Local Senior Community Honored By Visit From First Female Ambassador of Finland to the U.S.

Dec. 4, 2012 - PRLog -- Her Excellency, Ritva Koukku-Ronde, The Ambassador of Finland to the U.S., recently made a personal trip to visit the residents and staff of The Village on High Ridge, an assisted living and skilled nursing care community. The community, formerly known as The Finnish-American Rest Home and Nursing Home, has a large Finnish population and recognizes the values, heritage and traditions of Finns.

“It was an incredible honor to welcome Ambassador Koukku-Ronde to The Village on High Ridge,” said John Morris, executive director. “Although we are a community open to all ethnicities and faiths, we have many residents of Finnish descent, and it was a one-of-a-kind experience being able to speak with the Ambassador and show her our community.”

During her visit, the Ambassador toured the recently renovated community, spoke with residents and staff members, and paid her respects to other Finnish citizens of the area.

Ambassador Koukku-Ronde assumed her position as the first female Ambassador of Finland to the U.S. on September 9, 2011. She has worked in various positions in the Ministry for Foreign Affairs for almost three decades, most recently serving as undersecretary of state, director-general of the Department for Development Policy, and deputy director-general of the Department for European Affairs. In her role as Ambassador, she focuses on the relationship between Finland and the U.S. in the areas of economy, education, security, environment, high technology and culture, among others.

For further information, email Page Stafford at pstafford@fortepr.com or call (214) 890-7912 ext. 26.

ABOUT THE VILLAGE ON HIGH RIDGE

The Village on High Ridge, formerly known as The Finnish-American Rest Home and Nursing Home, is an assisted living and skilled nursing care community with a proud tradition of quality, compassionate service devoted to the individual.  Open to those of all ethnicities, faiths and beliefs, The Village on High Ridge continues to grow and expand to meet the needs of older adults and their families in Lake Worth, Lantana and surrounding towns.  In addition, because The Village on High Ridge is a not-for-profit community served by many generous volunteers, assisted living is an affordable option offering true value and peace of mind.  

The roots of The Village on High Ridge date back to the 1960s when a group of Finnish-Americans in south Florida determined the need for a care center for Finnish seniors and their families.  The early Finnish-American Rest Home provided quality assisted living respecting the values, heritage and traditions of Finns.  Soon, the Rest Home expanded to include a skilled nursing center available to seniors of all ethnicities, faiths and beliefs and in 1979, The Finnish-American Nursing Home opened.  

The Village on High Ridge, located at 1800 South Drive in Lantana, enjoys a beautiful and comfortable location in the quaint and closely-knit town of Lantana.  Boasting an extraordinary climate and landscape, Lantana has retained an “old-Florida flavor” in culture and character and hosts a distinctively historic and eclectic downtown.  The Village on High Ridge is also convenient to a wide array of retail services, restaurants, outstanding shopping, places of worship and medical facilities.  

For further information, call (561) 588-4333, or visit www.villageonhighridge.com.

ABOUT RIVERWOOD RETIREMENT MANAGEMENT

Established in 1993, Riverwood Retirement Management, Inc. (RMI) of Orange City, Florida, specializes in a full range of management, consulting and support services for residential, assisted living and continuing care retirement communities.  RMI’s principal management team brings more than 100 years of combined experience to the oversight of senior residential apartments, assisted living and other long-term care operations.  For more information, call (386) 774-8878, or visit www.riverwoodmgmt.com.