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Press releases
Two wellness offerings honored with ICAA Innovative Solutions Award
Award recognizes products and solutions that support wellness for adults ages 50-plus
VANCOUVER, BC— The International Council on Active Aging® (ICAA), an association that leads, connects and defines the active-aging industry, is pleased to announce the winners of the ICAA Innovative Solutions Award (previously the Equipment Innovator Award), a category in the ICAA Innovators Awards program. ICAA’s annual 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. The ICAA Innovative Solutions Award specifically recognizes North America’s most creative wellness products and solutions for active older adults. Offerings target any or all of the seven wellness dimensions—emotional, vocational, physical, spiritual, environmental, social and intellectual wellness. For 2010, the recipients of the ICAA Innovative Solutions Award are:
- Palate 360 (Morrison Management Specialists, Atlanta, Georgia)
- Sit Strong Systems exercise chair (Sit Strong Systems, Hickory, North Carolina)
“Many businesses share the ICAA vision of Changing the way we age®,” says Colin Milner, the association’s CEO and founder. “ICAA unifies these organizations to create an industry dedicated to better health, wellness and quality of life for this age group—the active-aging industry. To continue to grow and to create quality wellness offerings for clients, however, the industry needs innovative products and solutions. ICAA aims to encourage companies to develop and refine these offerings,” Milner adds, “by highlighting creative products and solutions for this market.”
The recipients of the 2010 ICAA Innovative Solutions Award provide “inspired offerings” to support older-adult wellness, Milner observes. “In the Palate 360 open-kitchen concept, Morrison Management Specialists has transformed a static element such as dining into an engaging, multidimensional wellness experience for residents of senior living communities. And Sit Strong Systems has taken a piece of furniture that, for many, symbolizes an inactive lifestyle—the recliner—and transformed it with hidden resistance bands into a fitness tool. In the process, Sit Strong has also overturned the stereotype of fitness equipment. Congratulations to both organizations on the creativity and excellence of their wellness solutions, and thanks to everyone who entered this year’s awards competition.”
The winners of the 2010 ICAA Innovative Solutions Award will each receive a crystal award of recognition to display in their organizations. In addition, in-depth profiles of each award recipient will appear in ICAA’s flagship publication, the Journal on Active Aging®, in 2011. In the meantime, snapshots of the award-winning offerings are available on the ICAA website at www.icaa.cc/awards/pressreleases.htm.
New this year, ICAA has separately named the winners of the ICAA Innovators Awards for programs and concepts that advance active aging, and the first-ever ICAA Green Award, presented for organizational efforts that encourage environmental stewardship. Announcements, with brief profiles of these award-winners, are posted online at the above website.
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About the ICAA Innovators Awards program
Website: www.icaa.cc/awardsprogram.htm
Launched in 2003, the ICAA Innovators Awards program honors excellence and creativity in the active-aging industry. By recognizing organizations that have created cutting-edge programs, concepts and products encouraging wellness, ICAA highlights these innovative solutions for industry leaders and governmental organizations to learn from. Award-winners work on inspiring new directions in older-adult wellness. They not only give us a glimpse into the trends shaping the future of older-adult health and wellness, they also give us hope that it is possible to solve the inactivity problem.
About the International Council on Active Aging (ICAA)
Website: www.icaa.cc
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 life 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, including 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.
For interviews or more information about ICAA, the ICAA Innovators Awards, 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
Email: colinmilner@icaa.cc; website: www.icaa.cc
BACKGROUNDER
ICAA announces the winners of its 2010 Innovative Solutions Award
VANCOUVER, BC— The International Council on Active Aging® (ICAA), an association that leads, connects and defines the active-aging industry, has selected the recipients of the ICAA Innovative Solutions Award (previously the Equipment Innovator Award), a category in the ICAA Innovators Awards program. Recognizing creativity and excellence in active aging, this annual awards program honors those that are leading the way, setting new standards and making a difference in the lives of older adults. The ICAA Innovative Solutions Award specifically recognizes North America’s most creative wellness products and solutions for active older adults. The winners of the 2010 ICAA Innovative Solutions Award are:
Palate 360—Morrison Management Specialists, Atlanta, Georgia
A member of food services and support company Compass Group, Atlanta-based Morrison Management Specialists provides food to healthcare and senior living communities. Morrison is committed “to fostering ways to enjoy great-tasting, healthy food through socially responsible practices and superior customer service.” With the Palate 360 concept, the company offers “an interactive open kitchen that stimulates all five senses and showcases the talents of our chefs,” notes Alla Umanskiy, Morrison’s communications manager.
A Palate 360 venue will offer a studio and a gallery, which are two zones of service, Umanskiy explains. The studio “is right in the middle of the action and allows the guests to both observe and interact in the culinary exposition,” she says. In contrast, the gallery is for those who want “to observe from a distance, while still enjoying the experience.” According to Umanskiy, the venue will look like an artist studio and gallery. Framed LED screens on the walls will display themed art. And on-stage cameras will provide a video feed of the demonstration for the enjoyment of guests, as well as residents not in attendance if shown on an intercommunity channel. Palate 360 will be “a place where our residents and guests can meet friends, participate in spontaneous interactions, enjoy a terrific dining experience and learn about nutritional information,” sums up Umanskiy. This hub of activity, she adds, will be “all about versatility and joie de vivre.”
Sit Strong Systems exercise chair—Sit Strong Systems, Hickory, North Carolina
Located in Hickory, North Carolina, Sit Strong Systems supports “fitness in comfort” with its patented exercise chairs. Sit Strong chairs “were created with one purpose in mind: to give seniors and others a multifunctional chair or recliner that promotes healthier lifestyles,” states David Bolick, president of the family-run business. Used in residential and healthcare settings, these pieces of furniture are attractive and comfortable—and hide the tools for a total-body conditioning workout. “With a flip of a cushion or arm,” says Bolick, “you have resistance at your fingertips.”
Sit Strong places resistance bands in five locations inside their exercise chairs, “which provides resistance from various directions and works every major muscle group in the body,” explains the company’s website. The chairs each have at least 15 different resistance bands, which provide multiple levels of resistance and can be easily changed. Because most models are recliners, they allow numerous exercise positions as well. Altogether, about 40 exercises are possible with the Sit Strong product, according to Bolick.
“The exercise chair can be used to aid a recovering rehabilitation patient, train an injured athlete, or serve as a home gym,” suggests the Sit Strong website. Besides helping users improve their strength and flexibility, this fitness equipment offers the added benefit of never having to be moved or put away after use. “This is a true two-in-one piece of furniture,” Bolick concludes.
Note for editors:
New this year, ICAA has separately named the winners of the ICAA Innovators Awards for programs and concepts that advance active aging, and the first-ever ICAA Green Award, presented for organizational efforts that encourage environmental stewardship. Announcements, with brief profiles of these award-winners, are posted online at www.icaa.cc/awards/pressreleases.htm.
