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Many people view long-term care facilities as stagnant, boring places. This is so far from the truth! While researching for my blog, I’m discovering an astounding number of unique and creative programs that enrich the lives of residents.
Today let’s look at 4 facilities that have won awards from the International Council on Active Aging. These awards honor organizations that show excellence and creativity in designing programs for older adults.
I’ve included a link to each facility. This allows you to contact them directly for more information.
Wellness Scouts
Sunnyside Retirement Community in Virginia offers residents the opportunity to earn badges and prizes for participating in wellness activities. At least one new badge is introduced each month, and they represent a variety of wellness dimensions: physical, intellectual, social, environmental, vocational, spiritual, emotional, nutrition, music, technology, nature lover, and art.
As an example, during one month residents could work on their physical wellness badge by completing the following activities:
- Attend a chair yoga class
- Complete fitness testing
- Go on an outing to a farm
- Take part in an exercise equipment orientation
- Attend a class on back health and safety
Residents serve as scout leaders, organizing and implementing the badge activities. This gives residents a renewed sense of purpose as they share their knowledge and skills with others.
Techy Teens, Savvy Seniors
This program at Green Hills Community in Ohio began as a way for teens to mentor seniors in the use of technology. However, it developed into so much more.
Today, teens continue to teach seniors how to use laptops, smartphones, tablets, and email. Also, they’ve expanded to creating YouTube videos and holding competitions on social media.
As relationships formed between the teens and seniors, this led to social activities such as pizza parties, as well as residents attending basketball games and high school graduations. You can see one group having fun together in this YouTube video!
Good Samaritan Outreach
Residents and staff at Atria Senior Living in California make a positive difference in their community through an impressive array of volunteer activities. Past activities include:
- Preparing sack lunches for the homeless
- Building dollhouses for a children’s home
- Collecting items for victims of wildfires
- Sewing, knitting, and crocheting items for local hospitals
The project provides residents with positive social interactions, a sense of purpose, and the joy of helping others.
Earth-friendly Endeavors
Environmental stewardship is a core value at Wake Robin Lifecare Community in Vermont. This means educating residents and staff to view stewardship as a way of life, not simply one of many programs.
These are just a few of their many endeavors:
- Using ladybugs as natural pest control on the lawns and gardens
- Taking part in a solar energy program
- Maintaining a beekeeping operation
- Encouraging ridesharing among employees
- Creating compost for use on resident gardens
- Using local food sources whenever possible
The success of the Earth-friendly Endeavors comes from education, teamwork, and creativity. Benefits include a healthier, more beautiful, and sustainable community.
I hope you’ll check back next month when I’ll feature even more ICAA Award winners!
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