Westcott Lakes, a Life Fulfilling Community^® of older adults, and LifeBio.com, a company that specializes in the recording of autobiographies, is collaborating to assist current and prospective community members record their life’s adventures and capture their stories and memories. Westcott Lakes has earned the designation as a LifeBio Certified Community by completing training in LifeBio’s methods.

“Westcott Lakes recognizes the importance of legacy and connectedness to family, friends and community and will be providing all interested members with story templates, web access, reminiscence classes, and other tools to help them share what matters most with those they love. The focus of upcoming programs will be on recording autobiographies-while building richer relationships along the way,” said Beth Sanders, founder and CEO of LifeBio.

“It’s such a gift for families to know that their parents’ or grandparents’ life lessons, values, traditions, and beliefs have been captured,” said Chris Mulrooney, CEO of Westcott Lakes. “With LifeBio, we are not only providing our members with the opportunity to reminisce, we are learning more about the amazing people who will call this community ‘home’. With our ongoing focus on the Six Keys to Living Well^®, we also realize that reminiscence contributes to personal well being, lowers depression, and provides new connections.”

Those attending will receive complementary materials to begin capturing the wisdom and experiences of their life’s journey so far. For more information, contact Renee Prasek at (850) 701-2947.

About LifeBio:

LifeBio, Inc. (www.lifebio.com) is the nation’s leading legacy company, helping people preserve relationships to last for generations. Founded in 2000 by Beth Sanders, LifeBio allows people of all ages to have a private place to share their life stories, upload pictures, and create their own memory books. Memory Journals are also available.

In Maslow’s renowned hierarchy of needs, he describes self-actualization as “the instinctual need of humans to make the most of their abilities and to strive to be the best they can be.” The Life Fulfilling Community (LFC) vision is in stark contrast to what older adults envision when someone suggests they consider a “retirement community.” In short, self-actualization is reaching one’s greatest potential, whether 50, 60, 70, 90 or older.

LFC leadership teams believe one reason self-actualization is elusive to many is the loss of self-esteem that all too often follows “retirement.” This event negatively affects how people feel about themselves and their future. When a person leaves their job behind, they may lose a feeling of purpose and see “retirement” as a time of decline and loss. Years of negative aging stereotypes fuel these feelings and can result in self-fulfilling prophecies, which lead to premature dependency and even memory loss if not mindfully addressed.

The Challenge

Today’s exploding number of older adults is increasingly unwilling to accept this second-class citizenship. They are seeking new and innovative ways to counter ageism and redefine later life as a time of growth and personal development. When they hear the term “retirement community,” many think of an institutional culture with its rules, regulations, and generally restrictive environment. While yesterday’s “retirement” communities filled a need, they have not kept pace with the changing culture of a nation that is now more senior than junior for the first time in U.S. history. This new generation of older adults includes increasing numbers that view life’s second half as a time for growth and enrichment, rather than one of decline and loss.

One answer has been the creation of the active adult community with a focus on fitness and athletics. These communities are a step in the right direction, but still focus primarily on the physiological and social domains of life while generally ignoring the mental, spiritual, financial, and emotional domains. As Albert Einstein warned, “You cannot solve a problem with the same consciousness that created the problem.”

The “problem” with traditional “retirement communities” is not the absence of large fitness centers, theatres or other amenities, but the limited opportunities to enhance one’s autonomy and positive aging self-image. While traditional retirement community models focus on catering to and caring for residents, few focus on opening gateways to peak experiences and life fulfillment.

The LFC Solution

LFCs changed “retirement living” rules by focusing first on the creation of community cultures that nourish a positive aging self-image – to create safe havens from ageism and negative aging stereotypes. A community model that fosters meaningful opportunities for personal growth and enrichment thus functioning as gateways to self-actualization for those living for all life can be^sm regardless of age.

LFC’s are grounded in the belief that one pathway to self-actualization is to lead a fulfilling life, which is unique to every individual. Fulfillment is not something a community can give to a member, but rather what members bring to a community where there are multiple opportunities to learn, contribute, and grow. The synergy that results from member/operating team relationships creates a positive culture wherein those interested can pursue self-actualization.

According to Maslow, self-actualizing people (those most likely to be interested in the LFC model):

• Embrace the facts and realities of the world rather than denying or avoiding them;
• Are spontaneous in ideas and actions;
• Are creative;
• Are interested in solving problems; this often includes the problems of others;
• Feel closeness to other people and generally appreciate life. They have a system of morality that is fully internalized and independent of external authority; and
• Are discerning and able to view all things in an objective manner.

A LFC begins creating gateways leading to new opportunities for growth, learning, meaningful service and life experiences well before construction of the community begins. Not surprisingly, those who choose LFC’s are people who love adventure, have a passion for leadership and service and value relationships with others who love life.

Toward Peak Experiences

In other times and cultures, elders were the means by which younger community members learned how to age successfully. They were the storytellers and wisdom-keepers. Elders served as docents – informed tour guides on living with integrity and purpose. With an eye to restoring the role of respected docent, LFC’s begin by recruiting team members that respect and admire the accomplishments of their elders.

The LFC leadership teams believe “retirement” is not so much a time of life as it is one of life’s many crossroads. From this crossroad, travelers have many paths from which to choose – active or inactive, enriching or stagnant, involved or disengaged. Travelers entering the LFC gateway are generally not seeking to retire to a sedentary life of leisure, but to explore new pathways on which to live for all life can be!

LFC operating associates make it a priority to discover who community members are, where they have been and where they are going from their very first visit. The goal is to assist travelers as they discover that growing older is the best protection against just getting old and needing extended care. While quality healthcare services are conveniently available on every LFC campus, the focus is on personal growth, enrichment, and well-being programs that nourish the body, mind and human spirit. In short, providing multiple opportunities for members to pursue peak experiences on life’s pathway is a shared goal with LFC community members.

Added Value of LFC Cultures

What is your view of life’s second half? Is it positive, neutral, or negative? Life’s second half can last thirty, forty years or more with today’s medical advances and active lifestyles. According to research, with a positive life plan, those pursuing an active social life and possessing a positive aging self-image benefit by living up to 8 years longer than those who do not.

The foundation of the LFC culture is grounded in the Six Keys to Living Well^sm (mental, social, physical, spiritual, emotional, and financial). The Six Keys help future LF C members address their needs as a whole person, not as an old person, from the day he or she first visits.

LFC’s are havens for those committed to living for all life can be, fighting ageism, and avoiding the self-fulfilling prophecies of aging, which too often result in premature dependency, memory loss and death. In short, the LFC declares war on aging stereotypes and replaces them with the principles of positive aging.

While health setbacks may periodically create detours on life’s pathways, the LFC’s offer members a way to take control of future decisions and possible long-term care expenses with a Health Assurance Guarantee. When and if members need healthcare or rehabilitation services, LFC professionals focus on doing everything possible to return members to the highest level of independence possible in the shortest time while addressing their mental and spiritual well-being as well as their physical health. The traffic within the LFC continuum is two-way and can lead to increased independence, not just increasing decline and dependency perceived by many to be inevitable in “retirement” communities.

Moreover, once accepted as a member of a LFC, any concern that one may have about running out of money is over. If a LFC member should run out of money through no fault of your own, the community’s benevolent fund covers expenses allowing members to focus on self-actualization regardless of what the future may hold…and live for all life can be!

The Center of Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently released the results of a new 5-Star rating system for America’s nursing homes. The Life Fulfilling Communities^® managed by PRAXEIS, LLC of Jacksonville received excellent ratings in their market areas.

Oak Hammock at the University of Florida’s Health Pavilion received 5 Stars, the highest rating possible under the new system, and was the only center in Gainesville to receive 5 Stars. The Carroll Center at The Glenridge on Palmer Ranch in Sarasota received 4 Stars in recognition of its excellent long term health care services. PRAXEIS is also developing communities in Tallahassee and St. Petersburg, Florida and Lexington, Kentucky.

Our long term health care and rehabilitation services are a key component of our Life Fulfilling Community (LFC) member-driven cultures. LFCs focus on preventive health and well being, lifelong learning, personal growth and enrichment. Our caring for every domain of living extends into our long-term health care neighborhoods.

The Five-Star Quality Rating System was created to help consumers, their families, and caregivers compare nursing homes more easily and help identify areas about which you may want to ask questions. This rating system is based on continued efforts as a result of the Omnibus Reconciliation Act of 1987 (OBRA ‘87), a nursing home reform law, and more recent quality improvement campaigns such as the Advancing Excellence in America’s Nursing Homes, a coalition of consumers, health care providers, and nursing home professionals.

Nursing home ratings are taken from the following three sources of data: Health Inspections, Staffing, and Quality Measures. There is a star rating for each of these three sources, in case some areas are more important to consumers than others. Then, these three ratings are combined to calculate an overall rating.

“We are incredibly proud of every member of our long term health care services teams, and the associates that support them. We all pride ourselves on customer-centric services and it pays off, “said Jim Cater, CEO of PRAXEIS. “Everyone works very hard to assist every member achieve the highest level of independence possible by focusing on what we call the Six Keys to Living Well^sm (financial, social, emotional, physical, mental, and spiritual) regardless of the health challenges they face.”

While there is no substitute for a personal visit to any long term care provider being considered for a relative or loved one, those considering residential nursing services can check on the rating of area providers on the Web at http://www.medicare.gov/NHCompare/Include/DataSection/Questions/ProximitySearch.asp .

Forgetfulness, confusion, struggles with daily living: We generally accept these common problems as inevitable stages of aging. Today, however, groundbreaking research has shown that there are new ways to combat these problems and buff up the gray matter.

In January 2009, The Glenridge will for add   Brainercise^sm to the comprehensive brain fitness programs available to Glenridge community members.. The Brainercise program will offer two cutting-edge, computer-based brain fitness programs from Posit Science^® of San Francisco. The first program, Brain Fitness^® improves hearing (auditory processing speed) and memory. Those using this program have improved memory and attention by an average of 10 years according to standardized measures while also improving mental processing speed and cognitive function.

The second Brainercise program, InSight^TM, improves memory and visual acuity, which according to research helps older adults improve their driving skills as well. Allstate Insurance recently began offering the InSight^TM program for visual processing and memory to select auto insurance customers over age 50. Allstate recognized that InSight improves not just visual processing but also driving performance. Those benefits include: cutting crash risk in half, reducing dangerous maneuvers by more than 35%, improving stopping distance by 22 feet (at 55mph), and helping people safely maintain their driving frequency and confidence.

According to Dr. Ken Brummel-Smith, chair of the Florida State University College of Medicine’s Department of Geriatrics, “Brain fitness programs are essential to healthy aging. The more we research the so-called ‘normal changes of aging,’ the more we find out that aging itself explains only about a third of the changes. Another third is due to clinical or sub-clinical disease, which is all too commonly missed or under-treated, in part due to physicians believing it’s just your age.”

The final third of the so-called “normal changes of aging” are completely under the individual’s control, according to Brummel-Smith. He explains, “Medically the term “de-conditioning” is used to describe lowered heart capacity due to lack of exercise, but recent research shows de-conditioning occurs mentally and socially as well. Just like people who exercise maintain cardiovascular health, people with active, stimulating (and especially new or novel) mental activities maintain cognitive function. Brain fitness exercises also may prevent major diseases such as Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s disease.”

Although normal age-related cognitive decline usually starts around age 30, groundbreaking research has revealed that the brain can “rewire” itself to strengthen its capabilities. Brain plasticity is the term used to describe the brain’s ability to rewire itself, and scientists now believe that brain plasticity has the potential to change millions of lives in areas as diverse as memory loss, Parkinson’s disease and chronic pain.

The Posit Science programs are engaging and aim to restore, strengthen and sharpen brain functions at any age, without medication. In essence, the programs can help strengthen and sharpen the brain’s ability to receive, process, and store information to ensure that the brain operates to its full potential.

Anyone interested in learning more about The Glenridge’s brain fitness program or the many benefits offered by the trend-setting Life Fulfilling Community can find out more at www.theglenridge.com or by calling 941-552-5300.

The Pavilion at Westcott Lakes Provides Brain Fitness Program

Forgetfulness, confusion, struggles with daily living: We generally accept these common problems as inevitable stages of aging. Today, however, groundbreaking research has shown that there are new ways to combat these problems and buff up the gray matter, and the future Life Fulfilling Community^® of Westcott Lakes, sponsored by Florida State University, is taking advantage of these advances to help community members preserve their brain fitness.

According to Dr. Ken Brummel-Smith, chair of the Florida State University College of Medicine’s Department of Geriatrics, “Brain fitness programs are essential to healthy aging. The more we research the so-called ‘normal changes of aging,’ the more we find out that aging itself explains only about a third of the changes. Another third is due to clinical or sub-clinical disease, which is all too commonly missed or under-treated, in part due to physicians believing it’s just your age.”

The final third of the so-called “normal changes of aging” are completely under the individual’s control, according to Brummel-Smith. He explains, “Medically the term “de-conditioning” is used to describe lowered heart capacity due to lack of exercise, but recent research shows de-conditioning occurs mentally and socially as well. Just like people who exercise maintain cardiovascular health, people with active, stimulating (and especially new or novel) mental activities maintain cognitive function. Brain fitness exercises also may prevent major diseases such as Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s disease.”

Although normal age-related cognitive decline usually starts around age 30, groundbreaking research has revealed that the brain can “rewire” itself to strengthen its capabilities. This ability to rewire itself is known as brain plasticity, and scientists now believe that brain plasticity has the potential to change millions of lives in areas as diverse as memory loss, Parkinson’s disease and chronic pain.

Westcott Lakes will introduce the computer-based brain fitness program from Posit Science® to community members and guests from 2 to 4 p.m. on September 9 at the Welcome Center in Southwood. This will be the inaugural class of the community’s lifelong learning program, Life College.

The initiative is a natural for Westcott Lakes, which is committed to becoming an oasis free of ageism and negative aging stereotypes that plague traditional retirement communities. With health and fitness as key ingredients of the Westcott Lakes experience, a central component of its culture is brain fitness and a lifelong learning program to keep the mind active.

Westcott Lakes’ non-invasive, computer-based brain fitness program from Posit Science^® will help participants maintain cognitive vitality. The programs are engaging and aim to restore, strengthen and sharpen brain functions at any age, without medication. In essence, the programs can help strengthen and sharpen the brain’s ability to receive, process, and store information to ensure that the brain operates to its full potential.

After attending an information session on the programs, community members will be eligible to receive a copy of the Posit Science software for use in the privacy of their own home or in the classroom at the community’s Welcome Center. The software adjusts to individual needs, is engaging, easy to use, requires no prior computer experience, and takes only two months (one hour a day, five days a week) to produce lifelong changes.

Anyone interested in learning more about the The Pavilion at Westcott Lakes brain fitness program or the many benefits offered by the trend-setting Life Fulfilling Community can find out more at http://www.westcottlakes.org/ or by calling 1-866-510-1515.

The innovative Life Fulfilling Community brand recently received recognition at the Annual Meeting of the National Active Retirement Association in Myrtle Beach, SC. The Association focuses on communities serving the new generation of older adults seeking the most out of life’s next chapter. The Awards recognized the best communities and marketing campaigns.

The full service communities developed and managed by PRAXEIS of Jacksonville, FL all offer a comprehensive range of health and rehabilitation services in addition to programs focusing on preventive health, well being, lifelong learning and socialization for adults age 62 and older. Recognition was in three categories: gold, silver and bronze.

The planned communities receiving awards were:

• The Glenridge on Palmer Ranch in Sarasota – Gold Award for Best Community and Silver Award for Best Clubhouse/Community Center
• Oak Hammock at the University of Florida in Gainesville – Gold Award for Best Clubhouse/Community Center and Silver Award for Best Community
• Westcott Lakes at Florida State University in Tallahassee – Silver Award for Best Proposed Community

To learn more about the PRAXEIS, LLC brand or the many unique benefits offered by trend-setting Life Fulfilling Communities, visit http://www.lifefulfillingcommunity.com.

The third annual Evercare 100@100 Survey of 100 centenarians-reports that consistent themes have emerged. GfK Roper Public Affairs and Media conducted the study for Evercare, a Minneapolis-based care coordination program. In addition to polling 100 centenarians, the 100@100 Survey also polled 900 respondents in other generations to compare and contrast the generational findings on topics of maintaining relationships and staying independent. The program is part of Ovations, a division of United Health Group.

The values-centered themes will come as no surprise to psychologists familiar with Abraham Maslow’s b-values. Nor will they surprise marketers who subscribe to the writings of international mature marketing expert David B. Wolfe, or results of Yankelovich Research, or the values-based advertising studies by J. Walter Thompson. What is surprising is how closely they align with innovative planned community models.

According to survey results, longevity is a function of having both a feeling of independence and engagement with others. Centenarians perceive independence as centering primarily on the ability to take care of themselves on a daily basis, staying in good health, and being able to make their own financial and health decisions. Centenarians further perceive that engagement ranges from sharing direct connections to friends and family to broader connections with current affairs and, ultimately, to nurturing spiritual connections. Centenarians place greater importance on lifestyle and things under their control rather than genetics or other factors outside of their control.

The healthy aging message from centenarians corroborates what some experts have offered as models for successful aging. The Life Fulfilling Community^® (LFC) built upon the “Six Keys to Living Well^®” is such a model. PRAXEIS, LLC of Jacksonville, Florida created the LFC operating model using documented later life values (autonomy, connectedness, spirituality, simplifying life, and lifelong personal growth. In the table below, the links between the six keys and the items ranked highest by the centenarians when asked what is very important to healthy aging is clearly evident:

Six Keys to Living Well Very Important to Healthy Aging

What centenarians identified as longevity cornerstones mirror what the most progressive organizations are using to guide the development and management of planned communities for older adults. The creators of Life Fulfilling Communities for older adults believe that member empowerment is critical to success. LFC managers believe that respecting and utilizing the wisdom and life experience in meaningful ways is a sure path to self-actualization and longevity.

For more information on Life Fulfilling Communities and the Six Keys to Living Well, visit www.lifefulfillingcommunity.com.

The reason, they say, is that “retirement community” connotes an institutional culture with rules, regulations and a restrictive environment. Today’s older adults view life’s second half as a time for growth and enrichment, not decline and loss

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