Dr. Evan Calkins Meritorious Service Award
2011 Recipient - Robert M. Chur, President and Chief Executive Officer of ElderWood Senior Care
Robert M. Chur began his history of service to the elderly assisting his parents in the operation of their family-owned nursing home. In 1978, Mr. Chur and his wife, Carol, opened Heathwood Health Care Center, the first ElderWood Senior Care residence.
Mr. Chur founded ElderWood on the principles of teamwork, integrity, a passion for excellence and a reverence for the individual. These “core values” continue to be emphasized at every level of the corporation: They are at the heart of ElderWood’s commitment to offering care without compromise.
Over the years, Mr. Chur has orchestrated ElderWood’s growth to meet the changing needs in health care and the diverse care needs of the community. ElderWood was among the first health care service providers to offer short-term subacute care and rehabilitation outside of the hospital environment. ElderWood’s first assisted living residence opened in 1996, in response to a growing need for less restrictive care. Independent living communities opened in 2005, in Cheektowaga, and 2007, in Wheatfield, further expanding the range of services available to local seniors and rounding out ElderWood’s continuum of care.
Mr. Chur’s involvement with community, regional and national advocacy groups also helped shape the nature of health care services in the region and state. His record of service to the community and the health care industry includes involvement in dozens of organizations. Most notably, Mr. Chur is a past president of the WNY district chapter of the New York State Health Facilities Association and has also served as chairman and a member of the Board of Directors for the statewide organization. He has served on the boards of the American Health Care Association, Visiting Nurses Association, Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital, Kaleida Health Foundation, Daemen College, Salvation Army and several local colleges.
Mr. Chur’s efforts toward continual improvement of elder care have led ElderWood to seek ever-higher standards of quality. Under his leadership, nine skilled ElderWood facilities and five assisted living residences have earned the American Health Care Association (AHCA) Bronze and Silver Awards for Quality. In addition, two ElderWood facilities are the only two in the state to earn Gold Awards, the AHCA’s highest honor.
Mr. Chur is a 2004 recipient of the Business First Health Care Hero for Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2009, he was presented the Business Ethics Award from the Buffalo Chapter of the Society of Financial Service Professionals, and in 2010, he received the Reflections Award from Trocaire College.