SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 52

	WHEREAS, Peggy Howland, the administrator for Cartmell 
Home for Aged in Palestine, has made significant contributions
to the improvement of elderly care in the Lone Star State with
her role in creating an important new feeding assistant program 
for nursing home residents; and
	WHEREAS, The feeding assistant program was designed to 
allow trained volunteers or paid employees, including members of
the public, volunteers, retirees, and auxiliary staff, to help 
with mealtimes at the Cartmell Home, freeing certified nursing 
assistants to have more time for direct patient care; and
	WHEREAS, Conceived by Ms. Howland, the program benefited 
from the input of two registered nurses at Cartmell who wrote
the first training curriculum as well as from collaboration with 
the faculty of the School of Nursing at The University of Texas at
Tyler and recommendations from the Texas Department of Human 
Services Region 4 staff in Tyler; and
	WHEREAS, An exemplary model for all nursing home 
facilities, the Cartmell Home's program quickly attracted the 
attention of other professional groups in the Lone Star State, 
including the Texas Healthcare Association and the Texas 
Association of Homes and Services for the Aging; licensed for
use in nursing home facilities throughout this state, this 
outstanding program found further support at the federal level, 
and in late 2003 the United States Congress approved the program 
to be used in other states; and

	WHEREAS, Ms. Howland has demonstrated innovation and 
dedication to help improve the quality of life for our senior 
citizens, and this admirable achievement will surely inspire 
many to become involved in this and other worthwhile programs 
designed to benefit the elderly; now, therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas,
79th Legislature, hereby honor Peggy Howland for the creation of
the feeding assistant program at the Cartmell Home for Aged and 
extend to her sincere best wishes for continued success with her 
important work; and, be it further
	RESOLVED, That an official copy of this Resolution be 
prepared for Ms. Howland as an expression of high regard by the 
Texas Senate.
                                                                         Staples




________________________________ 
    President of the Senate
 
    I hereby certify that the 
above Resolution was adopted by 
the Senate on January 31, 2005.



________________________________ 
    Secretary of the Senate



________________________________ 
     Member, Texas Senate