Named a Best of the Best Award winner, BMA Management’s “Eat Smart, Live Strong” program motivates seniors to lead a healthier lifestyle, resulting in a longer, more independent life.
ALFA 2013 Best of the Best Award Winner
The federal “Eat Smart, Live Strong” program was designed to encourage seniors age 60 to 74 years to improve their nutrition and exercise habits. But what about older seniors?
That’s a question BMA Management and Eastern Illinois University teamed up to answer. Together, they piloted the four- week program in seven of BMA’s affordable assisted living communities last year. The university was interested in whether the program as developed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture would successfully motivate older participants to eat 3.5 cups of fruit and vegetables per day and get 30 minutes of daily exercise.
For its part, BMA viewed the collaborative effort as an opportunity to launch, test, and refine a new wellness program that would help residents make lifestyle changes that would contribute to a longer, more independent life. “We took this whole dining experience and brought it into a much bigger wellness program,” explains Julie Simpkins, VP of marketing and sales.
Through the program, which has since been expanded to all 39 BMA communities, residents attend interactive sessions designed to evaluate and improve daily habits. Between sessions, BMA offers incentives to participation such as the opportunity to earn prizes and fun opportunities tying nutrition with exercise. For example, a field trip to go apple-picking led to making homemade apple butter for dinner that night. And “Pizza in the Park” involved a 30-minute walk in the park followed by a picnic of homemade vegetable pizza.
The program was strengthened through resident feedback, such as the request for more choices of fresh fruits and vegetables. Another takeaway for BMA was the value of promoting friendly competition. “People are a lot more willing to go into something if they have a peer or buddy who’s wanting to do it with them. It’s almost like you hold yourselves accountable to them,” says Simpkins.
The above best practice was recognized as an ALFA 2013 Best of the Best Award winner. Do you have a best practice, product, service or solution at your community or company that is advancing excellence in senior living? The Call for Nominations for the ALFA 2014 Best of the Best Awards will begin in October. Visit ALFA.org/bestofthebest to read more best practices.
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