Lenbrook Participates, Exemplifies Findings in Landmark Research

Good news for seniors looking to move to a Life Plan Community. The Age Well Study, a five-year study from Mather LifeWays Institute on Aging and Northwestern University finds that residents in Life Plan Communities report significantly more healthy behaviors than seniors in the general community. One of the Life Plan Communities included in the study was Lenbrook, located in Atlanta’s Buckhead district.

“Our Lenbrook residents live their best lives every day, and these research findings again confirm that residents of a Life Plan Community such as Lenbrook really do enjoy better overall health and well-being than older adults in the community at large,” says Felecia Sveda, Vice President of Operations-Hospitality Services.

Age Well Study

Lenbrook is one of 80 Life Plan Communities throughout the U.S. that is currently participating in the landmark research. The Age Well Study is the only national longitudinal study that evaluates the impact of living in a Life Plan Community on the cognitive, physical, and psychosocial health and well-being of its residents. Annually for five years, The Age Well Study measures residents’ self-reported health and wellness metrics, and compares results to a demographically similar sample drawn from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) conducted by the University of Michigan.

First Year Results

The results from year one of the study are in and there is good news for Lenbrook residents and other Life Plan Communities. Based on more than 5,000 survey responses nationwide, the results show that:

• Life Plan Community residents tend to have greater emotional, social, physical, intellectual, and vocational wellness than their counterparts in the community at large;
• Residents report significantly more healthy behaviors than older adults in the community at large; and
• 69% of residents report that moving to a Life Plan Community “somewhat or greatly improved” their social wellness.

“At Lenbrook, we provide an environment where seniors can truly enjoy the gifts of independence, good health and personal fulfillment to the extent possible through our programs and services,” notes Sveda.

“I am pleased but not too surprised that living in a Life Plan Community like ours, where we focus on person-centered programs and a holistic approach, residents really do experience an enriched life on many different levels,” she continues. “We look forward to the additional findings of the Age Well Study, and it will certainly help us to continually exceed our residents’ expectations – today, and in the years to come.”

About Lenbrook (Lenbrook-Atlanta.org)

Lenbrook is the first and only Life Plan Community in Atlanta to achieve national accreditation by CARF (Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities). Founded in 1983, this not-for-profit senior living community in the heart of Buckhead enables its residents to enjoy the gifts of independence, good health and personal fulfillment through engaging programs and services. Its award-winning facilities also offer the security and convenience of excellent on-site, Medicare-certified healthcare services. Visit www.lenbrook-atlanta.org or call 404-264-3386 for more information. For specific information about Kingsboro at Lenbrook, visit https://kingsboroatlenbrook.org.

About Mather LifeWays

Based in Evanston, Illinois, Mather LifeWays is a 75+-year-old unique, nondenominational not-for-profit organization that enhances the lives of older adults by creating Ways to Age Well. Mather LifeWays Institute on Aging serves as an award-winning resource for research and information about wellness, aging, trends in senior living, and successful aging service innovations. Known for its vision of changing the way society views aging, Mather LifeWays is committed to transforming practices, perspectives and language surrounding aging, and partnered with LeadingAge in 2015 to change the category name for Life Plan Communities. The landmark Age Well Study is the latest example of its commitment to these industries. To learn more about Mather LifeWays Institute on Aging, or Mather LifeWays senior residences and community initiatives, find your way to www.matherlifeways.com.