International Council on Active Aging

02/13/2026

"LIVE" IS NOW AVAILABLE TO ICAA MEMBERS

The LIVE Program, developed by the Buck Institute for Research on Aging, and launching in collaboration with the International Council on Active Aging, brings science-backed education on healthy aging directly to your community. Designed for Life Plan, CCRC, and Active/Independent Living settings, LIVE empowers residents to live longer, healthier, and more purposeful lives. This turnkey program will enhance immediately your offering and set your community apart.

To learn more visit https://www.icaa.cc/wellness_audit/culinary/live_education.php

02/13/2026

Grandparenting may protect against cognitive decline.

Helping to care for grandchildren may serve as a buffer against cognitive decline in older adults, according to recent research. “Many grandparents provide regular care for their grandchildren – care that supports families and society more broadly,” said lead researcher Flavia Chereches, MS, of Tilburg University in the Netherlands. “An open question, however, is whether caregiving for grandchildren may also benefit grandparents themselves."

Read more https://www.icaa.cc/industrynews/2026-02/BRAIN-BOOST-Grandparenting-may-protect-against-cognitive-decline.htm

02/13/2026

ICAA Flash Poll Insight: Is Senior Living Ready for Wellness 2030?

A flash poll conducted during yesterday’s webinar (60 organizations participating) revealed something striking:

👉 Only 26.7% of senior living communities have established wellness benchmarks.

Yet, as we move toward 2030, 71% of communities expect to operate as wellness-based models with care—not care models with wellness added on.

That’s a gap.

And the gap isn’t just about programming. It’s about measurement.

If we don’t understand the impact of wellness on:

• Resident experience

• Quality of Life

• Engagement

• AND the bottom line

…then we’re operating on intention, not intelligence.

Only 26.7% reported having established wellness benchmarks. That means the majority of organizations are still early in the journey.

You could see this as a challenge. I see it as a launchpad.

There is tremendous opportunity for communities beginning their benchmarking journey to learn from early adopters—those who have already started measuring, refining, and aligning wellness strategy with outcomes.

Because here’s the truth:

Data alone doesn’t transform organizations. Intelligence and interpretation do.

Wellness 2030 will not be driven by good intentions. It will be driven by measurable impact.

If you missed the webinar and would like the recording, I’m happy to share it.

Send us a DM or drop a comment below.

02/09/2026

A thought to ponder: Who would you be if you never looked in the mirror?

At first glance, the question feels whimsical—almost playful. But like many deceptively simple questions, it carries a quiet subversion. It asks us to reconsider one of the most trusted instruments in modern life: the mirror. Not the object itself, of course, but the authority we grant it.

Read more

At first glance, the question feels whimsical—almost playful. But like many deceptively simple questions, it carries a quiet subversion.

02/09/2026

Join us on February 11 for the webinar: Build a clearer picture. Make smarter decisions. STRENGTHEN WELLNESS OUTCOMES IN SENIOR LIVING.
Time: 9:00 AM PT, 11:00 AM CT, and Noon ET.
Length: 60 minutes.
To register, click here https://www.icaa.cc/conferenceandevents/webinars.htm

Rather than relying on anecdote or intuition, the International Council on Active Aging (ICAA) Wellness Benchmarks combine standardized measures, comparative analytics, and longitudinal insight—translating wellness into intelligence that leaders can act on with confidence.

By attending the webinar, you will be able to...
- Identify strengths, gaps, and opportunities across key dimensions of wellness
- Benchmark performance against peer communities and industry norms
- Align teams around shared goals, priorities, and outcomes
- Use results to inform planning, investment, and leadership decisions

International Council on Active Aging

02/03/2026

Will the first "tiny houses on wheels" community in the Shire of Capel, in Western Australia, set the tone for future retirees around the world?

What do you think?

https://www.theweeklysource.com.au/first-tiny-houses-on-wheels-community-approved-with-retirees-in-mind/

The Shire of Capel has approved the first Tiny Houses on Wheels community of 40 in Boyanup, 180km south of Perth, WA, with retirees in mind.

01/30/2026

The brain goes through five distinct phases in life, with key turning points at ages nine, 32, 66 and 83, scientists have revealed.

Around 4,000 people up to the age of 90 had scans to reveal the connections between their brain cells.

Researchers at the University of Cambridge showed that the brain stays in the adolescent phase until our early thirties when we "peak".

They say the results could help us understand why the risk of mental health disorders and dementia varies through life.

Brain scans on thousands of people reveal the dramatic shifts the brain goes through between birth and death.

01/22/2026

High intensity interval training (HIIT) may be the optimal exercise for reducing body fat while maintaining muscle mass in older adults, according to new research led by UniSC academics.

High intensity interval training (HIIT) may be the optimal exercise for reducing body fat while maintaining muscle mass in older adults, according to new research led by UniSC academics.

01/20/2026

ICAA senior housing webinar:
Build a clearer picture. Make smarter decisions. STRENGTHEN WELLNESS OUTCOMES

Presenter: Colin Milner, CEO, International Council on Active Aging.

Date/Time: February 11 at Noon ET.

To register, click here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_zayNnFQtTciMX1QGoD-Xyg #/registration

Wellness doesn’t improve by chance—it improves when it is measured, understood, and intentionally aligned with strategy.

As senior living continues to shift toward outcome-driven models, organizations face increasing pressure to demonstrate value—not just promise it—while evolving beyond simply adopting technology to intentionally designing intelligence. By integrating wellness data with human judgment and interpretation, leaders can improve healthspan, resident experience, and organizational performance in 2026 and beyond, using insight not just to measure progress but to guide smarter decisions and stronger outcomes.

In this webinar, you’ll be introduced to the NEW ICAA Wellness Benchmarks and how they provide a clear, data-driven way to measure resident experience, engagement, and well-being—and translate those insights into meaningful action.

You’ll learn how the Wellness Benchmarks help organizations:

---Build a clear, objective picture of resident experience, engagement, and well-being.
---Identify strengths, gaps, and opportunities across key dimensions of wellness
---Benchmark performance against peer communities and industry norms
---Align teams around shared goals, priorities, and outcomes
---Use results to inform planning, investment, and leadership decisions

Rather than relying on anecdote or intuition, the International Council on Active Aging (ICAA) Wellness Benchmarks combine standardized measures, comparative analytics, and longitudinal insight—translating wellness into intelligence that leaders can act on with confidence.

Register today and discover how the NEW ICAA Wellness Benchmarks position your organization for stronger outcomes—today and in the years ahead.

International Council on Active Aging

01/19/2026

The International Council on Active Aging® is proud to introduce the ICAA Wellness Benchmarks, a data-driven system that transforms wellness into actionable intelligence—helping senior living leaders measure outcomes, demonstrate value, and make informed decisions with confidence.

To learn how the benchmarks system can benefit your senior living community, visit https://www.icaa.cc/management_tools.php

01/15/2026

Is 2026 the year you pursue an ICAA Plate of Distinction?

The ICAA Plate of Distinction recognizes communities that lead in culinary and hospitality excellence. This award honors those who are willing to raise the bar, challenge the status quo, and demonstrate what exceptional dining looks like when it is treated as a cornerstone of wellness and experience.

To achieve the Plate of Distinction status, organizations must validate their successful implementation of the ICAA Culinary and Hospitality Standards of Excellence, developed in collaboration with Restaura and CrossCheck, and operate at the highest level of performance.

To learn more about this first-of-a-kind program, visit https://www.icaa.cc/culinary&hospitality.php

01/13/2026

For more than two decades, Marilynn Larkin has written, edited, and contributed to the ICAA’s Journal on Active Aging and its newsletters and reports. A recognized authority on healthy eating, her work has also appeared in publications such as The Lancet and numerous other respected outlets.

What sets Marilyn apart, however, is that she truly lives what she writes about. This profile offers more than inspiration or motivation—it is a real-world example of what’s possible when you stay committed, refuse to give up, and show up for yourself every single day. I think you’ll find her story both powerful and deeply affirming.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VLP1Is45f24

International Council on Active Aging Sierra Clark

How is she so strong at 77?Visit https://usenourish.com/sierraclark to get help with food and feel your best.Marilynn Larkin is 77 years old—and stronger tha...