Mather LifeWays, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to creating “Ways to Age Well,” and the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging (AAHSA), announced today that the two organizations will host a national “Brain Trust” meeting of aging services leaders to explore best practices and research.  The meeting will bring together administrators, researchers and funders from more than 30 senior living organizations, foundations, and associations at Splendido, a Mather LifeWays senior living community, in Tucson, Arizona, on Feb. 26-27, 2009.

 

“The meeting will be a unique opportunity to learn and share the best of what we know and are learning about older adults services through research endeavors,” said Mary Leary, President and CEO, Mather LifeWays.  “It will be a wonderful opportunity to bring together many of the nation’s brightest and most progressive organizations who are making a difference in the lives of older adults.”

 

The meeting was developed by AAHSA in collaboration with Mather LifeWays Institute on Aging.  Established by Mather LifeWays in 1999, the Institute on Aging conducts applied research and education for professionals who serve them.  With its mission to create the future of aging services, AAHSA is committed to help its 5,700 member organizations be progressive so that they may provide the best services and care possible to older adults.

 

The meeting will target research areas that are central to many of AAHSA members including wellness of older adults, workforce issues, residents’ quality of life, and community-based programming. 

 

Several of the outcomes that are envisioned from the meeting include:

·         create a national concerted applied research agenda;

·         better orchestrate research findings involving member organizations;

·         develop a national member applied research culture that might facilitate applied research in the senior living field;

·         collaborate in research projects and grants;

·         support member organizations in developing quality research projects, obtaining grants, and shared learning; and,

·         provide policy makers reliable information on programs and initiatives that actually work to improve quality services for older adults and have economic benefits to the public.

 

Representatives of the following organizations will participate in the February 26-27, 2009 meeting at Splendido in Tucson:

 

North Wales, PA 

 

ACTS Retirement Communities

Boca Raton, FL

 

Benjamin Rose Institute

Cleveland, OH

 

Bethany Center Senior Housing, Inc.

San Francisco, CA

 

Cathedral Square Corporation

South Burlington VT

 

Center for Successful Aging and Fall Prevention Center of Excellence

California State University, Fullerton

Fullerton, CA

 

CJE SeniorLife, Leonard Schanfield Research Institute

Chicago, IL

 

CJE SeniorLife

Chicago, IL

 

ECRI Institute

Plymouth Meeting, PA

 

The Erickson Foundation

Catonsville, MD

 

Foundation for Long Term Care - NYAHSA

Albany, NY

 

Hebrew Home for the Aged at Riverdale

Riverdale, NY

 

International Council on Active Acting

Vancouver, BC 

 

Lakeview Village

Lenexa, KS

 

Life Services Network of Illinois

Hinsdale, IL

 

Lutheran Homes of South Carolina

Irmo, SC  

 

Lutheran Services in America

Baltimore, MD

 

MetLife Mature Market Institute

Westport, CT 

 

MorseLife

Loring Institute for Research and Education       

West Palm Beach, FL