International Council on Active Aging

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...

01/08/2026

Research Paralysis: A Quiet Threat in 2026

One of the most overlooked trends shaping 2026 isn’t a lack of information—it’s an overwhelming abundance of it. What once arrived in manageable doses now comes as a fire hose. Studies, reports, expert opinions, white papers, and headlines compete for attention—often offering conflicting conclusions. The result? It’s becoming increasingly difficult to consume information, understand it, trust it, and act on it.

This is research paralysis.

When information outpaces interpretation, knowledge accumulates, but action slows. Insight gets diluted, and decision-making stalls. Today, success depends less on access to research and more on discernment:

- Which studies are evidence-based versus opinion-driven?
- Who funded the research—and why?
- What is practical to implement versus intellectually interesting but operationally unrealistic?

I review dozens of studies every day in areas that once had very little research at all. The growth in knowledge is extraordinary, but without context and critical evaluation, volume becomes a liability.

The real advantage in 2026 won’t come from knowing more. It will come from knowing what matters, what’s credible, and what to act on. The simple question then is "Is information helping you move forward—or holding you back?"

12/29/2025

New Year’s Resolution: Embracing Life FOMO

Research shows that in end-of-life reflections, people often regret missed relationships, experiences, and authenticity far more than they do missed professional or financial achievements. While meaningful work can bring pride, the regrets typically focus on time, presence, and connection rather than mere productivity or accumulation.

As we enter a new year, it's important to consider the question: Should Life FOMO—fear of missing out on life itself—be encouraged?

This perspective goes beyond the superficial, social-media-driven FOMO rooted in comparison. It invites a deeper awareness that time is finite and meaning doesn't come automatically. It serves as a reminder to engage fully with life rather than just manage it.

This is not a dismissal of ambition. We can still build businesses, lead organizations, raise families, and shape communities. The real question is at what cost. When our achievements consistently overshadow presence, curiosity, connection, and joy, we may succeed yet still feel something essential is missing.

What if dedicating more time to ourselves enhances our productivity instead of diminishing it? What if our fulfillment, energy, creativity, and clarity improve when we truly live life rather than postpone it?

As we set resolutions and forge new paths, perhaps the most significant one is not about doing more—but about ensuring we don't miss what truly matters. Life FOMO, in this context, is not about regret; it’s about intention.

It involves stepping back, reflecting on the bigger picture, and asking what life is really for—now, not someday. The true risk lies not in failing to accomplish enough but in reaching the end and realizing we were so busy managing life that we forgot to experience it.

This year, I believe Life FOMO should be a bigger thing.

12/28/2025

A trend to watch in 2026: Science-Washing.

As the first wave of Baby Boomers turns eighty, billions—perhaps trillions—of dollars will surge toward a single, urgent desire: not merely to live longer, but to live better. History tells us what happens next. Wherever hope concentrates, opportunists gather. We have seen this cycle before—in anti-aging, nutrition, supplements, wellness—and now longevity itself. The pattern is familiar: the louder the promise, the thinner the proof. In this new gold rush, some offerings will be grounded in rigorous research and real outcomes. Many will not. And the least informed consumers—those driven more by fear and aspiration than by evidence—will be the easiest prey, sold modern elixirs dressed up as science.

This is the moment when discernment becomes decisive. True breakthroughs will come from transparent methods, clinical trials, and results that can withstand scrutiny—not from slogans engineered to sound scientific. As the population ages, claims will multiply faster than evidence. 2026, then, is not just an age milestone. It is a test of consumer literacy, corporate integrity, and whether our systems can separate hope supported by evidence from hype masquerading as science. In the longevity economy, credibility will belong to those who can quietly show their work.

International Council on Active Aging

12/23/2025

In this episode, Colin Milner (CEO of the International Council on Active Aging) joins us on Tuesdays with Mike to discuss what we thought we knew about aging...what we know now...and what we can do better (applications). The Pathway to Longevity revealed - and may not include a full/direct emphasis on longevity.

In this episode, Colin Milner (CEO of the International Council on Active Aging) joins us on Tuesdays with Mike to discuss what we thought we knew about agin...

12/23/2025

Just in time for the holidays, the latest issue of the Journal on Active Aging is now available. This issue features several insightful articles:

- **The continuity principle: Redefining how people live, age, and thrive**

John Swanson’s vision of seamless living has transformed Willow Valley Communities during his tenure as CEO. He has recently transitioned into a new chapter focusing on Willow Valley’s developments. The founder and CEO of the International Council on Active Aging discusses Swanson's actions, insights, and experiences.

- **Research brief: Takeaways from a trio of studies**

Discover new findings on diet and sarcopenia, the Mediterranean diet and genetic risk for Alzheimer’s, and the unexpected impacts of indoor vegetable gardening in the latest article from the Journal on Active Aging’s nutrition columnist.

- **“Best in Wellness” profile: Asbury Solomons - Maximizing opportunities as a waterfront wellness destination**

Situated on Maryland’s Patuxent River near the Chesapeake Bay, this ICAA NuStep, LLC Pinnacle Award-winning community leverages its prime location, abundant amenities, and strong wellness culture to enhance the possibilities for residents to live their best lives.

To receive the journal, consider becoming a member of ICAA today. Membership Information at https://www.icaa.cc//membership.htm

12/22/2025

ICAA's CEO to present at the 2026 Menus of Change Leadership Summit, presented by the Culinary Institute of America. The lineup of presenters is outstanding, and the event itself promises to be exceptional. Details below.

https://www.menusofchange.org/

The Culinary Institute of America

12/19/2025

In AgingToday this morning...New Report: Wellness is the Ultimate Secret to Longevity for Aging Adults.

If you know any family caregivers, you're probably aware that their days are often filled with reactive tasks: managing medications, coordinating doctor visits, and worrying about the next health crisis. They spend so much time focusing on their loved one’s illnesses that they forget about their own wellness.

But what if the key to a longer, happier life for our loved ones, and for us, isn't just about treating disease, but actively promoting vitality?

A recent landmark report from the International Council on Active Aging (ICAA) Wellness Think Tank, titled “Wellness: The pathway to longevity,” suggests exactly that. The report champions a massive shift in how we approach aging: Moving from a “care” model that focuses on sickness to a “wellness” model that focuses on thriving.

Sponsored by industry leaders dedicated to improving the aging experience (Humana, Restaura, Keiser Corporation, SportsArt, LifeLoop, and Matrix Fitness USA), this report offers a roadmap that family caregivers can adapt at home to help their loved ones not just live longer, but live better.

Read the article now at

A recent landmark report from the ICAA suggests moving from a "care" model that focuses on sickness to a "wellness" model focused on thriving.