Danielle Parker, COO GenCare Lifestyle

The Whole Life Living Approach help seniors improves their lives in key areas for senior living. Leon Grundstein, Founder and CEO of GenCare Lifestyle, and Danielle Parker, their COO, join Suzanne Newman on the Answers for Elders Radio Show to talk about their program.

Leon explains its origins. “I was looking at really what what we as humans really need, not just in our age group. Whatever we eat is the fuel that drives our engine. So we want we want good food, without preservatives, we want special diets for vegans and vegetarians. We don’t want processed food. We want to make food that’s fresh on-site. We want to have adaptations for people who have gluten intolerance, or [for] diabetics. This … makes you feel better, makes your heart run better, manages diabetes, manages weight, all those things.

“And then the next step is exercise. You want exercise to take advantage of the fuel to keep your body strong, allows you to sleep better, better management of diabetes, for example. And we know it reduces the incidence of cancer when you’re active, and we just wanted to take that step as one of the four facets.

“The third facet was the socialization. And we know that human beings do better in a social environment than being isolated. It stimulates us both socially and emotionally. So we have a very socially-active program with residents, that we track what they do and how often they do it, to make sure they’re participating.

“Lastly, no matter what age you are, you still want some purpose in your life.”

Danielle talks about how the plan is implemented. “It’s the four facets: eat better, move better, think better, live better. And if we’re doing the four things the way Leon outlines, then the residents’ quality of life is enhanced and they might live longer as well, with a higher quality of life. And we’re looking at residents holistically, deliberately, and specific, and making sure that we’re addressing their needs.”

Learn more at gencarelifestyle.com.

Check out our affiliate podcast Alzheimer’s Speaks.