atr ia’s employee newsletter winter 2008

good things happening in the atria family treeTM

MAKE GERMS SQUIRM… wash your hands

SM

There are a few things that you can do to lower your risk of MRSA. We have included them in the teaching tips on the Care Card that was distributed at the hand-washing in-service training. If you have not attended this in-service training, ask your Resident Services Director for more information.

A final suggestion is to discuss with your doctor the absolute necessity of taking an antibiotic. Because taking too many antibiotics can cause Staph, among other germs and bacteria, to become resistant to antibiotics, you want to make sure that you are not taking antibiotics unless you absolutely need them.

If you have any additional concerns, any of the Atria nurses can share more information with you.

Influenza, pneumonia, head colds, chest colds, norovirus, E. coli, hepatitis and now MRSA. All of the news about germs, viruses and bacteria these days will make you more than a little nervous. But, if you’ve watched Atria’s new hand-washing video, starring a life-size germ named Ginny, you know how to win the battle against these fiendish creatures!

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have said for years that the most effective way to fight infections is to wash our hands frequently and thoroughly. That advice has many of us standing at the sink singing songs like “Happy Birthday” to ensure that we are washing our hands for 20 to 30 seconds. We should teach this trick to our families and our residents so they can stay healthy.

In our training, we use fun products like germ juice and black lights to help reinforce our message about infection control, but the best indicator of how well we wash our hands is whether or not we are staying healthy. So next time you hear about a germ, wash your hands! Our goal is to eradicate Ginny the Germ and all of her friends, too!

If you have not seen the hand-washing video, “Ginny the Germ Shares Her Secret,” please see your Resident Services Director.

•Staphylococcus Aureus has been around for years. You may have heard it simply called a Staph infection.

•Many people have had the germ and never known it because Staph usually lives on our skin.

•Staph becomes a problem when you are more susceptible to infection because of an illness or stress, and a cut or break in the skin is all the germ needs to gain entrance into your body.

•Many of us have been treated with an antibiotic for a minor Staph infection. What makes MRSA so concerning is that the Staph germ has become resistant to the high-powered antibiotics, such as methicillin, that may be needed to fight off an infection. This resistance usually happens because of the overuse of antibiotics. Once the germ becomes resistant to methicillin, it is hard to get rid of and many people become very ill from an infection.

What is MRSA?

Undoubtedly, you have seen the news in the past few months and have a few questions about the growing concern over MRSA or Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus. Here are a few facts:

I can only say…WOW, what a great year! I want to thank and congratulate everyone who has worked so hard to bring our company to the level of success that we achieved in 2007. We have many things to be proud of.

We continue to exceed new heights in the areas of training and customer care. In 2007, our Care department implemented a comprehensive training program for all Atria nurses and trained approximately 150 Resident Services Directors throughout the year.

In 2007, we invested significant resources into improving the physical structure and appeal of several of our communities, ensuring that residents and employees have a place where they can be very proud to live and work. We will continue these efforts.

As a company, we also reached a milestone in occupancy in the last quarter of 2007, hitting a record occupancy level for the company. And, now that we are focused on 2008, I am sure we will grow even more.

Also in 2007, we had the privilege of growing our Atria family with the addition of 13 communities in New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania and Florida. We will benefit from the strength and expertise these communities bring to our company for years to come.

One of my greatest pleasures as a CEO is seeing employees who are happy and well-rewarded for their commitments. That’s why I was very proud when we were able to roll out the best incentive

and retention plan in our industry last year. We introduced Atria RewardsSM in September, for front-line employees. Our message was clear: we value your commitment to Atria and its mission. And for your commitment, we are willing to provide rewards that go beyond the incentives offered by any other company in the industry. Please know that we are committed to growing the program with the addition of even more components as we move forward.

I know from reading the September 2007 Employee Satisfaction Surveys that a vast majority of you are happy with your work, your community and your company. Employee Satisfaction Survey scores rose in 2007…even before you learned about Atria Rewards. We pay close attention to those surveys and we appreciate your feedback…the good and the bad. There’s always more work to be done, and I assure you that we are committed to providing a great career for you at Atria.

Thank you again for a great 2007…let’s all get excited and ready for an even better 2008.

John Moore, Chief Executive Officer

What exactly is Quality Assurance (QA)?

Frisch: If you want a technical definition, it is a process for checking to see whether or not a community’s programs and services are meeting certain high standards. Put simply, Quality Assurance is our way of assuring that the promises we make as a company are promises we keep. It demonstrates how much Atria cares about doing the right thing.

How does the QA program operate?

Frisch: We have 10 Quality Assurance Directors who conduct detailed community surveys. Each Atria community is surveyed twice a year, during an unannounced visit. In every department within the community, we look at those important factors that drive all areas of success. Every employee should know what his or her department is being scored on…it’s not a secret. Once the survey is finished, the score is reported and Quality Assurance Rewards are distributed within one month to hourly employees at the communities that have qualified for the reward.

How can I improve my community’s QA score and earn Rewards?

Frisch: Here are four good ways you can help:

1. Understand the areas you will be scored on in the survey process.

Specific factors are measured and reviewed in the Quality Assurance survey. Your department leader can help you understand what will be reviewed and scored in your area. Many communities have created fun activities and incentives around learning the best QA practices.

Branches editors sat down with Sheela Frisch, Senior Vice President of Quality Assurance, to discover how you can learn more – and earn more – through a commitment to quality.

You won’t find the words “Quality Assurance” in any one person’s job title at your community. That’s because Atria believes that Quality Assurance is everyone’s responsibility. And, now more than ever, your dedication to Quality Assurance is paying off…literally.

A few months ago, you were introduced to Atria Rewards. This exciting program rewards you for the commitment you make to our customers, to quality and to your Atria community. One component of the program is the Quality Assurance Reward, a bonus you can earn twice each year based on your community’s overall Quality Assurance Survey results. Scoring between 80 and 89 percent will earn each hourly employee a $25 VISA®* gift card, and scoring 90 percent or higher will lead to a $50 VISA gift card.

Read on to learn more about Quality Assurance.

You will receive $25* if your community scores 80% to 89% on your Quality Assurance review.

You will receive$50* if your community scores 90% or above on your Quality Assurance review.

Quality Assurance at Atria

*In the form of a VISA gift card

*VISA is a registered mark of Visa International Service Association.

2. Use proper practices and procedures all the time. Use proper practices and procedures, every day. Practice them with your department leader to help make sure that you are getting them right, and practice them all the time!

3. Ask questions. If you don’t understand something on the QA tool, ask questions. At Atria, we believe that you have the right to know what you are going to be scored on, so that you can be prepared to do your best. Ask your department leader, your Executive Director or your Quality Assurance Director questions to clarify anything that isn’t clear.

4. Give encouragement to your co-workers. Remember that you are a team working toward your Quality Assurance goals and earning Atria Rewards. Providing help and encouragement to one another is going to be important to your success.

Sheela Frisch, Senior Vice President of Quality Assurance

Atria Woodbridge (Irvine, California)

Atria Bayside Landing (Stockton, California)

Atria Rancho Park (San Dimas, California)

Atria Encinitas (Encinitas, California)

Atria Burlingame (Burlingame, California)

Atria Palm Desert (Palm Desert, California)

Just how many communities does Atria have in California?

Atria Daly City (Daly City, California)

Not only does California boast some of the best weather in the country, it is also home to some of the best assisted living communities anywhere. Of course, we’re speaking of Atria’s 25 California communities.

In each edition of the Branches newsletter, we introduce you to Atria communities across the country. In this edition, we’ll take a look at the West Coast and list the locations of Atria communities in California.

CALIFORNIA

Burlingame – Atria Burlingame

Camarillo – Atria Las Posas

Carmichael – Atria El Camino Gardens

Covina – Atria Covina

Daly City – Atria Daly City

Davis – Atria Covell Gardens

Encinitas – Atria Encinitas North & South

Irvine – Atria Golden Creek

Irvine – Atria Woodbridge

Mission Viejo – Atria Del Sol

Novato – Atria Tamalpais Creek

Palm Desert – Atria Hacienda

Palm Desert – Atria Palm Desert

Rancho Cucamonga – Atria Del Rey

San Diego – Atria Collwood

San Dimas – Atria Rancho Park

San Jose – Atria Chateau Gardens

San Jose – Atria Willow Glen

San Juan Capistrano – Atria San Juan

San Mateo – Atria Hillsdale

Stockton – Atria Bayside Landing

Sunnyvale – Atria Sunnyvale

Thousand Oaks – Atria Hillcrest

Walnut Creek – Atria Montego Heights

Walnut Creek – Atria Valley View

Atria recognizes and rewards outstanding performance across the country with the Exceptional Service Award (ESA). Each quarter, more than 100 employees are nominated for the award. From those nominees, 25 winners are selected to receive a $500 bonus and special recognition for exemplifying Atria’s mission to provide “exceptional service for our residents.” We would like to congratulate all of the employees who were nominated for the third quarter ESA. These nominees deserve our thanks and appreciation for everything they do.

Here is the complete list of third-quarter nominees. The ESA winners are indicated in red.

Belete Koricho, WaitstaffAtria Bell Court Gardens –Tucson AZ

Tiffany Ancharski, Community Sales Asst. Atria Campana del Rio – Tucson, AZ

Anthony Cristan, Driver Atria Chandler Villas – Chandler, AZ

Linda Romack, Administrative AssistantAtria Valley Manor – Tucson, AZ

Ana Luna, Housekeeper Atria Burlingame – Burlingame, CA

Hery (Eddie) Munoz, Food Service Dir.Atria Chateau Gardens – San Jose, CA

Karen Lasster, Resident Medication Asst.Atria Collwood – San Diego, CA

Lucinda Mendoza, Resident Medication AssistantAtria Covell Gardens – Davis, CA

Miriam Alvarado, DriverAtria Covina – Covina, CA

John Duus, Engage Life DirectorAtria Daly City – Daly City, CA

Brenda Jones, Resident Services LeadAtria Del Rey – Rancho Cucamonga, CA

Staci Weisz, Engage Life DirectorAtria El Camino Gardens – Carmichael, CA

Kerry Sheron, ChefAtria Encinitas North – Encinitas, CA

Micaela Gonzalez, Administrative Asst.Atria Golden Creek – Irvine, CA

Diana Hernandez, Administrative Asst.Atria Hacienda – Palm Desert, CA

Carlos Sosa, Maintenance TechnicianAtria Hillcrest – Thousand Oaks, CA

Sunita Prasad, Resident Medication Asst.Atria Hillsdale – San Mateo, CA

Cathie Wooten, Lead Resident Services AssistantAtria Las Posas – Camarillo, CA

Ema Delgadillo, WaitstaffAtria Montego Heights – Walnut Creek, CA

Esther Perez, Resident Services AssistantAtria Palm Desert – Palm Desert, CA

Navor (Pasqual) Villalvazo, CookAtria Rancho Park – San Dimas, CA

Bertha (Alicia) Aguilera, DriverAtria San Juan – San Juan Capistrano, CA

Maria Relia Alejandro, Resident Medication AssistantAtria Sunnyvale – Sunnyvale, CA

Dominic Cheung, Lead HousekeeperAtria Tamalpais Creek – Novato, CA

Barry Bee, DriverAtria Valley View – Walnut Creek, CA

Josefina Pedroza, Laundry AttendantAtria Willow Glen – San Jose, CA

Isabella (Izzie) Regina, Community Business DirectorAtria Woodbridge – Irvine, CA

Arizona

California

Deb Daniels, Engage Life AssistantAtria Crossroads Place – Waterford, CT

John Sciacca, DriverAtria Greenridge Place – Rocky Hill, CT

Laura Bub, Resident Services NurseAtria Hamilton Heights –West Hartford, CT

Lois Simmons, WaitstaffAtria Larson Place – Hamden, CT

Marie Charlestin, Lead HousekeeperAtria Stratford – Stratford, CT

Tom Kelberlau, DriverAtria Baypoint Village – Hudson, FL

Stacey Maas, Engage Life AssistantAtria Evergreen Woods – Spring Hill, FL

Adele Valceus, Resident Services AssistantAtria Meridian – Lantana, FL

Vickie Hunter, ReceptionistAtria San Pablo – Jacksonville. FL

Virginia Pagan, ReceptionistAtria Windsor Woods – Hudson, FL

Faith Jackson, Engage Life AssistantAtria Buckhead – Atlanta, GA

Marie Noelzil, Resident Medication Asst.Atria Johnson Ferry – Marietta, GA

Patricia Greer, Resident Services AssistantAtria Tanglewood Trace – Mishawaka, IN

Eric Ferrier, Maintenance Technician Atria Hearthstone West – Topeka, KS

Anna Maier, Resident Services AssistantAtria Elizabethtown – Elizabethtown, KY

Debra Elbert, WaitstaffAtria Highland Crossing – Fort Wright, KY

Brian Cornwell, Chef Atria Springdale – Louisville, KY

Pamela Sherman, Resident Services Asst.Atria St. Matthews – Louisville, KY

Shirley Wright, Lead Resident Services AssistantAtria Stony Brook – Louisville, KY

Mary Jane Schumacher, Resident Services AssistantAtria Summit Hills – Crestview Hills, KY

Walter Lynch, DriverAtria Draper Place – Hopedale, MA

Christina Lindh, ChefAtria Fairhaven – Fairhaven, MA

Marilyn Schrenker, Resident Services NurseAtria Longmeadow Place – Burlington, MA

Laurie Hurley, Resident Services NurseAtria Maplewood Place – Malden, MA

Dachon Duvall, Waitstaff Atria Marina Place – North Quincy, MA

Carol Emmert, Resident Services AssistantAtria Marland Place – Andover, MA

Anastasia Pied, WaitstaffAtria Merrimack Place – Newburyport, MA

Marie Cadet, Resident Services AssistantTraditions of Dedham – Dedham, MA

Aderonke Iyanoye, Resident Services LeadAtria Manresa – Annapolis, MD

Sheron White, WaitstaffAtria Salisbury – Salisbury, MD

Earlene Decker, Resident Medication Asst.Atria Kennebunk – Kennebunk, ME

Angel Dooley, ConciergeAtria Kinghaven – Riverview, MI

Julie Greening, HousekeeperAtria Shorehaven – Sterling Heights, MI

Lorraine Tate, ReceptionistAtria MerryWood – Charlotte, NC

(Continued on next page)

Connecticut

Florida

Georgia

Indiana

Kansas

Kentucky

Massachusetts

Maryland

North Carolina

Michigan

Maine

Sandy Poretsky, WaitstaffAtria Seville – Las Vegas, NV

Jose Cottocx, WaitstaffAtria Sunlake – Las Vegas, NV

Pedro Navarro-Mendez, CookAtria Sutton – Las Vegas, NV

Mercedes Agramonte, Engage Life Asst.Atria 86th Street – New York, NY

Amanda Chenard, Lead Resident Services AssistantAtria Briarcliff Manor – Briarcliff Manor, NY

Lori Wells, Resident Services NurseAtria Crossgate – Albany, NY

Silvia Declich, Lead HousekeeperAtria East Northport – East Northport, NY

Hilda Ribas, Lead HousekeeperAtria Great Neck – Great Neck, NY

Dawn Farnan, Resident Medication Asst.Atria Greece – Rochester, NY

Nancy Wallace, Lead Resident Services AssistantAtria Guilderland – Slingerlands, NY

Exceptional Service Award Nominees Continued (winners indicated in red)

Gloria Alvarado Flores, HousekeeperAtria Huntington – Huntington Station, NY

Yeinson Munoz-Bejarano, Lead Maintenance TechnicianAtria Kew Gardens – Kew Gardens, NY

Colin Best, Maintenance TechnicianAtria Lynbrook – Lynbrook, NY

Curtis Wilkins, Maintenance TechnicianAtria on the Hudson – Ossining, NY

Karen Slichta, ReceptionistAtria Penfield – Penfield, NY

Margaret Barrett, Engage Life AssistantAtria Riverdale – Riverdale, NY

Scott Wood, Maintenance TechnicianAtria Shaker – Albany, NY

Adeline Seickel, HousekeeperAtria South Setauket – South Setauket, NY

Jean Hermes, HousekeeperAtria Northgate Park – Cincinnati, OH

Sharon Sauerwine, HousekeeperAtria Bethlehem – Bethlehem, PA

Sally Iezzi, Community Business DirectorAtria Woodbridge Place – Kimberton, PA

Nevada

New York

Ohio

Pennsylvania

Lauren Ottilige, Engage Life DirectorAtria Aquidneck Place – Portsmouth, RI

Christopher Alves, CookAtria Bay Spring Village – Barrington, RI

Donna Hopkins, Resident Medication Asst.Atria Harborhill – East Greenwich, RI

Albert Paquin, Maintenance TechnicianAtria Lincoln Place – Lincoln, RI

Debra Cornish, Housekeeper Atria Forest Lake – Columbia, SC

Su Mei Ho, CookAtria Weston Place – Knoxville, TN

Barbara Tredway, Engage Life AssistantAtria Carrollton – Carrollton, TX

Dana Yancey, Receptionist Atria Collier Park – Beaumont, TX

Raquel Rankins, Resident Medication Asst.Atria Copeland – Tyler, TX

Nereyda Vasquez, CookAtria Cypresswood – Spring, TX

Karen Nagurne, WaitstaffAtria Grapevine – Grapevine, TX

Tomika Johnson, Resident Services Asst.Atria Richardson – Richardson, TX

Mark Hett, Housekeeper Atria Willow Park – Tyler, TX

Myna Bowman, Lead HousekeeperAtria Sandy – Sandy, UT

Peggy Tan, Dining Room CoordinatorAtria Virginia Beach – Virginia Beach, VA

Rhode Island

South Carolina

Tennessee

Texas

Utah

Virginia

Atria shares a great “pear” of recipesThe Pacific Northwest Canned Pear Board held a competition for Atria employees to find the best recipes for their canned pears. Recipes came in from across the country and were judged by the Canned Pear Board in Yakima, Washington. Here are our winners:

You can help make the next Branches newsletter even better by contributing an article or by giving us your suggestions on how we can make the newsletter better for you. If you submit an article that you’ve written, and we use it in an upcoming issue, you’ll receive a $50 VISA gift card.

Enrique Gonzales is the Food Service Director at Atria Willow Glen in San Jose, California. Enrique won first prize and a check for $500 for his Pear Upside-Down Cornmeal Cakes. The judges were also impressed with his recipe for Cinnamon Sugar Pear Biscuits.

Congratulations, Enrique!

Jeffry Muthersbaugh is the Food Service Director at Atria Lincoln Place in Lincoln, Rhode Island. He wowed the judges with his original Pear Salsa in Baked Wontons. Jeffry received a check for $250 for second place. Great job, Jeffry!

Send your thoughts and stories via mail, fax or e-mail to: Denise Nokes, Communications ManagerAtria Senior Living Group401 South 4th Street, Suite 1900Louisville, KY 40202 Fax: 502.779.4744E-mail: denise.nokes@atriaseniorliving.com

Don’t forget: We want your stories, ideas and feedback on the newsletter.

Here are Enrique and Jeffry’s award-winning recipes. Enjoy…

Pear Salsa in Baked Wontons

Ingredients:2 cups of diced canned pears1 cup diced red onion1 cup diced pineapple1/4 cup minced cilantro 1/4 cup lime juice1/4 cup diced red bell pepper2 large diced tomatoes1/2 a large cucumber, diced 1 pinch of salt2 tsp of minced ginger1 tsp olive oilwonton wrappers (You can find these in the international aisle of most large grocery stores.)

Mix first 11 ingredients together and refrigerate for a minimum of 8 hours.

Preheat oven to 350°. Take a mini muffin tin and spray cups with cooking spray. Insert 1 wonton wrapper into each cup and make small bowls.

Place tray in oven and bake until the shells are golden brown (approximately 5 minutes). Let shells cool and fill each one with pear salsa. (Makes about 35 servings.)

Pear Upside-Down Cornmeal Cakes

Ingredients:3/4 stick cold, unsalted butter (cut into 6 tablespoon portions)3 canned pears1/3 cup packed light brown sugar1 tsp fresh lemon juice1/2 cup coarsely chopped walnuts 3/4 cup all-purpose flour1/2 cup yellow cornmeal1/3 cup granulated sugar2 tsp baking powder1/4 tsp salt1 large egg3/4 cup whole milk

You will also need: A muffin pan with 6 cups Lightly sweetened whipped cream

Put oven rack in upper third of oven and preheat to 425°. Butter the muffin cups. Dice canned pears to 1/3 inch. Heat 2 tablespoons butter in a 12-inch heavy skillet over moderate heat until foam subsides. Add pears, brown sugar and lemon juice, stirring occasionally, until liquid is reduced to a glaze (approximately four minutes). Stir in walnuts and divide pear mixture among muffin cups. Pulse together flour, cornmeal, granulated sugar, baking powder and salt in a food processor until combined. Add remaining 4 tablespoons butter and pulse until mixture resembles coarse meal with some small (roughly pea-size) butter lumps. Whisk together egg and milk in a large bowl. Add flour mixture and whisk until just combined. Divide batter among muffin cups and bake until golden (approximately 15-20 minutes). Serve warm with a dollop of whipped cream.

The team at Atria Willow Park

in Tyler, Texas, scored a 97%

The team at Atria Collier Park in Beaumont, Texas, scored a 94%

The team at Atria Elizabethtown in Elizabethtown, Kentucky, scored a 99%

Atria’s Quality Assurance (QA) program awards the Q Award to those communities that

score 91% and above on their overall Quality Assurance score and pass all critical factors.

Don’t forget, beginning this month – January, 2008 – as part of Atria Rewards, any

community that receives a 90% or above on its Quality Assurance score will receive a $50

VISA gift card for each employee. Look for helpful tips in this edition about how you can

help improve your community’s QA score.

Pictured on these two pages are the teams who earned Q Awards in August, September and

October, 2007.

The team at Atria Vista del Rio in Albuquerque, New Mexico, scored a 91%

The team at Atria Hearthstone West

in Topeka, Kansas, scored a 93%

The team at Atria Stony Brook in Louisville, Kentucky, scored a 95%

The team at Atria Windsor Woods

in Hudson, Florida, scored a 94%

Atria expresses its deepest appreciation for long-term employees who are working with us to make Atria the best place to live and work. You are the true champions of our mission, commitment and company.

The following Atria Service Champions celebrated their service anniversaries of 20 years or more in the fourth quarter (October, November and December) 2007.

31 YEARS OF SERVICE

Lucy Bayubay, Chef Atria Daly City (Daly City, CA) Anniversary date: 12/29/76

Lucy received an Atria Rewards Anniversary Gift of $37,000.

22 YEARS OF SERVICE

Wescol Swift, Security Guard Atria Bell Court Gardens (Tucson, AZ) Anniversary date: 10/14/85

Wescol received an Atria Rewards Anniversary Gift of $12,000.

21 YEARS OF SERVICE

Cilvina Jackson, Housekeeper Atria Meridian (Lantana, FL) Anniversary date: 11/13/86

Cilvina received an Atria Rewards Anniversary Gift of $12,000.

Dennis Guiney, Security Guard Atria Meridian (Lantana, FL) Anniversary date: 11/01/86

Dennis received an Atria Rewards Anniversary Gift of $12,000.

20 YEARS OF SERVICE

Carolyn Guster, Cook Atria Willow Park (Tyler, TX) Anniversary Date: 12/21/87

Carolyn received an Atria Rewards Anniversary Gift of $12,000.

Lucy Bayubay, a Chef at Atria Daly City for 30 years received her Atria

Rewards Anniversary gift, a check for $37,000. Congratulations, Lucy!

The benefits of a Flexible Spending AccountBecause so many Atria employees now have a Flexible Spending Account (beginning January 1, 2008) through Atria Rewards, we wanted to spend some time ensuring that everyone fully understands the program.

A Flexible Spending Account (FSA) allows you to pay for certain healthcare expenses that are not covered, or are partially covered, by your medical, dental and vision insurance plans. This includes items such as prescription and over-the-counter medications, eyeglasses, orthodontics and much more. You may also use FSA dollars to pay for deductibles, co-payments and eligible expenses for which you have no coverage at all.

What’s great about an FSA is that whether Atria funds your account through Atria Rewards, or you fund your account through payroll deduction, the money contributed to an FSA is not taxed by the state or federal government. This accounts for a 20% to 40% savings on the cost of healthcare items and services for those employees who contribute to their FSA accounts throughout the year.

However, because FSA contributions are made on a pre-tax basis, there are restrictions on what can and cannot be purchased with the account. You should have received a list of eligible expenses at open enrollment. A more complete list is available at www.flexdirect.adp.com. If you do not have Internet access, please ask your Community Business Director for this list.

ADP is the administrator of Atria’s FSA program. Everyone who has an FSA receives a VISA debit card which can be used to pay for prescriptions and eligible health products and expenses. The funds will be taken from your FSA account. This means no out-of-pocket expenses and no waiting for reimbursement. Because ADP may request receipts for items purchased with your FSA debit card in order to verify that your purchase was for an eligible healthcare item or service, it is extremely important to hang on to all of your receipts.

TIP: It helps to shop at merchants and retailers who are on an electronic system that determines at the checkout scanner whether an item is eligible under health care FSA plans and sends that information to ADP. Below is an abbreviated list of those retailers. A more complete list is available at www.flexdirect.adp.com.

Albertson’s

A&P Supermarkets

Buehler Food Markets

CVS/Caremark

Drugstore.com

Giant Food Stores

Kroger

SuperValu Stores (check local retailer)

Safeway

Sam’s Club

Shop & Save

Target

Visiondirect.com

Wal-Mart

Waldbaum’s

Walgreens

Wegmans

Shopping at these retailers may reduce the number of times you will have to substantiate a purchase by sending in a receipt. Still, you should always keep your receipt for any item or service purchased with your FSA debit card.All FSA participants should receive a receipt- keeper bag for receipt storage.

The benefits of a Flexible Spending AccountHere are a few quick answers to questions we have heard from employees who are planning to use an FSA for the first time:

Q. Can I use my FSA to pay off balances on debts I already have with hospitals or doctors?A. No. This is an annual plan and expenses must be incurred during the plan year. This reward begins January 1, 2008, and eligible expenses may be incurred beginning on that date. Q: Can employees donate FSA dollars to other employees in times of need?A: No. This is not an option in the program. Q: Can an FSA be used to pay for health insurance premiums?A: No, premiums are not considered eligible expenses.

Atria Employees Create Moments That Make a Difference

In August, Atria completed a project called My Favorite Atria

Moments, where we collected stories about residents’ favorite

memories and experiences since coming to live at Atria. In case

you’ve forgotten how much you mean to the people you serve,

here are some of their own words to help you remember…

Toby Snow feels like Atria is part of her family.

“Every day when I wake up, I think how lucky I am to be here. The staff is the best! I would love to mention every name, but I’m afraid I would leave someone out. The people are wonderful. You feel that they are your family. I love them all.”

Toby SnowResident of Atria Weston Place (Knoxville, Tennessee)

“I had a massive stroke the first part of the year. I lost my ability to walk. I was taking rehab and, with help, could go short distances. I progressed as time went along. Then the day came that I was to walk to the dining room. With my quad cane and the therapist behind me, I started my slow, laborious journey from my room to the dining room. By the time I reached the dining room, everyone was seated and well into their meals. The room went silent until I sat down, and then it erupted into applause and tears. This is by far my greatest experience at Atria – so far!”

Richard HillResident of Atria Encinitas North (Encinitas, California)

“I never dreamed I would be spoiled rotten in my old age, but Atria is doing a good job of it!”

Polly KnieperResident of Atria St. Matthews(Louisville, Kentucky)

Bertha LaRose battled boredom before she moved to Atria Kennebunk. Today, Ms. LaRose is an active volunteer within her Atria community, and has been described as one of its most outgoing and active members.

“Before I came to Atria, my health was quickly declining, my world was becoming smaller and smaller, and I was losing interest in everything and everyone…Boredom had been a constant enemy. Now, there just aren’t enough hours in the day…I so appreciate the friendly staff and my new friends. I feel I have entered a whole new bright and happy world.”

Bertha LaRoseResident of Atria Kennebunk (Kennebunk, Maine)

“My life has been very fulfilling these past five years. All my needs are taken care of and my life is beautiful.”

Nikki HillockResident of Atria Baypoint Village (Hudson, Florida)

Atria resident Martha Gladstone finds great joy in the relationship she shares with the employees who support her each day. Ms. Gladstone is pictured here with Resident Medication Assistant Dian Patrice Arrindell and Resident Services Assistant Yanick Fidele.

“…the girls who give the residents their medicine brought me back to joking and laughing again. They really helped me become a happy person again.”

Martha GladstoneResident of Atria Lynbrook (Lynbrook, New York)

Right now, most of you are earning Atria Rewards

Career Commitment Reward (Hourly Reward and Anniversary Gift)

The Career Commitment Hourly Reward pays you an additional hourly amount based on the number of years you have worked at Atria.

The Career Commitment Anniversary Gift is a special check you’ll receive in the year of your 10th anniversary with Atria and every five years thereafter.

Healthcare Savings Reward (Flexible Spending Account, FSA)

For full-time and qualified part-time employees, Atria Rewards provides a Healthcare FSA Savings Reward in the form of a pre-tax Flexible Spending Account to use for healthcare expenses.

Customer Satisfaction Reward

The Customer Satisfaction Reward pays you a one-time amount (in the form of a VISA gift card) based on your community’s Customer Satisfaction Survey score. You have the opportunity to earn this award twice each year.

Quality Assurance Reward

The Quality Assurance Reward pays you a one-time amount (in the form of a VISA gift card) based on your community’s Quality Assurance score. You have the opportunity to earn this award twice each year.

That’s great news, isn’t it? A few months ago, Atria put its commitment to employees into

action in a major way when we introduced a new program

called Atria Rewards.

The Atria Rewards program recognizes employees for their

commitments in three main areas: years of service, customer satisfaction and

quality assurance.

Want more great news? Atria continues to look for

new ways to reward and recognize your commitments

and dedication.

We want to share some of the enthusiasm surrounding the

launch of Atria Rewards. On the following pages, you will

see and read more about what Atria Rewards means to

you and your co-workers.

Gertrude Gracious (a.k.a. Regional Vice President John

Hartmayer) risked life and limb to cheerfully announce the

arrival of Atria Rewards at Sterling Glen communities.

Seven employees received checks at Atria Campana del Rio

(Tucson, AZ). (The one in the middle must have fainted from

all the excitement.)

There were big smiles and many happy faces at Atria Evergreen Woods (Spring Hill, FL) as 13 employees received their big checks.

ED Karen Garland and Regional Vice President Randy Smith

help congratulate Wanda Jacob at Atria Woodbridge Place

(Kimberton, PA).

Congratulations to the nine long-term employees

who received Anniversary Gift checks at Atria Bell

Court Gardens (Tucson, AZ).

Human Resources Manager Linda Fusaro presented the

good news about Atria Rewards to the group at Sterling

Glen of Bay Shore (Bay Shore, NY).

There wasn’t a contest for “Best Atria Rewards Cake,” but

this one at Atria Bethlehem (Bethlehem, PA) was definitely

one of the prettiest.

Senior Vice President Danny McCoy presented Lorraine

Manuel her $12,000 check at Atria Bell Court Gardens

(Tucson, AZ).

Adrianna Hilleman posed in front of the Atria Rewards

banner at Atria Del Rey (Rancho Cucamonga, CA) with her

Anniversary Gift of $6,000.

Six employees at Atria Huntington (Huntington, NY)

earned $2,000 Atria Rewards Anniversary Gifts.

Brenda Egan and Maryellen Cooney from Atria Lynbrook

(Lynbrook, NY) hold their Anniversary Gift checks

for $2,000.

Employees at Atria Kew Gardens (Kew Gardens, NY) applauded the great news about Atria’s commitment to their careers and their futures.

Atria Hacienda (Palm Desert, CA) celebrated a huge rewards day with 10 employees receiving checks.

The support team at Atria Kennebunk (Kennebunk, ME) set

a festive tone as they prepared for the Atria Rewards rollout.

ATRIA REWARDS FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q: Do hourly rewards apply to my PTO?

A. Yes. Atria will pay the additional Rewards dollars for anything we would normally pay at the hourly rate (PTO, bereavement, holidays, etc...).

Q. Do hourly rewards apply or accrue when I am on some type of leave?

A. Short-term disability benefits are paid based on your base rate of pay, or based on state requirements if you are on a state-mandated program. It does not include the Career Commitment Hourly Reward rate.

Q. What happens if I am on leave when I am due to receive a reward?

A. You will receive the reward upon return. Also, your time on leave will count toward your years of service as it applies to Atria Rewards.

Contact your Executive Director with any questions you have about your Atria Rewards.

Regional Director of Operations Susan Vrbas discusses

Atria Rewards with Mary Griesinger, Resident Services

Assistant at Atria Stony Brook (Louisville, KY).

Barbara Kissane from Atria South Setauket (South

Setauket, NY) celebrated 25 years of service this year and

earned an Anniversary Gift for $22,000.

As Atria Rewards presenters exit the bus, they are greeted

by a enthusiastic crowd at Atria Meridian (Lantana, FL).

Atria Rewards rolled out at Sterling Glen of Rye Brook (Rye Brook, NY) with its very own cheering squad.

Employees at Atria Cranford (Cranford, NJ) hold their

Anniversary Gift checks. There were 17 in all.

At Atria Valley Manor (Tucson, AZ) some big rewards came just in time for the holiday shopping season.

Employees at Atria Valley Manor (Tucson, AZ) viewed

a message from CEO John Moore to begin their Atria

Rewards meeting.

In the last edition of the Branches newsletter, we asked you to count the number of employees’ names appearing in the newsletter. The answer we were looking for was 180 employees.

All employees who submitted 180 were entered into a drawing for a $50 VISA gift card and the winner was TJ Phelan from Atria Virginia Beach. Congratulations, TJ!

TJ Phelan is our latest contest winner.Your next challenge…It’s simple: answer the following questions on an official Branches Contest Entry card, available through your Community Business Director. Return the card to your Community Business Director, who will forward it to Denise Nokes at the Support Center by Monday, February 18. Everyone with the correct answers will be entered into a drawing for a $50 VISA gift card. Here are your questions from this edition of the Branches newsletter:

1. What is the minimum Quality Assurance score a community can receive to win a Q Award?

2. Which Atria Rewards photo features the most check recipients?

3. For what year of service does an Atria employee receive his or her first Atria Rewards Anniversary Gift?

Good Luck!

Atria’s iron chefs compete on Long IslandWe’ve always known that Atria’s Food Service Directors and the cooks in our communities work hard to provide Atria residents with an extraordinary dining experience. And now, we’ve got proof that Atria’s cuisine can rival even the best five-star dining establishments. Atria’s New York City/Long Island Region hosted its own version of the popular Food Network “Iron Chef” television show at the beautiful Loaves and Fishes Cookshop in Garden City, Long Island. The event brought out a panel of celebrity judges, who were blown away by the top-notch food presentations created by Atria’s Food Service Directors.

Eight Food Service Directors from Atria’s New York City/Long Island Region participated in Atria’s version of the “Iron Chef ” competition. The winning team was Patricia LaBarbera from Atria Huntington and David Serica from Atria South Setauket.

Atria’s Food Service Directors created

fabulous dishes and displays to compete in

Atria’s own “Iron Chef”-style competition on Long

Island, New York.

TJ Phelan won a $50 VISA gift card in the

last Branches newsletter contest.