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The Journal on Active Aging brings articles of value to professionals dedicated to older-adult quality of life. Content sweeps across the active-aging landscape to focus on education and practice. Find articles of interest by searching the article archives in three ways: Enter a keyword in the articles search bar; click on search by topic; or type a keyword or phrase in the general search bar at the top of the page.
Topic- Innovator awards
HUR Health and Fitness Equipment offers a "Smart" solution for active aging
When CEO Colin Milner founded the International Council on Active Aging (ICAA) in 2001, he aimed to connect like-minded organizations and professionals across sectors to form an industry dedicated to better health, wellness and quality of life for older adults. Among the active-aging industry’s natural allies were providers of products and services. At that time, however, health and wellness solutions—so vital to advancing active aging—were too often nonexistent for this market or a poor fit to address its diverse needs and aspirations. To encourage providers to learn more about the age 50-plus population and to evolve in their thinking and offerings, ICAA launched an award to recognize creative products and services for the active older adult. The most recent recipient of ICAA’s Innovative Solutions Award is HUR Health and Fitness Equipment’s Smart Card System, integrated with HUR strength machines and iBalance Testing Systems.
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Brookdale's Ageless Spirit initiative supports spiritual wellness in later life
Established in 1978, Brookdale Senior Living ... “is committed to providing an exceptional living experience,” comments Public Relations Manager Andrea Turner. Optimum Life®, Brookdale’s philosophy of well-being, “establishes the foundation for a positive aging experience by supporting the whole-person wellness of residents and associates through six key dimensions,” Turner says. “Each year, the Optimum Life team identifies one dimension of wellness as the foundation for developing an annual wellness theme,” states Carol Cummings, BSN, RN, CHWC, director of Optimum Life development. “As part of the theme, a campaign is launched that includes educational and health promotion programs developed to enrich the lives of residents and associates and further position Brookdale as a leader in senior health and wellness. The most recent program, The Ageless Spirit, focuses on the spiritual wellness dimension.”
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Seven active-aging innovators win ICAA awards
In 2003, the International Council on Active Aging® (ICAA) launched an awards program to reward creativity and excellence in the active-aging industry—and to encourage continual efforts to advance it. As an association that leads, connects and defines the industry, ICAA sets out every year to recognize those that are leading the way, setting new standards, and making a difference in the lives of older adults. The association’s 2012 Innovators Awards spotlights seven worthy recipients in three award categories.
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Atria's Culinary Educational Series provides a recipe for wellness
Organizations that promote active aging strive to nurture wellness in older adults with programs, services and environments to support this outcome. The word nurture, interestingly enough, comes from a Latin word that means “to nourish”—the same word from which the word nutrition also derives. Food, a foundation of good health, fuels both body and soul. Eating together is a vital part of our rituals and traditions, while preparing food is an elemental way in which we show love and hospitality to others. Atria Senior Living professionals recently highlighted these points in their presentation at the ICAA Conference 2012. “The need for nourishment and the need for other people are universal,” stressed Ronda Watson, RD, Atria’s senior vice president of culinary service and engage life, and Cynthia Lilly, MSW, the company’s national life guidance program director, agreed. The pair also described efforts to team programming and culinary services to enhance wellness for Atria residents. One example was the Culinary Educational Series at Atria Campana del Rio, a community that provides independent living, assisted living and memory care services to 225 older adults in Tucson, Arizona.
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Valle Verde Retirement Community wins inaugural ICAA Green Award
Valle Verde Retirement Community, located in Santa Barbara, California, is the winner of the first-ever ICAA Green Award, a new category in the International Council on Active Aging®’s Innovators Awards program. The Green Award, which was conferred in November, specifically recognizes organizations that encourage environmental stewardship by creating and/or implementing eco-friendly products, services, processes, designs or programs in their settings.
An American Baptist Homes of the West continuing care retirement community (CCRC), Valle Verde (www.valleverdesb.com ) has made changes that are resulting in reduced electricity use, decreased waste and increased recycling. The nonprofit community is also generating solar electricity, using reclaimed water and buying food from local farmers. A measure of its success are utility cost savings that average more than $210,000 annually.
Innovator awards
Somerby Tail-Wagger Treats: Generations bake together to make a difference
Birmingham-based Somerby Senior Living offers seniors housing and retirement living communities in Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina—along with something more. “We call it ‘The Somerby Spark,’” says Executive Vice President Stovall Kendrick. By that, Kendrick explains, “we mean the attitude and approach that allows residents and staff to lead a more fulfilling life.” To ignite this “Spark,” Somerby communities strive to create an environment that frees individuals to pursue whatever lifts their spirits and makes them happy, states the company’s website.
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