In a world where the aging population is on the rise and the prevalence of neurodegenerative diseases is a growing concern, initiatives focusing on brain health and innovation are becoming increasingly imperative. Social Impact Partners (SIP) is focused on introducing fresh innovations in Brain Health and Longevity to the market through collaborative, intergenerational methods and also encouraging and welcoming a new wave of young leaders into our communities. Each of us has a role to play and can unite to make a collective impact.
Awards Announced in Social Impact Partner’s Brain Health Innovation Olympics
There is a reason for hope! Social Impact Partners’ (SIP) Global Brain Health Initiative’s recent Second Annual Innovation Olympics introduced fifteen business concepts targeting our industry’s most challenging issues. Five concepts were selected for awards and further commercialization support, ranging from comprehensive brain health centers of excellence and brain health investment funds to workforce revitalization and caregiver support and services.
“Argentum proudly supports SIP’s Global Brain Health and Longevity Initiative. This issue is critical to our communities, families, employees, and residents. Combating dementia and embracing brain health is something we can all collaborate on to make a significant impact,” states James Balda, President and CEO of Argentum.
Brain Health Innovation Olympics: A Global Competition Fostering Innovation
SIP concluded its 2024 Brain Health Innovation Olympics program alongside 40 executive leaders serving as judges and youth leaders working to create and innovate targeted solutions. Participation from five university teams with diverse skills and backgrounds from ten countries (totaling over 100 youth entrepreneurs in the first two years).
Over the course of an intensive eight-week program, the student lead teams were guided by a distinguished, multi-industry, and disciplined group of scientists and executive leaders from organizations such as Benchmark Senior Living, Avanti Senior Living, Silverado, Belmont Village Senior Living, Sodexo, The Emerson Group, Swanson Health, Future Commerce Initiative, Center for Brain Health at UT Dallas, McCance Center for Brain Health, digiCare Realized, and collaborations with nonprofit partners LeadingAge, The Global Ageing Network, CaringKind, and many others.
The program fostered a collaborative environment where students, judges, and industry leaders worked together to understand the specific challenges faced by senior living facilities, develop innovative business concepts, and ultimately present their final solutions.
Brain Health Centers of Excellence: Profound Impact Food and Lifestyle
The diverse perspectives and expertise brought by the participating teams have laid the groundwork for impactful change throughout the industry, including our workforce. SIP intends to develop the winning ideas to further the concepts and include the best of the best ideas in its Brain Health Centers of Excellence across selected senior living operators.
“We have an opportunity to drive significant impact by leading the way by not only focusing on serving food that we know promotes better health but also participating in the ongoing research about the important role that food and behavioral health play in all of our health outcomes,” emphasized Pietro Ferraro, Global Segment Growth Officer for Healthcare and Seniors at Sodexo.
Workforce Reinvention: Focus on Impact and Mission
One of the consortium’s many benefits is the pairing of Senior Living industry leadership with youth leaders. As an industry of caregivers, we also need to care for ourselves, especially our employees. The senior living industry faces a significant worker shortage. Through this initiative, we will have an opportunity to recruit, listen to, and learn from youth leaders the best ways to attract, retain, and empower this generation to join our industry.
“There is no question that strategy on every level is influenced by the well-being and availability of a modern workforce — all of which are highly influenced by this subject like few others! It’s time for leaders from all disciplines to collaborate and engage,” said Dan O’Conner, Executive Fellow Managing the Future of Work at Harvard Business School.
Taking Action
We are in a unique moment post-pandemic, where the entire world is focused on Brain Health. Social Impact Partners is not only bringing new innovations in Brain Health and Longevity to the marketplace through a collaborative intergenerational approach but also empowering and inviting a younger generation of leaders to come into our communities. We can all play a part and take action to create impact together.
“The impact of what we do everyday matters, and we are in a hopeful moment where, if we come together, we can affect profound change for today and the future,” says Sarah Hoit, Co-Founder and Chairman of Social Impact Partners and CEO of Every Day Matters.
Learn More and GET INVOLVED
Social Impact Partners is a global organization that drives positive change through collaboration and innovation. By partnering with academia, industry, and advocacy groups, we tackle pressing social challenges and create sustainable solutions for a better world.
Join us in this collective movement that matters to EVERY community, employee, family, and resident. Make significant impact with us at www.socialimpact.partners to become a member, support student programs, and join our collaborative efforts for brain health and longevity.
