Morrison Senior Living’s Travel the World program wins 2014 ICAA Innovators Practical Solutions Award

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Association honors program series that offered a culinary journey to residents of senior living communities

(VANCOUVER, BC)—The International Council on Active Aging® (ICAA), a professional association that leads, connects and defines the active-aging industry, has selected the Travel the World program created by Morrison Senior Living as the recipient of the 2014 ICAA Innovators Practical Solutions Award. ICAA presents its annual Innovators Awards to those that are leading the way in active aging, setting new standards, and making a difference in the lives of older adults. The Practical Solutions Award recognizes creative products or services for active older adults. Offerings may target any or all of the seven wellness dimensions endorsed by ICAA—emotional, vocational, physical, spiritual, environmental, social and intellectual wellness.

Atlanta-based Morrison Senior Living, a member of Compass Group®, is dedicated to providing food, nutrition and hospitality services to the senior living industry. The company’s Travel the World dining event program took residents in client communities on a culinary journey, showcasing a different country and its native foods each month. From music and costumes to activities, the program’s high-touch, versatile components engaged diners in these experiences. For example, residents each received a Travel the World “passport.” To mark the journey, they could collect up to 12 passport stamps in their passports throughout the year—and enter to win a special Captain’s dinner.

“Since 2005, ICAA has presented an Innovators award to highlight products and services that move the active-aging industry forward,” states Colin Milner, the association’s founder and CEO. “Organizations depend on innovative products and services to help them create wellness programs and environments that meet the diverse needs, abilities and expectations of today’s older adults. By offering these products and services, providers contribute to advancing the industry.” In 2014, ICAA is recognizing Morrison’s Travel the World program, the twelfth offering awarded in this category. “Travel the World takes dining—a commonplace event in senior living—and creatively turns it into an experience that engages and stimulates participants in multiple ways,” Milner observes. “On behalf of ICAA, I congratulate Morrison Senior Living for this dining event program.”

“We are honored to be recognized with ICAA’s Innovators Achievement Award,” comments Regan Medzhibzher, Morrison’s director of marketing. “Our purpose at Morrison Senior Living is to enrich the lives of seniors every day. Our Travel the World dining event program is a true testament to this purpose as it was designed to stimulate all senses, including travel and taste memories for residents. Our residents, associates and communities experienced a tour around the world, complete with global menu offerings, music, dancing, interior décor, activities, education and more,” Medzhibzher says. “We are extremely excited to continue the momentum that the Travel the World program provided in enhancing resident satisfaction and the overall community experience and continuing to deliver on our commitment as a long-term partner for success.”

As a 2014 ICAA Innovator, Morrison will receive a crystal award of recognition for Travel the World at this year’s ICAA Conference, November 13–15, in Orlando, Florida. A company representative will also receive a free pass to the event. In addition, a profile of the award-winning dining event program will appear in ICAA’s flagship publication, the Journal on Active Aging®, in 2014.

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About the ICAA Innovators Awards program
Website: www.icaa.cc/awards.htm
The ICAA Innovators Awards honor those in the active-aging industry that are leading the way, setting new standards and making a difference in the lives of older adults. Established in 2003, this awards program showcases excellence and creativity in three categories: ICAA Innovators Achievement Award, for programs and concepts that advance active aging; ICAA Innovators Practical Solutions Award, for creative products and services for active older adults; and ICAA Innovators Green Award, for environmental wellness efforts. By recognizing cutting-edge programs, products and environments as well as those who developed them, ICAA highlights wellness solutions for industry leaders and governmental organizations to consider.

About the International Council on Active Aging (ICAA)
ICAA, an association that leads, connects and defines the active-aging industry, supports professionals who develop wellness facilities, programs and services for adults over 50. The association is focused on active aging, an approach to aging that helps older adults live as fully as possible within all dimensions of wellness; and provides its members with education, information, resources and tools. As an active-aging educator and advocate, ICAA has advised numerous organizations and governmental bodies. These include the US Administration on Aging, the National Institute on Aging (one of the US National Institutes of Health), the US Department of Health and Human Services, Canada's Special Senate Committee on Aging, and the British Columbia ministries of Health, and Healthy Living and Sport, among others.

About Morrison Senior Living
Website: www.morrisonseniorliving.com
Morrison Senior Living, a member of Compass Group®, is America’s only company exclusively dedicated to providing food, nutrition and hospitality services to the senior living industry. Morrison has over 150 registered dietitians, 200 executive chefs, 400 hospitality associates and 7,000 professional food service team members. Actively committed to fostering ways to enjoy great-tasting, healthy food through socially responsible practices and superior customer service, the Atlanta-based company serves more than 450 senior living clients in 41 states, including some of the largest and most prominent senior living communities in the United States.

For interviews or more information about ICAA, the ICAA Innovators Awards program or aging-related issues, contact:

Colin Milner, CEO, International Council on Active Aging
Toll-free: 1-866-335-9777 (North America only)
Telephone: 604-734-4466; cell: 604-763-4595
E-mail: colinmilner@icaa.cc

For interviews or more information about Morrison Senior Living or Travel the World, contact:

Regan Medzhibzher, Director of Marketing, Morrison Senior Living
Telephone: 404-845-3369
Email: reganmedzhibzher@iammorrison.com