Homewood, IL -- (ReleaseWire) -- 05/09/2007 -- Offering independent and assisted living, skilled nursing and Alzheimer's care, Franciscan Communities was recently ranked as the 6th fastest growing senior health and housing system in the nation in 2005 by Ziegler Capital Markets Group, which monitors the senior living industry. This ranking comes against the nation's largest multi-state senior service systems.

With the addition of 209 units in 2005, Franciscan Communities experienced a more than 9 percent aggregate growth, which is calculated by dividing the units added over the time period by the original number of units at the beginning of the time period. Also, from the time period of 1990 to 2005, Franciscan Communities was ranked as the 7th fastest growing multi-state system in the country.

Stephen J. Bardoczi, senior vice president of growth and development for the Franciscan Sisters of Chicago Service Corporation (FSCSC), said the direction of the organization is in response to a senior population that is on the rise. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Administration on Aging, the older population will more than double to about 71.5 million by the year 2030.

"Our new developments and possible future projects will better position us to handle the demands of a growing senior population," Bardoczi said. "Also, our growth means more seniors can experience the fullness of life because they will benefit from our approach to providing care and service that has the mission and values of the Franciscan Sisters of Chicago serving as its foundation."

Leonard A. Wychocki, president and CEO for FSCSC, said the growth of the organization is in response to the changing landscape of senior living with more people moving into continuing care retirement communities seeking security and desiring suitable options to support their lifestyle and retirement goals.

"As older adults continue to move into senior living communities, our industry will need to be flexible to meet the diverse needs of this large population,"

Wychocki said. "We are confident our portfolio of services, coupled with our commitment to hospitality and the Sister's mission, will enable us to remain flexible in meeting people's needs in a very competitive marketplace."

The Franciscan Sisters of Chicago were established in 1894 when Josephine Dudzik – later known as Mother Mary Theresa – a young Polish immigrant, came to Chicago and was moved to action by the great need she saw among the city's aged, infirm and poor. Franciscan Communities is a division of FSCSC, which is sponsored by the Franciscan Sisters of Chicago, and currently operates 15 senior living communities in Indiana, Kentucky, Texas, Ohio and Illinois. Franciscan Communities also provides home and community-based health services in Indiana and a shelter for women and their children who are survivors of domestic violence in Indiana.

Contact: Kevin Rose - (708) 647-3184

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Homewood, IL -- (ReleaseWire) -- 05/09/2007 -- For the second year in a row, The Franciscan Sisters of Chicago Service Corporation (FSCSC) named Marian Village in Homer Glen the Legacy Award winner for its high level of achievement to FSCSC's performance standards.

Marian Village exceeded targets in the areas of resident and employee satisfaction, financial performance, quality of care and support for staff development culminating with the winning of the legacy award.

Marian Village Executive Director Daniel Bannon gives all the credit to his associates for helping Marian Village achieve the highest level of operational success, while never wavering from the main reason they come to work everyday.

"This award is a testament to the staff's ability to deliver quality services here at Marian Village," Bannon said. "Our associates have an excellent understanding of the need for solid financial performance, but at the same time they never lose sight of the importance of working together to achieve the ultimate goal of keeping our residents happy."

The Legacy award gives FSCSC the opportunity to celebrate the achievements of its communities in embracing the Franciscan values and mission and integrating them into the very essence of how senior services are delivered.

"I think it is fantastic that they won this award again," said Bob May, who has lived at Marian Village for 17 months. "It is a tribute to the great staff they have in place here. People really go out of their way to make you feel at home and it is obvious the associates enjoy working here."

Also, St. Anthony Home in Crown Point, Ind. received an honorable mention for the promotion of staff development and quality of care, while St. Elizabeth Healthcare Center in Delphi, Ind. and St. Mary of the Woods in Avon, Ohio received honorable mentions for resident satisfaction and associate satisfaction, respectively.

Offering garden homes and independent living and assisted living apartments, Marian Village is sponsored by the Franciscan Sisters of Chicago and is a member of the Franciscan Communities family, which includes Franciscan Village in Lemont, Addolorata Villa in Wheeling, St. James Manor and Villas in Crete, St. Joseph Village of Chicago and The Clare at Water Tower, both in Chicago, The Village at Victory Lakes in Lindenhurst and St. Anthony Home in Crown Point, Ind.

Franciscan Communities also provides home and community-based health services in Indiana and a shelter for women and their children who are survivors of domestic violence in Indiana. Franciscan Communities was ranked as the 6th fastest growing senior health and housing system in the nation in 2005.

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