Kansas. “The leadership at Meadowlark Hills takes their role of social accountability very seriously and is supporting the Manhattan community in inspiring ways!”

Each day, the Parkinson’s Program of Manhattan is raising awareness of the value of aging service providers in Kansas. The Program receives this award from LeadingAge Kansas, a statewide association of 160 not-for-profit aging services providers dedicated to serving the needs of over 20,000 seniors in Kansas each day. This award is presented to a LeadingAge Kansas member who demonstrates and promotes socially responsible activities, lives out their mission and communicates this to their greater community.

The award was presented to Michelle Haub, Parkinson’s Program Leader, at the Awards Banquet on Tuesday, Oct.1, in Wichita, Kan.