January 06, 2009 12:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time 

Pacific Retirement Services Launches Silverchair Learning System

MEDFORD, Ore.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Pacific Retirement Services, Inc. (PRS), a national leader in the senior living and health care industry (www.retirement.org), announced today that it is launching the Silverchair Learning Management System across its family of retirement communities in five states. Training began in September 2008 at PRS headquarters, seven affiliated Continuing Care Retirement Communities, and two managed retirement communities. The official start date across the PRS system was January 2, 2009.

Though the learning system is most often used to provide recertification training for licensed employees such as Administrators, Certified Medication Aides (CMAs), Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs), and Registered Nurses (RNs), PRS is making the training system available to every employee in all of its retirement communities to enhance their knowledge of aging services.

“Employees in noncertified positions, such as housekeeping, dining, and maintenance, have regular contact with our senior residents. Now they can sit down at a computer and learn about health conditions and safety issues that affect the seniors they serve,” says Debbie Rayburn, Vice President of Health Services for PRS. “Courses such as Understanding Alzheimer’s, Helping Families and Caregivers, Residents’ Rights, Preventing Falls, and Managing Challenging Behaviors can create a new understanding that leads to more compassionate care, attentive service, and supportive teamwork.”

The Silverchair Learning Management System (www.silverchairlearning.com) is an interactive online solution that allows PRS and community management staff to deliver, track, and report on educational programs administered from dedicated computers in all of its retirement communities. During their work day, employees can access a complete curriculum of courses required by CMS (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) and OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration), as well as important resident care topics that support their quality of work every day. PRS can also customize the curriculum to provide company-wide training or cover material specific to a particular retirement community.

“PRS has long been committed to providing quality senior care performed by trained staff in an environment that promotes from within,” says Debbie Rayburn. “As a growing company serving seniors in different states with varying regulations, the Silverchair Learning System is an indispensable management tool that can help us disseminate PRS core standards to employees across our system while supporting their professional growth.”

This is one of the many new technologies that PRS is launching at its retirement communities in its commitment to provide state-of-the-art services to senior residents and staff. For more information about PRS, call 888-724-6424 and visit www.retirement.org.

About Pacific Retirement Services, Inc. (PRS)

As a national not-for-profit leader in the senior living and health care industry, PRS is at the forefront of the retirement revolution, transcending age to serve the actively involved seniors of today and tomorrow. Headquartered in Medford, Oregon, with another office in Memphis, Tennessee, PRS develops, operates, and manages a growing family of 55 organizations, including affiliated Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs), managed retirement communities, affordable senior housing centers, charitable foundations serving PRS residents, and a community services division that funnels volunteers into local communities to support nonprofits and people in need. PRS CCRCs offer independent living, assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing care and rehabilitation. For more information, call 888-724-6424; visit www.retirement.org.

About Silverchair Learning Systems

Silverchair Learning Systems works with senior care leaders who want to improve the training process in their organizations. Silverchair offers a user-friendly online training solution that improves compliance and eliminates record keeping headaches, while saving time and money. We make online training successful with easy set-up, ease of use, simple tracking, and educationally rich yet fun courses. Using this system provides peace of mind and confidence. For more information, visit www.silverchairlearning.com.