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Cascades Verdae Wins Prestigious National Award

Submitted by: Katie Huffstetler on Apr 13, 2011 at 5:17 pm Tagged with: Best of the Best award, Cascades Verdae, Greenville, Retirement, Wellness Source: Cascades Verdae

GREENVILLE, S.C. – Cascades Verdae, a Greenville, S.C.-based retirement community, announced today that the community’s C.L.I.M.B. program has won the Assisted Living Federation of America’s (ALFA) 2011 Best of the Best Award in the category of ‘Resident Health & Wellness.”

The program took home top honors in one of the competition’s most competitive categories. C.L.I.M.B., which stands for Confidence, Longevity, Independence, Mobility and Balance, is an evidence-based lower body strength training program designed to help older adults age successfully in place.

“We are committed to programming that helps our residents maintain their long-term health and happiness in the comfort of their own home,” said Karen Nichols, executive director of Cascades Verdae. “C.L.I.M.B. is unique because of its reliance on preventive exercises and nonclinical interventions to reduce the likelihood of negative health events which may lead to a loss of independence.”

Lower body strength is vitally important because it is a key determinant of mobility which allows older adults to perform activities of daily living such as bathing, dressing and getting in and out of bed without the help of a caregiver. Research suggests that strength-training exercises also improve balance, helping older adults reduce their chance of falling which may lead to disability, hospitalization and other negative complications.

ALFA’s Fifth Annual Best of the Best Award has expanded from previous years. Only eight winners were selected from 140 submissions, a record number for the competition. Also for the first time, allied members, members of ALFA who do not manage or operate a senior living residence, were eligible to enter the competition.

“We have the honor to spread the good news about remarkable resident-centered programs fulfilling every aspect of senior-living operations, from wellness services to staff development,” said Rick Grimes, president and CEO of ALFA. “All of this year’s entries speak to the high standard of innovation and professionalism among our members and demonstrate their resourcefulness and ingenuity.”

About Cascades Verdae

Located on 40 wooded acres in Greenville, S.C., Cascades Verdae is South Carolina’s largest CCRC. The community’s care-free lifestyle helps members live longer, healthier and happier lives by offering an array of amenities including maintenance-free living, daily fine dining, weekly housekeeping, a personalized wellness program and continuing-care health services. Members can choose from a variety of floor plans including single-family cottage homes and condominium-style villas. Assisted-living, Alzheimer’s care and skilled-nursing rooms are also available for those who need to make a transition from independent living. More information about Cascades Verdae is located at www.thecascadesverdae.com.

About The Assisted Living Federation of America

The Assisted Living Federation of America (ALFA) is the largest national association exclusively dedicated to professionally-managed senior living communities and the seniors and families they serve. For 20 years, ALFA has worked to educate policymakers and consumers by advocating for choice, accessibility, independence, dignity, and quality of life for seniors. ALFA’s member-driven programs promote business and operational excellence through education, research, publications, professional networking and online tools designed to foster collaboration and innovation in the field of senior living. Visit ALFA’s Web site at www.alfa.org.