SOUTH POINT — River’s Bend Health Care, a skilled nursing and rehabilitation facility in South Point, was among 10 Ohio nursing facilities to receive a Partnership Award on June 17, at the 26th Annual Appreciation Brunch hosted in Portsmouth by the Area Agency on Aging District 7.

Julie Terry, marketing and admissions director, accepted the award on behalf of the River’s Bend Health Care team.

The Partnership Awards recognized the participation and the measures taken at the selected skilled care facilities as part of the 2013 Person-Centered Care Project.

“Long-term care is undergoing a culture change, from restrictive institutions to vibrant communities,” said Pamela Matura, Executive Director of the Area Agency on Aging District 7, which includes 10 Ohio counties.

Beginning in October 2012, the 10 facilities have attended three workshops and each met monthly with a member of the ombudsman team, Matura said. They completed an assessment to see how their current practices measured up against best practices, conducted a resident satisfaction survey, developed a vision statement for their facilities and each selected at least two changes to implement this year in their building.

Matura gave an overview of some of the changes made at the participating facilities, including: eliminating overhead paging for a quieter environment; providing 24/7 access to food; installing a wireless internet signal to enable residents and guests to access the web from mobile devices; making fresh bread and cookies; enabling residents to rise and go to bed at their preferred times; setting up vegetable and flower gardens for the residents to tend; and facility renovations and remodeling to make them more homelike.

The 10 participating facilities are Eagle Creek Nursing Center, Locust Ridge Nursing Home, the Ohio Veteran’s Home, Edgewood Manor of Greenfield, Jenkins Memorial, River’s Bend Health Care, Piketon Nursing Center, Heartland of Chillicothe, Best Care Nursing Facility of Wheelersburg and Huston’s Nursing Home.