Aegis Living, a national provider of assisted living and Memory Care communities announced that its working with faculty at University of Washington School of Medicine to make strides in the advancement of healthy aging through collaborative efforts started in Aegis Living’s new Living 4 Life® program. Through Living 4 Life®, the University of Washington and Aegis Living will help promote wellness with programs, activities, lectures, and research studies. The Living 4 Life® wellness program will first be implemented at the new Aegis of Bellevue to open in early 2010. Aegis recently announced a similar partnership with Bastyr University.
"By working with faculty at University of Washington, we here at Aegis Living have the opportunity to combine our world-class skills and knowledge in senior living with the schools’ expertise in medicine and long-term care services to make the best ideas and practices a reality," says Dwayne J. Clark, chairman and CEO of Aegis Living. "What the University of Washington brings to our Living 4 Life® program is unparalleled in the industry."
Leading the way in developing programs and activities with the University of Washington is Dr. Claudia Finkelstein, MDCM, Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine at UWSoM. She brings to the Living 4 Life® program a passion and expertise in the care and well being of seniors.
"Working with this population I have learned so much about love and perseverance. I hope to be of at least as much benefit to them as they have been to my appreciation and understanding of life," adds Dr. Finkelstein.
One of the first programs that Dr. Finkelstein is implementing is light therapy. Tailored for Aegis Memory Care residents to help in making life better, the therapy will use dawn simulators in each room to approximate a more realistic day/night cycle for residents. The SAD lights in the main areas will also be on for 30 minutes each day to aid in depressive symptoms. The benefits of light therapy include it being a method that is non-toxic, non-pharmacological and easy for residents to participate. Light therapy has been shown to improve sleep/behavior and mood. In addition to residents, staff and caregivers may benefit as well from the light therapy. In addition, Dr. Finkelstein is conducting healthy aging seminars at Aegis Living for interested seniors and family members.
