For those that have not yet seen this, I give you the 2010 AAHSA Annual Meeting movie trailer…
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Tags: AAHSA, Annual meeting, Larry Minnix, Los Angeles, movie, trailer, Win Marshall
When you think about senior wellness, what comes to mind? Fitness machines and chair exercises? Water aerobics? This year’s Annual Meeting featured a preconference program, Beyond Fitness: A Holistic Approach to Well-Being, where the presenters shared practical information about the full spectrum of wellness in aging services, focusing on the seven dimensions of wellness: spiritual, intellectual, social, environmental, emotional, vocational and physical.
The highlight of the session, a dance troupe, known as the K-B Adorables and Men in Black, aged 60-92, from King-Bruwaert Community in Burr Ridge, Ill., sang, danced and charmed the audience by demonstrating their exceptional commitment to improving and maintaining their health through performance.
The troupe is a testament to the state of health and total wellness possible with regular exercise, movement, song, dance, playfulness and fun. The group’s performance enlightened the more than 50 professionals in attendance who came to deepen their understanding of wellness and how to design and develop a comprehensive wellness program.
After the dancers demonstrated the benefits of integrating all seven dimensions of wellness, the other presenter’s shared important information about how the physical environment, lighting, sound, programming, and staffing can be coordinated to provide an enriching, holistic experience.
The presentation team provided excellent content and exercises that engaged the mind, body and spirit of everyone in the room. A highlight of the day was a guided imagery exercise to help the participants experience the benefits of total relaxation. The program also featured a segment with exercises designed to engage the mind and body in solving challenging brainteasers and puzzles.
At the end of the day, participants shared their impressions and what they learned to help them reinvigorate and expand wellness initiatives in their own communities. But, by far, the greatest impression was made by the K-B Adorables and Men in Black, who demonstrated the true benefits of engagement in wellness activities on mind, body and spirit.
So, food for thought: Does your wellness plan include the seven dimensions of wellness? How can you work to offer a fully integrated, holistic approach to wellness?
For more wellness conversation, please consider joining AAHSA’s Wellness Listerv.
Tags: AAHSA, aging, Annual meeting, dance, elderly, plan, wellness
As part of the 2009 AAHSA Annual Meeting, the Hiring Heroes Luncheon brought together military veterans and human resources workers to discuss the possibilities and challenges veterans face as they enter the workforce.
Hiring Heroes USA is a nationwide organization based out of Alpharetta, Ga., that helps veterans make the transition to civilian life. To date, Hiring Heroes has provided over 200 veterans of all branches of the Armed Forces with jobs across the country.
The veterans of Hire Heroes USA
Justin Callahan, Hiring Heroes’ veteran relations manager, emphasized the unique skills veterans bring to the workforce, such as management experience, leadership training, and adaptability to change. However, one of the biggest challenges veterans face, he explained, is the need to “civilianize” their skills. Many in attendance at the luncheon agreed, including Dennis Eibe, a veteran himself, and vice president of corporate compliance for Wesley Homes, a nonprofit organization that provides care for seniors in the Puget Sound region of Washington state.
“Not many HR people understand the military perspective or skill set,” Eibe said, “[But] what organization other than the military provides direct, hands-on training in leadership and management?”
Both Eibe and fellow vet David Decker, board chair with Southern California Presbyterian Homes, reinforced the specific benefits a military background can bring to aging-services organizations. Decker asserted that a veteran has experience in management and a commitment to service of others, both of which are vital for many positions in long-term care and care for seniors.
Doris Hoffman, lifestyles coordinator for Chicagoland Christian Homes Inc., summed up the spirit of the luncheon:
“There is so much these heroes can do, with our organization and others like it.”
Tags: AAHSA, Annual meeting, Chicago, Hire Heroes USA, veterans, workforce
For those venturing to Chicago for the 2009 AAHSA Annual Meeting, you’re in for another year of great events. Last Designer Standing, one of our biggest hits from the 2008 meeting, is returning for its second year with interior design students from Harrington College of Design.
Two teams will go head-to-head over a period of 48 hours to create their interpretations of a local skilled nursing facility resident’s dream room. Each team will have a budget of $2,000.
All work will be done right on the exposition floor in the McCormick Place, starting Monday, Nov. 9, at Noon and continues until the winner is announced on Nov. 11 at 3 p.m.
Prior to the competition, the 15 Harrington student spent four months learning about design elements of senior living. Working in teams of two, they created a room designed to incorporate functionality with personal elements requested by the chosen resident.
Seven teams submitted their room designs, taking inspiration from the “Cornucopia,” Mies van der Rohe’s 1929 Barcelona Pavilion, and the circle of life, to name a few. The designs were juried and ultimately two designs were chosen. The other teams will assist with building the winning designs. That said, all the designs submitted will be on display during the challenge.
Here are the 7 submissions:
Aaron Gilbert and Daniel Harper
Jessica Riddle and Neelima McGibbon
Matthew McGrane and Ava St. Claire
Edward Kucic III and Kristen Penfold
Jennifer Lea and Leslie Bowman
Kate Harms and Valarie Sanchez
Rhonda Johnson and Diana Rizko
Tags: AAHSA, Annual meeting, Chicago, Harrington College of Design, Last Designer Standing
Sharon Sullivan talks with designers of the AAHSA House
Yesterday, I learned what it takes to design, build, dismantle and move a house. The answer: dramatic attention to detail.
Several of us traveled to Atlanta to visit the AAHSA House, which is under construction for our Annual Meeting and Exposition in Chicago, Nov. 8-11. The house is just incredible to see. It has large, spacious rooms with elements to help an elder or person with disabilities live comfortably and independently. It was incredible to watch the construction workers in a vast warehouse attach custom-made modular walls in minutes to create the guest or caregiver’s bedroom while we toured. As we walked, we learned where the different technologies will be displayed throughout the house.
But what struck me so strongly as I walked around was the intersection of bold vision and tiny detail. Margaret Wanca-Daniels, our director of sales, has been working daily if not hourly with THW Design, the architects, and Freeman, the convention construction company, to coordinate delivery of cabinets, furniture, bedding, televisions, lighting and flooring that various vendors will exhibit in the house.
Eric Krull and his team from THW have revised plans numerous times to accommodate the need for the house to be portable for shipping, yet always reflect the vision of a place that integrates universal design, sustainability and a commitment to facilitating a meaningful existence for individuals who might live in a house like this.
I am sure that AAHSA members attending the Annual Meeting will be awed by the sheer scope and beauty of the AAHSA House. But I hope they will also notice the enormous number of details that can make such a difference for an elder. Most of the technology and furnishings that will be in the AAHSA House are currently available. They can be integrated into a residential facility like a nursing home or retirement community.
The AAHSA House represents how aging services providers, architects, business firms and AAHSA create the future of aging services everyday. It is not too late to exhibit and it is certainly not too late to register to attend.
Tags: AAHSA, Annual meeting, Lauren Shaham, technology, THW
Tootsie Rolls
For Emma Jones, Tootsie Rolls aren’t just candy. They are a lifelong passion. This Chicago native, now a resident at a Providence Life Services nursing home, had a 30-year career promoting her favorite candy. She worked on promotions with Ernie Banks and Stan Musial and help coordinate an air drop of the treat to soldiers in Korea. She said it was like “leaving family” when she retired.
Tootsie Roll Industries didn’t forget about Emma either. When Emma was hospitalized soon after her retirement, the company sent Tootsie Rolls to all the nurses who cared for her. And when she moved into the nursing home, they sent even more of the treats for staff and residents to enjoy… although Emma admits,“I ate just as many as anyone else!”
Tags: AAHSA, Annual meeting, candy, Chicago, long-term care, nursing home, Providence Life Services, Sarah Mashburn, Tootsie Pops, Tootsie Rolls
Construction nearing completion on AAHSA House
What is sure to be the most exciting attraction at the AAHSA Annual Meeting in Chicago is almost complete. The 2,600 square foot AAHSA House is filled with creative ideas and is a walk-through example of how AAHSA members can and do improve the aging experience.
Here’s what has been going on with it’s construction since I last checked in with you. The siding is now on the exterior walls, the roofs are built, arbor is completed, the majority of the overhead beams and columns are laminated, the shower and toilet are in place. The chimney and fireplace are also completed.
What’s left to do?
This week we will be installing the cabinets, counter tops, sinks and faucets in the kitchen and bathroom. The outside siding will be stained and inside of the house completely painted.
By the end of next week, we will be dismantling and crating it as it travels on several tractor trailer trucks to Chicago. The house that took six months to conceive and build will go up in 48 hours on the AAHSA exhibit floor of McCormick Place/Lakeside Center in time for the AAHSA Annual Meeting’s grand opening on Sunday, Nov. 8, 2009.
We will be heading to Atlanta to tour the finished house next week and I will have some new photos to share. Until then, if your having trouble finding a hotel in Chicago we’ll have a couple bedrooms open in the AAHSA House!
Tags: AAHSA annual meeting, AAHSA House, aging services, Annual meeting, Chicago, Sharon Sullivan, technology
A worker helps build the AAHSA House in Atlanta. It will be disassembled and moved to Chicago for the Annual Meeting & Exposition.
The home building industry is alive and well at AAHSA, as we’ve started official construction on the 2,600 square foot AAHSA House. This home of the future will be on display during AAHSA’s Annual Meeting and Exposition, November 8-11, 2009, at McCormick Place in Chicago.
For cost efficiency reasons, the house is being constructed in Atlanta and completely finished out from molding, counter tops, toilets, sinks…the works. Then it will be disassembled, a la a modular home, crated and shipped in three tractor trailer trucks to Chicago where it will be re-assembled more quickly just outside the entrance of the AAHSA Exhibit Hall. AAHSA members will have the opportunity to tour the what can best be described as the “ultimate great idea house” all week long. This is a project we hope to continue in future years, and continue to make it more exciting an innovative as we feature new products and ideas.
We’ll keep readers posted as to the progress of construction and interesting elements to be displayed. We’ve also posted a brief animation out the AAHSA House on YouTube. We look forward to showing our stuff in Chicago.
Tags: AAHSA, Annual meeting, housing, technology
AAHSA on Twitter
- I uploaded a YouTube video -- HCBS Report August 2010 http://youtu.be/SwUzkVc8AVA?a
- New AAHSA blog post: D.C. Mayoral Candidates Reach Out to Seniors http://bit.ly/9palJw
- I uploaded a YouTube video -- Senate Aging Committee Hearing on CCRCs http://youtu.be/OdH71MqrE_M?a
- New AAHSA blog post: Jim Klobuchar: A Chaotic Search for Progress http://bit.ly/9ZB1O0
- New AAHSA blog post: It IS a small world... http://bit.ly/caDhXU
- I subscribed to ageiowa's channel on YouTube. http://www.youtube.com/user/ageiowa?feature=autoshare
- I subscribed to AgingServicesMN's channel on YouTube. http://www.youtube.com/user/AgingServicesMN?feature=autoshare
- I subscribed to ecumenguy's channel on YouTube. http://www.youtube.com/user/ecumenguy?feature=autoshare
- I subscribed to AgingServicesCA's channel on YouTube. http://www.youtube.com/user/AgingServicesCA?feature=autoshare
- I liked a YouTube video -- Long-Term Care Financing Solutions - Panels 1 and 2 http://youtu.be/NY93ZJsbd40?a
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