The ICAA Industry Innovators Awards program honors excellence and creativity in the health and wellness field. By recognizing organizations that have created cutting-edge wellness programs, the ICAA highlights these innovative solutions for industry leaders and governmental organizations to learn from.

Recipients of The ICAA Industry Innovators Awards work on inspiring, new directions in older adult wellness. These award winners not only give us a glimpse into the trends shaping the futures of older adult health and wellness, they also give us hope that it is possible to solve the inactivity problem.

ICAA Innovators Achievement Award winners 2014:

Go BLUE: Live STRONGER (Inverness Village, Tulsa, Oklahoma)—Inspired by Dan Buettner’s book The Blue Zones and customized to this life care retirement community’s resident population, the Go BLUE: Live STRONGER campaign focused on integrating nine common denominators of aging well into people’s lives over a semester, including through purposeful activities within multiple wellness dimensions. The campaign’s success led to requests for additional semesters.

Brain Waves (Asbury Methodist Village, Gaithersburg, Maryland)—Combining learning and experiential activities, this continuing care retirement community’s eight-week course explores the brain, how it functions, and how to maximize brain health with age. A final project challenges participants to research a new topic or learn a new skill, then make a formal presentation to the Brain Waves class. Course information is shared with the greater community.

ECG Good Samaritan Outreach Program (Atria El Camino Gardens, Carmichael, California)—This independent seniors housing and assisted living community’s volunteer program supports residents in making a difference. People with different skills and functional abilities participate by, among other things, providing visits, meals and friendships to older adults in the community-at-large, preparing box lunches for homeless individuals, and crocheting, knitting or sewing items for people in hospital.

Walking Bingo (Peoples Health, Metairie, Louisiana)—A Medicare Advantage organization, Peoples Health provides healthcare services and supports healthy aging. To motivate people to get active, a company wellness coordinator and a Baton Rouge Recreation and Parks employee created Walking Bingo. Players walk at a set pace, passing stations around an indoor track to learn letter/number combinations and complete bingo cards. They enjoy the game and socialize while walking.

Attitude of Gratitude Program (Oak Harbor, Vero Beach, Florida)—A two-month program encouraged residents of this senior living community to be more grateful for the smallest experiences of daily life. Activities incorporated a positive approach—for example, jokes and laughter during group exercise, smiles and silent thanksgiving in meditation class. Among the outcomes, participants were motivated to “pay it forward,” helping neighbors and performing small services for strangers.

ICAA Innovators Green Award 2014

The Nature Club for Adults 60+ (RidgePointe Senior Apartments, Minnetonka, Minnesota) “The Nature Club for Adults 60+ offers creative activities that expose older adults to the health-promoting natural environment. These activities encourage participants to learn, be physically active and socialize, as well as to discover meaning in the natural world—and enjoy a fuller life doing it."

ICAA Innovators Practical Solutions Award 2014

Travel the World Program (Morrison Community Living, Atlanta, Georgia) Travel the World dining event program took residents in client communities on a culinary journey, showcasing a different country and its native foods each month. From music and costumes to activities, the program’s high-touch, versatile components engaged diners in these experiences. For example, residents each received a Travel the World “passport.” To mark the journey, they could collect up to 12 passport stamps in their passports throughout the year—and enter to win a special Captain’s dinner.