Team Members of Liberty Senior Living Gain Information and Inspiration at National Active-Aging Conference
Twenty-five members of Liberty Senior Living’s independent living wellness and life enrichment teams returned bursting with ideas for new programs to offer residents in their own home communities after attending a conference hosted by the International Council on Aging (ICAA). The organization is dedicated to providing education, information, resources, tools, inspiration and leadership to the active-aging industry.
“They came back with ideas to instill in their own communities and in their programs,” says Haley Kinne-Norris, wellness and enrichment coordinator for Liberty Senior Living in Wilmington, North Carolina.
Liberty Senior Living Committed to Wellness and Enrichment Programming
Sending their team members to a premier health conference is one of many signs of Liberty Senior Living’s deep commitment to promoting health and wellness programs for residents throughout their communities. Liberty’s INSPIRE program focuses on ensuring all residents have access to programs that are Inclusive, Nutritional, Spiritual, Physical, Intellectual, Recreational and Engaging. These are the elements for which INSPIRE stands and are all aspects of helping older adults maintain their wellbeing. Ensuring that their professionals are equipped with the latest knowledge and research regarding healthy aging is part of Liberty’s overall mission of helping their residents stay as functional and independent as possible.
From yoga to tai chi to water aerobics, Liberty Senior Living communities offer residents a wide range of programs and provide them with state-of-the-art facilities and equipment. Instructors are trained and certified in various disciplines and can help create programs that residents will enjoy and be successful in.
With many different sessions and much to learn during the conference in Raleigh, North Carolina, attendees were kept busy and engaged. For instance, the importance of the link between high-intensity exercise and brain health was one area of study that Liberty staff learned about. The staff has been integrating this information into their fitness offerings.
Team members became certified in Zumba, a Latin-inspired dance and fitness program they brought back to their communities. “It’s a high-intensity dance class, and it’s a lot of fun,” says Kinne-Norris.
Liberty Senior Living Team Member Presented
In addition to attending the conference, Kinne-Norris also gave two presentations.
One was about the importance of offering internships to young people in various fields of study within senior living. Ensuring young people are aware of the many opportunities the industry provides; benefits them and ultimately the older populations they serve.
“Having that intergenerational interaction is important for older residents who enjoy having that connection with younger people—sharing with them their life stories and learning from them about their lives –what they are doing in school, or their families,” says Kinne-Norris.
Their other presentation was about ensuring that programming at senior living communities is inclusive and welcoming, regardless of their religion, culture or sexual orientation.
Kinne-Norris talked about Liberty Senior Living‘s welcoming environment for all. This has been ensured by helping staff to understand the importance of respect for diverse backgrounds, interests, and life stories. Staff are encouraged to offer programs that are related to a range of cultures and interests.
“Everyone should have a sense of belonging and feel welcomed,” says Kinne-Norris. “It impacts their overall health.”
Kinne-Norris concludes, “We value the opportunity to keep learning new programs, initiatives and ideas to bring back to the residents in our communities. It’s a testament to Liberty Senior Living’s commitment to wellness and active aging.”
Liberty Senior Living’s independent living communities represented at the ICAA Conference were The Barclay at SouthPark in Charlotte, North Carolina; Brightmore of South Charlotte in Charlotte, North Carolina; Brightmore of Wilmington in Wilmington, North Carolina; Carolina Bay at Autumn Hall in Wilmington, North Carolina; The Carrollton in New Orleans, Louisiana; Pisgah Valley in Candler, North Carolina; Quail Haven Village in Pinehurst, North Carolina; South Bay at Mount Pleasant in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina; The Templeton of Cary in Cary, North Carolina; and Wellington Bay in Wellington, Florida.