ALEXANDRIA, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Argentum today announced the winners of the Argentum 2016 Best of the Best Awards, which recognize innovative programs and services that are creating the future of senior living. The programs selected for awards provide solutions relevant to workforce development, consumer choice, quality care, and memory care. From working to improve seniors’ quality of life through advocacy to providing culinary excellence, the companies and programs honored represent those reaching for the highest level of innovation and excellence in senior living.
“This year’s nominations are a testament to the creativity, commitment, and care that is currently shaping our industry,” said Argentum President and CEO James Balda. “These companies are truly setting new standards in the industry for their peers to embrace and emulate, and we are proud to recognize their efforts.”
The following 2016 Argentum Best of the Best Award winners were honored during the Argentum Senior Living Executive Conference in Denver, Colorado:
Consumer Choice Winner
Gardant Management Solutions
Speaking
Out for Supportive Living
As a well-known model for affordable assisted living, Illinois’ Supportive Living program provides low-income seniors and adults who need help, but don’t require licensed skilled nursing care, with a residential alternative to a nursing home or struggling alone at home. The program has been a great success, due in part to Speaking Out for Supportive Living. This effort provides each of Gardant's communities with a detailed guide on conducting a purpose-driving political advocacy effort in conjunction with Gardant. Unlike some political efforts, this is not an occasional effort. The Speaking Out for Supportive Living program provides a multi-disciplinary, year-round political advocacy effort.
Quality Care Winner
Pathway Senior Living LLC
VIVA!
Legacy
While many plan for major life events such as weddings, graduations, and births, few plan for end of life. Pathway Senior Living’s VIVA! Legacy program hopes to change that. VIVA! Legacy takes the notion of creating a nurturing environment for older adults and enhancing quality of life to a new level by ensuring that planning for and facilitating gratifying end-of-life experiences is an integral part of the fulfilling senior lifestyle offered at their 15+ senior communities. Pathway team members are trained to cover a variety of topics from advanced care planning to cultural and spiritual guidance to understanding the difference between palliative care and hospice care, but the most powerful training exercise is when team members have “the conversation” with their own loved ones.
Workforce Development Winner
Brookdale
Culinary
Arts Institute Roadshow
Everyone loves a good meal, and Brookdale is ensuring its residents enjoy the best culinary experiences possible, thanks to the Culinary Arts Institute Roadshow. A unique training and development program specifically designed for Brookdale’s dining services professionals, the roadshow features trained experts from prestigious hotel and culinary schools such as the Culinary Institute of America. Each one-day event contains discussions and demonstrations on home cooking, health dining for seniors, Brookdale’s Better and Different philosophy, core quality assurance programs, and safe food handling skills. The Culinary Arts Institute Roadshow provides opportunities for associates to meet with vendors, to see new products firsthand, and to share best-practices with peers while receiving hands-on interactive training.
Memory Care Winner
Belmont Village Senior Living
Circle
of Friends
Developed over eight years, the Circle of Friends program is designed for residents with mild cognitive impairment, mild dementia, and moderate dementia who live in assisted living. Residents in the Circle of Friends program participate in structured, planned activities for eight hours per day, seven days per week, led by a dedicated, specially trained staff of enrichment leaders. The structured day has enabled mild to moderate level residents to live in the least restrictive environment of assisted living and to continue to enjoy their social life in the dining room. As a result of the program, participant benefits have included: a strong feeling of community, belonging, and being accepted by a social group; a renewed sense of purpose and meaning through learning something new, participating in critical thinking games and discussions, and contributing to the larger community through service projects; exercise of cognitive skills; and a renewed sense of vital aging.
About Argentum
Since 1990, Argentum has advocated for choice, accessibility, independence, dignity, and quality of life for all older adults. Argentum’s programs promote business and operational excellence designed to foster innovation and entrepreneurism in the field of senior living. Visit Argentum’s website at www.argentum.org.
