Groundbreaking Technologies and Practices Inform a New Generation of Senior Living Communities
by THE STORYSTUDIO
photos provided by LCB SENIOR LIVING
The science of aging is evolving, rapidly. As we have come to better understand the relationship between variables like diet, exercise, intellectual stimulation, and other behavioral factors, our knowledge has expanded exponentially. Accordingly, today’s senior living providers are riding these advancements in the science—assisted by significant new technologies—to provide an overall environment where residents can live longer, healthier, and higher quality lives.
One of the largest obstacles in this scientific quest for healthy longevity is the near-epidemic rise of Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia that are widely associated with aging. Scientists working at the nexus of preventative healthcare, technology, and research have long studied the brain’s progression, hoping to unlock answers to detect, prevent, and combat these neurodegenerative diseases.
As a result, some forward-thinking senior living communities are following the science to provide their residents with the technology, care, and atmosphere that can facilitate a long, healthy life in body, spirit, and mind. For instance, LCB Senior Living, which operates 32 senior housing communities throughout the Northeast, has recently adopted a groundbreaking tool that could drastically improve the quality of life not only for its residents but possibly for people all over the world.
LCB Senior Living has joined with REACT Neuro, a company in Cambridge, MA, to become the first senior housing provider to offer this cutting-edge technology. Dr. Rudy Tanzi, the Joseph P. and Rose F. Kennedy Professor of Neurology at the Genetics and Aging Research Unit at Harvard Medical School and renowned co-discoverer of the “Alzheimer’s gene,” co-founded
Spring 2021
Every Tuesday at 2:00pm and 6:00pm
Phone Number: 475-277-2700
Access Code: 922537#
To discuss the status of COVID-19 in The Greens facilities and surrounding areas and the measures that are being taken to protect the seniors.
Remote Call-in Webinar
Recent studies emphasize that people can learn new skills, form new memories, and improve their language skills well into old age. As a result, LCB has calibrated its cultural programming to promote continued learning and development. A resident’s daily itinerary might include an art history lecture, technology class (like how to best use Zoom or how to stay in touch with your family on social media), American film forum, or book club. They can attend a cooking demonstration, learn Japanese, or spend the afternoon working on a personal garden. Every class and experience is designed to encourage activity that exercises the brain and piques the individual interests of each resident.
As science comes to better comprehend the link between diet and cognitive health, quality senior living
REACT Neuro, a company that is pioneering neurotechnology that promises to one day predict dementia and other degenerative neurological conditions years before they manifest.
This technology is only the latest way in which senior living communities like LCB have worked to protect and improve the mental and physical wellbeing of their residents.
In general, researchers have come to identify and better understand the link between socialization and wellness. Science has established that physical isolation, for instance, is a major contributor to neurological decline. Studies indicate that seniors who live alone are more likely to lose memories, while those who feel valued and productive may be better equipped to counter the rapid onset of memory loss. That’s why many senior living communities, like LCB, are built on a foundation of social engagement and inclusion. Individual apartments and common areas are designed to facilitate maximum social interaction. LCB, in particular, offers cafes, bistros, and wine bars that encourage spending more time in the company of others.
Technology is the latest way in which LCB has worked to protect and improve the mental and physical wellbeing of their residents.
Contact Us
communities are setting a new standard for senior nutrition. Offerings like buffalo cauliflower, power acai berry smoothies, or fresh grilled ahi tuna with a balsamic reduction combine brain-healthy—and body-healthy—ingredients with gourmet sensibilities.
LCB has gone so far as to base its entire aesthetic—down to the colors, textures, and curated artwork—on scientific studies that suggest what will enhance mood and help preserve and improve memory.
Predictive innovations like REACT Neuro are exciting new tools for physicians and care providers to use in the journey toward healthier aging. As these new technologies combine with the ever-more-sophisticated understanding of how diet, exercise, and intellectual stimulation help keep our brains sharp—and as all of these methods are implemented by senior living communities—the promise grows for us all to live longer, more fulfilling lives.
For more information on how seniors are taking control of their own health and wellness, or to learn more about participating in the REACT Neuro program at an LCB community, visit www.LCBseniorliving.com.
LCB's Sterling Chefs are changing the way seniors dine
An LCB resident participating in REACT Neuro testing.
REACT Neuro is focused on quantifying brain health objectively through science-based digital examination. The company uses a groundbreaking virtual reality headset to record an individual’s cognitive and physical health through eye movement and voice responses. During a simple five-minute set of tests administered over the course of weeks or months, the technology establishes a benchmark and then records successive snapshots of the person’s brain health over time. This gives physicians the data they need to illustrate progress or decline in several metrics, including memory.
LCB residents have already been participating in the program, helping to establish baseline data that could eventually inform everything from their exercise regimens to their diet to other health optimizations previously unheard of. Meanwhile, the residents, themselves, can take pride in contributing to the larger pool of scientific research that may not only improve their lives, but also the lives of others.
Rudolph Tanzi, PhD