Nov. 2, 2009 (Trenton, Tenn.)—Mrs. Rebecca Bishop, 77, a resident at Trenton Place Care and Rehabilitation, will be granted her Twilight Wish of a dinner out with her daughter and employees of the care center through an internal program called Wish Upon a Twilight Star. The wish is being sponsored by CareerStaff Unlimited—a medical staffing company providing temporary nursing staff to hospitals, and other healthcare providers, located in Brentwood, Tennessee.

Mrs. Bishop had asked to be transported in a limousine to a restaurant that resembled her own mother’s home-cooked meals. She chose, Cracker Barrell in Jackson, Tenn. So, on Nov. 13, at 11:30 a.m. Mrs. Bishop will be granted her Twilight Wish by having lunch at the restaurant with her daughter Peggy and Lee Anne Evanson, activities director, who nominated Bishop for this wish. The accommodations for this wish were coordinated and funded entirely by Heidi Signoracci and Adam Franklin of the CareerStaff Unlimited office in Brentwood.

The Wish Upon a Twilght Star program was inspired by a partnership between SunBridge Healthcare, the operator of Trenton Place, and Twilight Wish foundation, a non-profit organization located in Pennsylvania whose mission is to grant wishes to our nation’s elderly. SunBridge Healthcare has invited employees to participate in this opportunity to grant Twilight Wishes to its nursing home residents living in its nursing centers located in 25 states. So far, the company and its employees have granted more than 60 wishes to its residents since the program began.

“It’s wonderful to see our own employees within the Company making wishes come true for our residents in this way. This brings us all together for the benefit our residents, which, in turn, embraces our mission,” says Wally Vernon, administrator.

Background:

In 2008, SunBridge Healthcare formed a partnership with Twilight Wish Foundation, a nonprofit organization that grants seniors their wishes, with the goal to grant its own SunBridge residents their twilight wishes. An overwhelming response on behalf of its residents resulted in 320 resident wish applications from residents all across the country since the program began. Together, SunBridge and Twilight Wish Foundation select nine wishes to be granted each year that are categorized as dream, nostalgic, and need wishes. In an effort to reach out to the remaining residents who also asked for a wish, the company invited its employees to participate in the program. To date, SunBridge and its employees have granted its residents more than 60 twilight wishes since the program began in 2008.

Resident Recovers from Coma; Employees Grant her a Twilight Wish
Oct. 2, 2009 (Folkston, GA)—Norman Frawley, a resident at Folkston Park Care and Rehabilitation, will be granted a very special Twilight Wish to spend the day fishing on October 11, at the Beach Marina in Jacksonville, Fla. The wish is being granted in part because of a partnership Folkston Park and its operator SunBridge Healthcare, shares with the Twilight Wish foundation, a non-profit organization whose mission is to grant the nation’s elderly their twilight wishes. This relationship inspired an internal program within the company, named Wish Upon a Twilight Star. This program offers company employees the opportunity to grant Twilight Wishes to its residents living in nursing centers located in 25 states.  

Mr. Frawley was born blind and has been diagnosed with lung cancer. He has been a resident of Folkston Park for __ years. Jennifer Young, social services director nominated Mr. Frawley because she felt it was a way to honor him. “He is such a kind man and had a very difficult childhood,” said Young. Frawley’s wish is one of 120 wishes received this year from nursing residents across the country that also asked for a Twilight Wish.*

When Carrie Pitts, an employee of CareerStaff Unlimited located in Atlanta, Ga, an affiliated business of SunBridge Healthcare, heard of this wish, she thought immediately of her parents. Barbara and Mike Connor, Carries parents and owners of RCR Warranty Management located in Jacksonville, Fla., a one hour drive from Folkston, own a fishing boat. The family all jumped on board to grant Mr. Norman’s wish on Oct. 11, which is also the Mr. Connor’s own birthday. “It will be like a present to make this very deserving resident’s wish come true,” said Connor. Administrator of the care center, Ken Thompson is planning to transport the resident from Folkston to Jacksonville for a day that’s surely one to be remembered. Mr. Frawley’s own brother is planning to join him.

“It’s wonderful to see our own employees within the Company making wishes come true for our residents in this way. This brings us all together for the benefit our residents, which, in turn, embraces our mission,” says Ken Thompson, administrator.

Background:

SunBridge Healthcare formed a partnership with Twilight Wish Foundation, a nonprofit organization that grants seniors their wishes, with the goal to grant its own SunBridge residents their twilight wishes. An overwhelming response on behalf of its residents resulted in 320 resident wish applications from residents all across the country since the program began in 2008. Together, SunBridge and Twilight Wish Foundation formally grant nine more elaborate wishes each year that are categorized as dream, nostalgic, and need wishes. In an effort to reach out to the remaining residents who also asked for a wish, the company decided to invite its employees to participate in the program. To date, SunBridge and its employees have granted its residents more than 40 twilight wishes.

Resident of Local Nursing Center to Be Granted Twilight Wish
August 20, 2009 (Cartersville, GA)— In November 2007, Charlene Perkinson, a resident at Cartersville Heights Care and Rehabilitation in Cartersville, suffered an intracerebral hemmorage that caused a stroke. This hemorrhage left Ms. Perkinson with severe neurological deficits and a quadriplegic. She has resided at Cartersville Heights Care and Rehabilitation dependent on a ventilator for breathing, a tracheotomy and PEG tube for nutrition and hydration. There seemed little hope for her future.

Howard Perkinson, her husband, their daughter and many friends, faithfully visited Charlene and despite her condition, they never lost hope. The care center staff continued to administer therapy at her bedside. In late 2008, Charlene began to show slight improvement. This change in condition sparked a new outlook for her husband and the caregivers of the center. In March 2009, Perkinson underwent a modified Barium Swallow which led to the possibility of introducing food orally. Through a careful plan laid out by the speech therapist and registered dietitian in just one month, the trach was removed and Charlene consumed 75 percent of her meals by mouth. Today Charlene speaks, enjoys home-cooked meals, sits outside and enjoys the sunshine, and most importantly, she is socializing with her husband, children and friends. She no longer uses a trach nor is she dependent on a PEG tube for nutrition. She moves her limbs and is showing improvement daily.

Mr. Perkinson has said that he is extremely grateful for the hard-working dedicated and caring staff of Cartersville Heights for never giving up and meeting the resident’s needs physically, medically, as well as emotionally and spiritually. This, he said, has provided him and his wife with a second chance at life.

The Perkinson’s 40th wedding anniversary passed on August 24, 2008, while Charlene was in a comatose state. This year the care center team with the help of employees from CareerStaff Unlimited—a therapy-based staffing company located in Atlanta——as well as employees from SunBridge's regional offices, the couple will get to celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary after all, at their very own home. Charlene and Howard have asked for a barbecue meal and many community businesses have pitched in to ensure this wish takes place. Kroger Grocers will provide balloons and flowers, Publix donated an anniversary cake, and the region team of SunBridge Healthcare, operator of the care center, will cover the cost of the food. The care center staff will transport her to her home for the special celebration. Wish Upon a Twilight Star:

The Perkinson’s wish is being granted through an internal program named, Wish Upon a Twilight Star offered to residents in all SunBridge Healthcare operated centers across the United States. The program provides residents like Charlene’s, the opportunity to ask for and in many cases receive their Twilight Wish.

“Part of what makes this twilight wish so special is that it has been coordinated and paid for by caring employees within the company. It’s wonderful to see so many come together to make Charlene’s wish come true. This brings us all together for the benefit of our residents, which, in turn, embraces our mission,” says Renee Harrison, administrator.

Background:

Wish Upon a Twilight Star program came about as the result of a partnership between SunBridge Healthcare and Twilight Wish Foundation, a non-profit organization that grants seniors their wishes. The goal of the partnership was to offer SunBridge residents their twilight wishes through the foundation. Since the program began, 320 resident applications have been received from SunBridge Care Centers. Together, SunBridge and Twilight Wish Foundation select nine wishes to be granted each year that are categorized as dream, nostalgic, and need wishes. In an effort to reach out to the remaining residents who also asked for a wish, the company invites its employees to participate in the Wish granting program. So far this year, SunBridge and its employees have granted its residents more than 40 twilight wishes to the residents in its care centers with many more pending.

Resident of Local Nursing Center to Be Granted Twilight Wish
June 4, 2009 (Cartersville, GA)—At tonight’s Atlanta Braves game, 82-year-old David Whorton, a resident at Cartersville Heights Care and Rehabilitation, will be in attendance as part of receiving his Twilight Wish. SunBridge Healthcare, the operator of Cartersville Heights, shares a special relationship with the Twilight Wish foundation, a non-profit organization located in Pennsylvania. This relationship spawned an internal program within the company, appropriately named Wish Upon a Twilight Star. This program offers company employees the opportunity to grant Twilight Wishes to SunBridge residents living in its nursing centers located in 25 states.

Liz Hale, Carrie Pitts, and Louanne Roberson, CareerStaff Unlimited employees located in Atlanta, GA who planned to attend the Thursday night game, saw Mr. Whorton’s wish on the internal web site dedicated to showcasing resident’s wishes and thought it would be a great way to become involved and make a resident’s wish come true.

Years ago, Whorton was an avid attendee of the Braves games with his wife, who has since passed. This will be his first attendance at the Turner Stadium. Stadium management have also become involved by providing Whorton, who uses a wheelchair, with special seating arrangements, announcing his name during the game and also providing Whorton with special gifts.

“It’s wonderful to see our own employees within the Company making wishes come true for our residents in this way. This brings us all together for the benefit our residents, which, in turn, embraces our mission,” says Renee Knox, administrator.

Background:

SunBridge Healthcare formed a partnership with Twilight Wish Foundation, a nonprofit organization that grants seniors their wishes, with the goal to grant its own SunBridge residents their twilight wishes. An overwhelming response on behalf of its residents resulted in 320 resident wish applications from residents all across the country since the program began. Together, SunBridge and Twilight Wish Foundation select nine wishes to be granted each year that are categorized as dream, nostalgic, and need wishes. In an effort to reach out to the remaining residents who also asked for a wish, the company decided to invite its employees to participate in the program. To date, SunBridge and its employees have granted its residents more than 30 twilight wishes.