THE KIN ON STORY
When the idea of a nursing home to care for non-English speaking Chinese elderly first surfaced in 1985, there were concerns about whether the community would embrace the concept much less support it. Within Asian cultures, it is a strong tradition for families to care for their own. Yet, surveys taken at that time by The Chinese Nursing Home Society (CNHS), the community's newly organized non-profit corporation, revealed an estimated 20-30 Chinese residents were in nursing homes in the Seattle area.
About the same time, a nursing facility was being vacated by the Japanese community as they began to build their new 150-bed facility. On June 28, 1986, a four-year lease was signed and the former Seattle Keiro building became The Kin On Nursing Home. Kin On became the first Chinese nursing home operated by the Chinese community in the nation. The unique program of care at Kin On would feature bilingual professional staff, a predominantly Chinese diet, observing Chinese traditions of respect and dignity, all the while providing a warm and compassionate environment to meet the cultural and health care needs of each resident.
Kin On Nursing Home accepted its first resident on July 23, 1987. The Fund Raising Campaign reached and exceeded its goal of $500,000 in less than two years. For the Chinese community, with limited experience raising large sums, it was an unprecedented accomplishment but more importantly, it was a strong statement of acceptance and support.
By January of 1990 the success of the Kin On program was apparent as the facility filled and a waiting list grew rapidly. The Long Range Planning Committee began to seek out solutions for the future. The second major fund raising campaign was then launched for $2.5 million and the adopted slogan was "Building Our Own".
During the nine years of operations, the Kin On Nursing Home met and exceeded its original goals of delivering high quality care. Kin On has consistently passed every State survey requirement. Kin On was recognized in 1991 by the Washington State Nursing Home Advisory Council for having excellent survey records over the three-year period (1989-1991). In 1992, and 1993, Washington Association of Homes for the Aging gave Kin On their Exceptional Performance Award. In 1995, national recognition was achieved when the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging presented the Hobart Jackson Social Responsibility Award
In September 1996, the new 100-bed Kin On Health Care Center was completed with much celebration in the Seattle Chinese Community. The facility was fully occupied within six months of its opening.
The success of Kin On, however, was not accidental. From the start, Kin On solidly established its role in the community. The members of the Board of Directors, the many energetic, committed volunteers and the highly qualified professional staff of Kin On earned the continuous support of the community.
The Chinese community celebrates the accomplishments of Kin On for it is a clear reflection of a caring community willing to work together for a common goal. Kin On is instrumental in leading the way into a new century of excellence in care programs for the elderly of our community.