November 30, 2006

Tulsa — The Wellness Center at Inverness Village, Tulsa's only Life Care retirement community, was recently honored with an International Council on Active Aging (ICAA) Industry Innovators for Older Americans Award.

The Wellness Program at Inverness Village was recognized as one of the nation's most innovative, active-aging locations for programming creativity that creates outstanding participation among residents of the community.

The ICAA is the world’s largest trade association for the senior fitness and wellness industry. Sponsored by SportsArt Fitness, the annual award honors excellence and creativity in the health and wellness field. It recognizes organizations with cutting-edge programs that support active aging among adults ages 50 and older.

"The Inverness Village Life Care community prides itself on providing an environment in which residents can embrace life to the fullest," the award stated. "Opened three years ago, Inverness approaches wellness in a holistic way, using a model that encompasses physical, social, spiritual, vocational, emotional and intellectual dimensions. An 4,300-sq.-ft. wellness center provides the hub for wellness programming that accommodates all levels of fitness. The wellness staff’s enthusiastic and innovative approach to programming has resulted in an 80–85 percent participation rate, a percentage considerably higher than the norm."

The recognition continued, "The Inverness Village Wellness Center starts with the mission ‘to create and sustain a path to wellness without walls that leads to successful aging.’ Educational lectures and events engage individuals throughout the community, and wellness staff use these topics as a springboard to related programming. A residents’ fitness committee also provides valuable input and assistance, ensuring programs meet residents’ needs."

At the award ceremony held at ICAA’s Active Aging 2006 conference, Colin Milner, ICAA founder and chief executive officer, stated, "Inverness Village provides an inspiring example for everyone striving to support healthy, vibrant living for adults ages 50 and older. The Inverness Village Wellness Program is an innovative, high-quality wellness approach that promotes greater vitality, health, and an improved quality of life for older adults."

Media contact: 918-388-4706