Category: Kendal

Vitalize360 Launching This Week — Meet and Greet Friday in the Game Room

This is the week that our Vitalize 360 program gets its real launch and sign-up opportunity.  A project of Kendal, it provides us Collington residents the opportunity to get a “life coach,” who will help us bring together whatever resources and help to decide what they want to achieve next in our lives.  If one of us does not yet know what this is, our new staffer Kim Rivers will help us figure that out too.  Once a goal is identified, Kim will help pull together the Collington resources, staff and residents, to support the process.

Often this is thought of in traditional medical terms, such as achieving a particular “vital sign” milestone, or getting physically strong enough to, for example, get on a plan to visit grandchildren.

But many of us feel that the most exciting engagements that this makes possible are more intellectual, political, academic, etc.  Dianna Cox, who runs the project, and was here for a great presentation yesterday, gave an example of a man who had decided to challenge his golf club’s men only policy, and did so successfully.  (Other more transformative possibilities might come to mind.)

Tomorrow, Friday March 9 at 10:30 in the Game Room, there will be a meet and greet to get to know  Kim and learn more about the project.

Here is the PowerPoint that Nancy Cox presented.

Here is a short video:

It is important to note that Vitalize 360 is a key pat of our strategic plan, both as a specific element, and as something that will help build culture-transformative energy.

Indeed, a recent article in the Journal of Aging Research and Healthcare, here, concludes:

In this project, COLLAGE [Vilalize at one location] 360, a comprehensive assessment system and wellness coaching program that focuses on prevention and wellness was implemented in one continuing care retirement community. Following completion of two assessment tools through directed conversations with a wellness coach, older adults developed an individualized vitality plan that outlined life goals, supporting goals and action plans for goal achievement. Results from this program suggest engagement in the assessment and wellness coaching process via the COLLAGE 360 program translated into sample older adults sensing that they live in a more supportive environment when compared with elders not receiving any wellness coaching. In addition, the older adults had positive responses in the areas of mood and life satisfaction. Strategies to improve health and well being need an extended focus beyond the older adult‘s medical conditions and consider psychological, spiritual and social needs with personal preferences being paramount. These issues are foundational to a person- centered, health promotion approach needed among older adults.

Do not miss the opportunity.

 

Collington ED on Helping Harvey Victims and Beyond

Here is Marvell Adams statement.

Among other things, it shows the where the heart of this community lies and the value of being part of a larger community.  It also suggests some of the ways that emerging themes in our strategic planning process will deepen our ability to add to, in the words of the Kendal Values Statement, “the potential for fulfillment and continuing contribution during the later stages of life.”

Greetings Friends.  Undoubtedly you have all seen the tragic images coming out of Texas as a result of Hurricane Harvey. 

I am certain we all share in the heartache being experienced there right now.  As an organization committed to serving older adults, Collington and the Kendal System have a duty to respond when events such as these occur and greatly impact communities that share in our mission.  As such, Kendal has collaborated with LeadingAge, our national provider association of which I’m a board member, to provide assistance.  First and foremost, donations are needed in order to provide supplies and support for residents and staff of affected communities.  Each of us can help this effort by visiting Collington’s website, www.collington.kendal.org  and donating to the LeadingAge Hurricane Harvey Disaster Relief Fund.  There is a link there that will allow you to make an online donation as well as instructions on how to send in a check.  All proceeds will go directly to member communities, their residents and staff.

Secondly, Kendal has reached out to communities we assisted in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina in order to understand what might be the most helpful for our friends in Texas.  With this feedback and that of LeadingAge, the Kendal System will develop ways to provide further support beyond donations.  When we have more details on this I will share.  In the meantime, please keep those affected by Hurricane Harvey in your thoughts and consider making a donation to the LeadingAge Hurricane Harvey Disaster Relief Fund.  Thank you.

 

New York Times Article on Ageing and Creativity

Nice NYT article on Ageing and Creativity.

It starts with research that shows how young minds are much more imaginative, but older folks are more traditional and limited when asked to explain things.

Buit, how about this:

But there was a different pattern when it came to the social problems. Once again the preschoolers were more likely to give the creative explanation than were the 6-year-olds or adults. Now, however, the teenagers were the most creative group of all. They were more likely to choose the unusual explanation than were either the 6-year-olds or the adults.

At least an argument for multi-generational input!

The explanation offered might help us think our way into a new vision of ageing:

The answer: Childhood and adolescence may, at least in part, be designed to resolve the tension between exploration and exploitation. Those periods of our life give us time to explore before we have to face the stern and earnest realities of grown-up life. Teenagers may no longer care all that much about how the physical world works. But they care a lot about exploring all the ways that the social world can be organized. And that may help each new generation change the world.

I like to think that, at our best, we are often just like teenagers, precisely because we are no longer responsible for everything.  We can dream and imagine — but with the benefit of a lifetimes of learning, including our mistakes and unfulfilled dreams.  So, as we move our community into a broader outreach and learning mode, maybe we are more ready than we realize.  All we need is the practical support.

Any ideas for how to do the research to explore this?  In our strategic plan?

Collington, Kendal and Sustainability

Kendal, the network of which Collington is a part, has a set of 13 goals on sustainability.

The attached is our Sustainability Committee’s Sustainability assessment, lining up goals, progress and additional needed steps with respect to each of those goals.

It has to be read.  The Committee and management are deserving of huge praise for our progress and for this clear monitoring and reporting.