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Healthy Strides: making a
difference every day
After Andrew Kohlberg bought his Kisco communities. These properties
company’s first retirement community now span the continuum from
in 1990, the founder and president of independent- and assisted-living facilities
Kisco Senior Living (originally Kisco to active adult and (with a new property
Retirement Communities) asked himself under development) continuing care
2 things: communities. Company philosophy
ensures that management balances the
• “If my parents were to live in a needs of residents, staff and business
retirement community, what would partners.
Through its innovative I want it to be like?” and
whole-person wellness • “How would I want them to be For its efforts, Kisco has netted awards
program, Kisco Senior Living treated?” for excellence in the workplace and in
has created a wellness seniors housing. Healthy Strides, the
culture that fosters These questions—and the ideas they company’s wellness program, has also
community and connect- stimulated—became the driving force garnered honors in the industry—the
edness among its staff and behind Kisco’s senior living philosophy. NuStep Pinnacle Award in 2002 and the
residents This belief system, in turn, has guided ICAA Industry Innovators Award in
the company’s growth and development 2005. Examples of the cutting-edge
This is the final article in a series of 6 over the years. offerings provided under the Healthy
profiling the recipients of the 2005 ICAA Strides umbrella include theatre troupes
Industry Innovators Awards. Presented by Kisco embraces a “personal approach.” and laughter clubs, as well as a
the International Council on Active Aging® With properties in several states, the behavioral change program for
and sponsored by SportsArt Fitness, these Carlsbad, California-based provider has sedentary/inactive individuals and a
awards honor excellence and creativity in sought to infuse the values of dignity, cognitive fitness program.
the health and wellness field, and recognize integrity and compassion into its culture,
organizations that have created cutting- and to provide “warm, secure and Healthy Strides is integral to Kisco’s
edge active aging programs. In 2005, the friendly environments.” The focus efforts to enhance the lives of its
awards program expanded to include the remains squarely on improving the residents and associates (as the company
Industry Equipment Innovator category. lifestyle of all older adults who live in refers to its employees). This program
Five key lessons learned in offering the
Healthy Strides program
1. Collaboration between all team 4. Never let chronological age define
members (including vendors, someone or your view of what that
families and resident volunteers) person can and can’t do. You just
creates a significantly enriched might be surprised by a 91-year-old
program in which all members feel surfer or 95-year-old golfer.
like owners and partners.
5. Teaching people to believe in one’s
2. Do not overestimate the power of wellness not only leads to lower
an encouraging smile and stating, blood pressure and increased bone
“We are here for you,” during the mass, but also enriches the souls of
first 3 months of transitioning into people who, in turn, go out and
a community. spread that gift of living well.
3. The greatest of all your capital is
your human capital.
78 The Journal on Active Aging G November/December 2006
embodies the company’s commitment to KT: In 2001, Kisco Senior Living
making a difference in people’s lives decided to embark on its commitment to
every day, and addresses the needs of wellness. We believe that happy, healthy
individuals in the 6 dimensions of and well associates engage residents to
wellness. Discussing the program’s become happy, healthy and well. Healthy
innovative nature, Director of Healthy Strides fosters a sense of community and
Strides Kirsten L. Tierney explains that at connectedness to others. It is a way of
Kisco, “we believe innovation comes being. At Kisco, we bring the lifestyle
from offering creatively designed and the belief in one’s ability to handle
programs that promote the spirit of what life has to offer (self-efficacy); you
independence at all ages and ability do the living.
levels.” She also believes that the program
succeeds because it is woven into the JAA: How did Kisco go about developing
company’s culture. the Healthy Strides program?
The Journal on Active Aging® recently KT: Kisco Senior Living partnered with
asked Tierney to describe how and why nationally recognized wellness consultant
Healthy Strides was developed, and how Jan Montague, of Montague, Eippert
the program has changed since its launch and Associates, along with industry
in 2000. experts to develop a program that
encompassed all 6 dimensions of
JAA: Please give us a little background wellness.
about Kisco Senior Living.
JAA: Was it important to Kisco to engage Two women connect while working on a
KT: Andrew Kohlberg founded Kisco residents in the fitness programming first, crafts project.
Retirement Communities, now Kisco before expanding into other wellness
Senior Living, in 1990 in an effort to dimensions?
offer a great place to live and enhance JAA: How have Healthy Strides offerings
the lives of seniors. We have made a KT: No, Kisco believed in the equal for residents developed in the years since the
conscious decision to control our growth, importance of all 6 dimensions of program’s launch?
and believe that the key to our success is wellness from initial concept to role out.
maintaining our personal approach and KT: The programs now have an
high standards of quality. JAA: How did the residents respond to increased attention placed on lesson
Healthy Strides after the program was first planning and the professional topic of
Kisco bought the senior living assets of rolled out? And how has that changed over the course. The directors are expected to
Transamerica Corporation in December time? meet the diverse needs of our residents
2001. With this acquisition, we have and their varied experiences and
grown to include 24 independent-living, KT: The residents had mixed feelings of educational backgrounds. These
assisted-living and specialized assisted- curiosity and apprehension. This World expectations have taken Healthy Strides
living communities and apartment War II generation had not been exposed from simply activities to true wellness
homes in California, Florida, Georgia, to the verbiage holistic or whole-person programming.
Nevada, North Carolina and Virginia, wellness. Over time, the philosophy of
featuring more than 3,500 units and living well became apparent and the JAA: What are the components of the
1,700 employees. program was embraced. Now our Healthy Strides program today?
residents move in with the expectation
JAA: Why did Kisco initially decide to of a wide range of programs to stay KT: Our wellness program continues to
introduce a whole-person wellness program physically active, health promotion/ have the 6 dimensions at its core. Healthy
for residents in its congregate housing education classes, and cultural Strides continues to encourage residents
communities and seniors apartments? enrichment. and associates to develop personal health
habits and develop in the 6 dimensions
Continued on page 80
The Journal on Active Aging G November/December 2006 79
Healthy Strides: making a difference every day Continued from page 79
many of the statements in those PVBs.
When we encourage independence, it is
about the residents’ wellness. When we
foster a learning environment for our
staff, we are addressing their wellness.
This state of connectedness is what
makes Kisco Senior Living unique.
JAA: How does each community make the
Healthy Strides program its own? And how
does Kisco support the program in each
location?
KT: Each community has the ability to
customize its programs to meet the
customers’ needs. It would be pre-
sumptuous of the home office to assume
we know the individual needs of our
residents, knowing the diversity of the
locations and the people. We choose to
allow those closest to our associates and
Men and women socialize on the patio of a Kisco community. residents to design a rich environment of
programs that fits within the frame-
of wellness: emotional, intellectual, Why did Kisco decide to weave wellness work provided. This creates a
physical, spiritual, social and vocational. into the fabric of the entire organization? wonderfully diverse program across the
And how has Kisco achieved this objective? company and facilitates best-practice
JAA: How have residents benefited from sharing.
participating in the Healthy Strides KT: Healthy Strides is successful because
program? Have you been able to measure it is part of the fabric of our company. JAA: What key challenges and
the impact on fitness, for example? The department of Healthy Strides opportunities has Kisco experienced with
reflects the company philosophy, which the Healthy Strides program over the years?
KT: Presently, all 21 retirement we call The Art of Living WellSM. This How has the organization responded to
communities have >40% resident message starts with healthy living being these challenges and opportunities?
participation in the physical dimensions incorporated into the building design,
and all properties have >30% partici- the products we use, the training we KT: A few challenges and opportunities
pation. We believe that one of the offer, and an environment in which come to mind:
most important measures is resident living well is embraced. We believe that
satisfaction and the success stories we happy, healthy associates with happy, • Staffing is always a key challenge
hear from our residents. For example, healthy residents makes good business given the comprehensive skill set
Jean Pence, age 75, told us: sense. required. We have responded by
hiring a diverse array of talents,
“I think the program is excellent. JAA: What impact has this culture of from individuals with masters’ in
When I miss the exercises for a wellness had on the organization overall? Journalism/Communications to
week, I can really tell the difference And the relationship between the staff and masters’ in Exercise Physiology, to
in how my osteoarthritic hip moves. residents, in particular? those with degrees in Music Therapy
This is what I looked for when first and Health Promotion.
coming to Abbotswood!” KT: Overall, we aim to create a positive • It is challenging to understand the
work environment. Our company differences between the desires of our
JAA: With Healthy Strides, Kisco has principles, values and beliefs (PVBs) are various customers living in active
created a culture of whole-person wellness at the core of all we do (see the sidebar adult apartments to independent- and
in its communities and its headquarters. on page 81.) Wellness is reflected in assisted-living communities. We have
responded by simply asking our
80 The Journal on Active Aging G November/December 2006
Kisco’s principles,
values and beliefs
We are committed to exemplary
Residents get some exercise through the Healthy Strides program. service delivered with integrity,
dignity and compassion. Our
residents and having them actively • Residents participate in the Senior communities for seniors are
participate in the programming. Olympics and Senior Games. distinguished by warm, secure
Additionally, staying in touch with and friendly environments.
new products and wellness programs This is our most significant achievement,
arms us with the needed resources to because we have become integrated and
be most effective. part of the greater community in which We will enhance each resident’s
• Engagement and participation in the we live and work. We are committed to lifestyle by:
programs are always a challenge. spreading the art of living well.
Personal touch combined with • Offering high quality creatively
structured attention within the first JAA: What are Kisco’s long-term goals for
months of moving in is essential. This the Healthy Strides program? designed programs
early empowerment (to know what the • Responding immediately to
programs are and where they are KT: The long-term goals are to continue residents’ needs and concerns
located) carries over into increased to deliver on the unique needs of our • Encouraging independence
long-term engagement. Also, we present and future residents and staff. We
believe what gets measured gets look for our associate wellness/worksite • Promoting a sense of
managed. So whenever possible we use wellness programs to expand. We community and friendship
targets and goals to assist the staff to continue to explore all programming,
stay focused on an area such as and especially those that use technology, We the staff are committed to:
participation. address cognitive fitness, and explore the
arts (theatre, music and writing).
JAA: In Kisco’s view, what are the key • Teamwork
achievements to date with Healthy Strides? JAA: Looking to the future, how has • Continuous improvement
Healthy Strides prepared Kisco to attract • Open communication
KT: From year to year, Kisco Senior and meet the needs of the Baby Boomers?
Living achieves high satisfaction scores • Fostering a learning
from our residents and associates. Most KT: The programs offered by Kisco meet environment
importantly, our success comes from the the needs of the present generation of • Being professional
ability of our staff and residents to make seniors, as well as attract the next • Profitability
a difference every day in someone’s life. generation of Baby Boomers. Each of
The stories are neverending: the highlighted programs has increased
awareness in the community about We live by a standard of conduct
• Residents knit blankets for AIDS whole-person wellness and the which encompasses honesty,
babies. importance to have balance in our lives accountability, personal
• Associates build homes annually for at any age—but especially as we age.
underprivileged families in Tijuana, development and a passion for
Mexico. The Journal on Active Aging® thanks excellence.
• Residents and associates participate in Kirsten Tierney of Kisco Senior Living for
walks for Alzheimer’s and breast her assistance with this article. More This information is reprinted with
cancer. information about Kisco is available at
• Residents perform their plays at local www.kiscosl.com.
permission from Kisco Senior
skilled nursing homes. Living.
Photos courtesy of Kisco Senior Living
The Journal on Active Aging G November/December 2006 81
