Still Hopes is proud to announce that we are an ICAA Champion
Organization. ICAA stands for the International Council on Active Aging
and is an organization dedicated to uniting and supporting communities
that include older adults in all dimensions of wellness. Still Hopes
shares a vision with ICAA of the need to dispel society’s myths, which
are primarily negative, about aging.
As an ICAA Champion, Still Hopes will work with media, marketers,
families, and individuals about the untapped human potential associated
with aging. We will help create positive messages to counter negative
stereotyping. The Still Hopes organization has become a role model for
dignity and human potential, exemplifying and supporting older adults’
values to society and continuing purpose in life.
The Living to 100 Life Expectancy Calculator uses the most current and carefully researched medical and scientific data in order to estimate how old you will live to be. Most people score in their late eighties… how about you?
The calculator asks you 40 quick questions related to your health and family history, and takes about 10 minutes to complete. Go to livingto100.com and check it out.
A ground-breaking movement aimed at shifting society’s perceptions of aging and countering aging stereotypes was launched on Monday, May 9 in the Washington, D.C. area. The “Rebranding Aging” initiative is spearheaded by ICAA, led by CEO Colin Milner with support from fitness expert Kathy Smith, who will serve as a spokesperson for the movement.
“Rebranding Aging” will leverage the numbers, needs, desires and purchasing power of the 50+ market to win the attention of marketers and the media.
Jon Keith interviewed Colin Milner on the “Life and Living Well” program. Here is that interview.
Did you attend Family Day at Still Hopes? Just under 1000 family and friends joined us for a very special annual family event that involves everyone who lives at Still Hopes. Barbecue, games for the children, peach ice cream, train rides and the music calliope all added to the fun filled day.
Check out our 2011 Family Day Photo Album on Facebook to get a glimpse of this year’s festivities.
One of the many wellness opportunities available to both Still Hopes residents and those from the surrounding community is participation in our brain fitness classes featuring the “Posit Science” program.
Starting this week, PBS Television will be airing the special, “Brain Fitness – Peak Performance” featuring the creator of the Posit Science Program, Dr. Michael Merzenich. The special focuses on the neurological basis of expertise and highlights three types of experts—master musicians, pro baseball players, and simultaneous translators—and shows how their brains have specialized to their amazing skills. Check your local PBS listing for air times in your area.
For more information on brain fitness training at Still Hopes, contact Denise Heimlich at 803-739-5044, or dheimlich@stillhopes.org.
Still Hopes is now accepting reservations for our brand new Concierge Suites for Catered Living. See stillhopes.org/concierge for more details or call
803-739-5040.
This is the first in a series of interesting interviews conducted by our very own Jon Keith (Director of Marketing at Still Hopes). From time-to-time Jon will share his Interviews & Insights that will include audio recordings of his broadcasts on Public Radio.
There are a lot of books out now to help baby boomers deal with how to slow the physical aging process or how to have a financially secure retirement. However, Dr. Gene Cohen chooses a unique direction: he shows how to be a creative individual well into old age. Replete with anecdotes of famous and not-so-famous people doing incredibly creative things (e.g., architect I.M. Pei designing the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum at 79), whether for the good of humanity or simply for their own families, the book The Creative Age: Awakening Human Potential in the Second Half of Life is an inspiration as was my interview the author.
At the time of our conversation, Dr. Cohen was director of the Center on Aging, Health and Humanities at George Washington University. Unfortunately, he passed away in 2009, but his wit, humor and intellect still shines through in this interview I had with him. I hope you enjoy it.
(Click here to listen to the Interview Gene Cohen audio track).
To receive future editions of Interviews & Insights with Jon Keith, sign up to receive the Still Hopes blog via email. Or visit our website at www.StillHopes.org.
Still Hopes provides three really nice raised beds for resident use. They are high enough to avoid back pains when planting and picking vegetables. Each bed is set up with a timed drip irrigation system so watering is automatic. This has been especially helpful in the very warm summer days we have been having. All we have to do is plant the seed or plants, pull a few weeds, and harvest the crop. For me and several other residents this is a favorite activity. There is nothing like watching seed grow and produce a crop of tasty fresh vegetables. I enjoy sharing the fresh vegetables with other residents who are always so appreciative.
Levy Canova
To see all the great fruits and vegetables our gardens are producing, check out the Resident Gardens photo album on Facebook.
The same company that pioneered the Still Hopes Brain Fitness program has recently announced their brain fitness cookbook and weekly recipe program!
According to PositScienc® chairman, Jeff Zimman: “We want to help people get their brains in the best shape possible. While brain training is a major piece of the puzzle, there are other things you can do for better brain health. Eating the right foods is one of them!”
In the PositScience e-newsletter, he goes on to say: “ThinkFood is a cookbook we’re putting together that features brain-healthy recipes. We know the science but, since we’re not chefs ourselves, we asked for help from the food blogging community in creating the recipes. People who sign up for the ThinkFood ”Recipe of the Week” program will get a healthy and tasty recipe in their email each week, along with access to information on the science, the blogger, and more – all free. You can sign up at ThinkFoodCookBook. Invite your friends, too! The full cookbook will be available for purchase in July, but you can get a free recipe each week by signing up.”
(source: PositScience® Brain Fitness News – June e-issue)
To learn more about the Brain Fitness Program at Still Hopes visit our website.
The Wellness Program at Still Hopes serves about 500 residents, staff and people living in the local area and has peaked the interest of the International Council on Active Aging. According to Denise J. Heimlich, MS, Director of Wellness:
“The combination of research-based programming and assessment has proven itself at Still Hopes. Transition rates from independent living to higher levels of care have significantly slowed, in part due to increases in physical fitness. Residents talk of being taller, walking farther, being brave enough to go on African safari and climbing in and out of Land Rovers with more agility and ease than people half their age.”
“My job is to help people stay more independent for a longer period of time. Because our program can produce documentation of program results, we have established Still Hopes as a premier wellness provider and are rapidly growing our memberships from the local community.”
Read full article by Denise, as published in the May-June issue of “Functional U” from the International Council on Active Aging. ICAA-Article-PDF
Visit the Health & Wellness section of our website for more details about the Still Hopes Fitness Classes.
