Communities That Shine Awards

The Communities That Shine Awards is an annual program that recognizes forward-thinking senior living communities that are using iN2L + LifeLoop’s solutions in creative ways to provide exceptional community experiences that empower both residents and staff to live life with meaning and purpose. In addition to motivating organizations throughout the industry to achieve similar success, the awards program provides recipients with a chance to win a donation to support the charity or cause of their choice. Winners are listed below in no particular order. See previous award winners or learn more about the Communities That Shine Awards program.

2022 Communities That Shine Award Winners

BRILLIANCE IN SUPPORTING GROUP ENGAGEMENT

eliseo

Tacoma, WA

“iN2L is an invaluable tool that truly enhances the lives of our residents throughout the day, every day. It is used in so many groups for meaningful engagement in meaningful ways cognitively, socially, spiritually, and physically throughout the day. We at eliseo are humbled and honored to be chosen as a Community That Shines!” ” 

— Terri Pfeiffer, Life Enrichment Health Center Coordinator, eliseo

Winner Highlights
Why They Shine:

With a focus on enriching the lives of their residents through technology, eliseo utilizes iN2L’s many pieces of content to engage residents through sensory stimulation, including music, calming visuals, and video calls with family members. They also found innovative ways to incorporate iN2L’s music and games throughout the day to inspire fun group engagement.

How They Use iN2L:

Music, group engagement, sensory stimulation, armchair travel, games, virtual social connections (such as birthday celebrations), cultural programs

Sparks of Brilliance:
  • The different scenes that can be placed on the large screen while music is playing is a visual that brings peace. Walk further down the hall and another smaller screen in a small dining room is playing instrumental music with lower-functioning residents humming along and eating. The beautiful lagoon or fish tank is calming and easy for residents to watch for sensory stimulation.
  • The Game Shows are a favorite and really get minds active. All our memory and mental skill have improved. Travel is also a favorite with great videos and then the trivia from that country. We can literally travel the globe or check on a house down the street with iN2L technology.

BRILLIANCE IN RESIDENT EMPOWERMENT

Opportunities, Inc.

Texarkana, TX

“It’s a good and useful tool to learn about what you’re going to do. The newsletter was fun to work on and is also useful to let people know what we’ve been doing in the Adult Continuing Education Center at Opportunities, Inc.”

— Corey, Client, Opportunities, Inc.

“I enjoyed doing the newsletter and I enjoy LifeLoop, as it tells me when my classes are. I need a reminder sometimes!”

— Becky, Client, Opportunities, Inc.

Winner Highlights
Why They Shine:

As an organization that works with adults with developmental Disabilities, Opportunities, Inc. utilizes LifeLoop’s platform to empower its residents and enrich their lives with purpose. LifeLoop has allowed them to be able to not only see their calendar but to take part in what they want to do—a freedom that nondisabled adults do not even think about.

How They Use LifeLoop:

Calendar management, efficient attendance reporting, resident-created newsletters

Sparks of Brilliance:
  • We are currently working with all clients to teach them how to log on and use LifeLoop. They love the chance to be able to do these things themselves. It gives them a sense of self-worth, rather than just being told what’s happening. They particularly like looking at photos of themselves!
  • We have started working with a group of clients to have them write a newsletter, which will be published through LifeLoop, about what is going on in their community. They love this process and have conducted their first interview with a volunteer who works with us!

BRILLIANCE IN RESIDENT EXPERIENCE

The Forum Health Care Center

Cupertino, CA

“We at Forum strive to conduct every activity with purpose, encouraging engagement and interest in a diverse range of activities. iN2L is a tool to aid in creating engaging, meaningful, and creative activities for residents. Having access to a variety of activities on a single platform has allowed the Forum activities staff to efficiently cater to residents both in a group and individual setting. The choices and accessibility of music, videos, and games have exceeded resident satisfaction. The iN2L platform also makes technology accessible to residents who may not be familiar with newer devices. Overall, using iN2L has increased the level of care and efficiency in our community.”

— Preet Sohi, CTRS, Activity Manager, The Forum Health Care Center

Winner Highlights
Why They Shine:

The Forum Health Care Center uses iN2L to encourage residents to talk about their interests and who they are, allowing stronger connections to be built between residents and staff. During unconventional times, such as quarantining, iN2L provides Forum residents with the ability to continue their hobbies and pursue their interests, sparking a personal and deeper connection to the activities and staff and helping to maintain their physical and mental well-being.

How They Use iN2L:

Games, travel, reminiscing, purposeful engagement, virtual social connections, building connections between residents and staff

Sparks of Brilliance:
  • Learning to connect with residents allows staff to provide empathetic and compassionate care. At the Forum, the activities staff have gotten to know the residents through iN2L activities. When offering residents the opportunity to choose an activity, staff learn specific resident hobbies and why residents enjoy them. When these conversations spark, the residents feel a personal connection with the activity and engage at a deeper level.
  • One resident chose to do an iN2L gardening puzzle and when asked why, she explained her lifelong connection to gardening. After learning about this interest, staff were able to provide her with gardening videos, puzzles, and more. Care can manifest in many different forms, but seeing a resident engaged and smiling during an activity provides a better level of empathetic care.

BRILLIANCE IN PURPOSEFUL ENGAGEMENT

Anthology of Troy

Troy, MI

“We are honored to be selected as a winning community for the Communities That Shine Awards this year! We lead our community with purpose and passion to fulfill our residents’ needs and improve their quality of life. The iN2L is a great tool that we utilize every day to bring fulfillment and joy to our residents and to help build a fostering culture in our community.”

— Darlene Vernier, Executive Director, Anthology of Troy

Winner Highlights
Why They Shine:

With the help of iN2L, staff at Anthology of Troy is able to provide purpose-driven engagement for their memory care residents, create a more modern and structured activity program, and support non-activity staff during evening and weekend hours.

How They Use iN2L:

Memory care, staff support, after-hours resident engagement, purposeful engagement

Sparks of Brilliance:
  • We have a particular resident who finds purpose in helping our activity team and so she will utilize the technology as a job function. For example, she turns on music when no music is playing, and she puts up a calendar and talks to the other residents to help orientate them to time, place, and holiday.
  • Our care staff utilizes the iN2L as if it’s another “member of the team” when the activity team is not available by setting up activities or programs or reminisce exercises, etc., to provide a better quality of life for our residents.

BRILLIANCE IN ENTERPRISE READINESS

Balfour Louisville Campus

Louisville, CO

“We are thrilled and honored to receive this recognition. Balfour’s partnership with LifeLoop has been essential in connecting our residents and families to Balfour. LifeLoop is a user-friendly platform that gives Balfour’s residents the ability to directly communicate to the team supporting them at a moment’s notice. For families, LifeLoop offers the same resources and lines of communication while providing peace of mind as to their loved ones’ well-being through participation statistics and photos that show them in action in the community. Our partnership with LifeLoop has been an amazing benefit to our residents and team members alike.”

— Michele Sepples, Senior ED, Balfour Louisville Campus

Winner Highlights
Why They Shine:

With an enterprise approach to managing resident information and ongoing staff and family communications already in place, Balfour Louisville Campus was prepared to react quickly and efficiently in the face of an emergency evacuation due to approaching wildfires. With LifeLoop’s communication tool, Balfour was able to loop families into updated communications quickly and frequently, allowing their teams to stay calm and serve their residents with confidence and positivity.

How They Use LifeLoop:

Family communications, broadcast messaging, staff efficiencies, contact management system

Sparks of Brilliance:
  • Due to a devastating wildfire, 400 residents across multiple levels of care (independent, assisted, memory care, and skilled nursing) and 400 staff members on our Louisville Campus needed to be evacuated in a less than five-hour span of time. With LifeLoop’s web-based app, our leaders were able to allay all fears by sending quick and timely messages via their mobile devices. Family members received texts, emails, and calls via LifeLoop’s streamlined contact management system. Communication with residents and families became one less thing to triage as our Executive Directors secured transportation, accommodations, food, and other basic needs. In the face of adversity, our team made sure that every resident and staff member was evacuated safely.
  • Access to the community became limited to first responders, thus isolating our residents from their loved ones and from additional staff members from sister communities trying to reach them to assist. Having LifeLoop available on their mobile devices allowed our team to communicate with families while moving med carts, packing belongings, or loading wheelchairs.

BRILLIANCE IN TRANSFORMING PROGRAM DELIVERY

Rose Blumkin Jewish Home

Omaha, NE

“We are honored and humbled to be named one of the winners of the 2022 iN2L + LifeLoop Communities That Shine Awards! Several years ago, we immediately became subscribers when we first saw what LifeLoop could do. Our Activities staff and our families LOVE it! Once we saw iN2L’s capabilities, we were equally enamored with it and became subscribers to it as well. These programs have added so much to an already robust activities calendar; our residents have thousands of options daily. Best money we have ever spent!”

— Chris Ulven, Executive Director, Rose Blumkin Jewish Home

Winner Highlights
Why They Shine:

Rose Blumkin Jewish Home has integrated iN2L + LifeLoop into every facet of its community, using LifeLoop’s platform to chart activity attendance, quickly build calendars, and provide ongoing updates to family members, and leveraging iN2L’s wide variety of content to create engaging and person-centered programming for residents. The time-saving benefits of both solutions allow staff to spend less time researching and preparing activities and more time engaging with their residents.

How They Use iN2L + LifeLoop:

Attendance reporting, resident activity charting, programming, digital displays, photo sharing, armchair travel, staff efficiencies, person-centered engagement, differentiation

Sparks of Brilliance:
  • Since charting attendance on LifeLoop, we can capture more of what a resident does during the day, not just scheduled activities. Families are amazed at all the varied activities residents attend, and the reporting functions save countless hours during the care plan process.
  • We are all so impressed with the variety of content the iN2L offers; there truly is something for everyone. The residents have already had so much fun with it. Every day we can do something different, and there is still so much we haven’t even discovered yet.
  • We also use LifeLoop for our electronic calendar displays, which ties everything together and rescues staff from creating four different calendars by hand. We have in-house television stations to view the LifeLoop calendar and daily activities, which markets all our programming for the month. Residents can turn to that station any time of day to check out the LifeLoop calendar.

BRILLIANCE IN DIFFERENTIATION AND ENGAGEMENT

Tuscan Gardens of Venetia Bay

Venice, FL

“Our team is thrilled to be a recipient of the Communities That Shine Award; we work diligently to enrich the lives of all our residents by utilizing multiple mediums. iN2L has allowed us to reach residents that are in different phases of life: some word lovers, game players, our techies, as well as cognitively impaired. iN2L has provided us with a tool to reach everyone and engage them in daily enjoyment and accomplishments.”

— Meredith Nykamp, Resident Engagement Director, Tuscan Gardens of Venetia Bay

Winner Highlights
Why They Shine:

As staff from different areas at Tuscan Gardens of Venetia Bay are trained on using iN2L, they have found that it provides an endless opportunity to engage every resident and staff, no matter the level of training or mental/physical capabilities. They have also found innovative ways to use iN2L’s variety of travel content to build an engaging travel program, including “passports” and preparing food from the different parts of the world they “travel” to.

How They Use iN2L:

Travel, music, memory care, creating connections, brain games, cross-department use, mobility therapy

Sparks of Brilliance:
  • Families really appreciate the use of iN2L, as not all residents can do mobility activities. It has given us the ability to reach low-mobility residents as well as high and low cognition levels throughout our entire building. It’s a HUGE win/win.
  • One of our most improved activities is our iN2L Travel! When we first started out, we had few in attendance. Now we have hyped it up and have a world map scratch-off (so we and our families can see where we have been). In addition, we purchased fake “passports” for each resident and whenever we travel, they get a new sticker in their passport. We have print-offs to read along with the presentation/video, and food from that specific part of the world! It is so much fun! Plus, we have residents from all over the world, so it is great for them to visit their homeland and share stories with our growing group.

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BRILLIANCE IN LIFE ENRICHMENT

The Mayflower at Winter Park

Winter Park, FL

“We are so grateful for iN2L technology. Not only has it enhanced the lives of our residents, but it has also provided meaningful ways for our team members to collaborate with them daily. We are honored to be recognized as one of iN2L + LifeLoop’s Communities That Shine because it further promotes the fact our residents are engaged and connected.”

— Kristina Ferry, Activities Director, The Mayflower at Winter Park

Winner Highlights
Why They Shine:

By fully embracing the variety of content available with iN2L, the Mayflower at Winter Park is able to enhance already scheduled group and individual programming or lead impromptu activities on the fly. Staff also utilize interest-specific content when working with new residents to reconnect them with a life-long passion, enriching their lives with purposeful and person-centered engagement.

How They Use iN2L:

Group programming, trivia, religious services, holiday celebrations, reminiscing, individual engagement, differentiation

Sparks of Brilliance:
  • We had a long-term care resident who served our country in the United States Airforce, utilized their mechanical skills to work on motorcycles, and was an important figure at one of our local colleges. Due to illness, many of this resident’s beloved activities were taken away, one by one. One of their most cherished activities was flying planes. When we invited this resident to fly a plane again using the iN2L flight simulator, it was nothing short of a miracle watching the life come back to their eyes. Seeing the way they handled the joystick, used terminology long forgotten, became engaged and connected to their craft again, and most importantly, enjoyed themselves, was inspiring to say the least.
  • Having touch screen technology available for our residents is one of the selling points used by our admissions department during tours. It has a certain “wow” factor when prospective residents and their families come into the Health Center and see our residents utilizing this up-to-date technology.

BRILLIANCE IN RESIDENT AND FAMILY SATISFACTION

Carillon Memory Care

Lubbock, TX

“What an honor and privilege it is to receive this award. Our hard work has paid off. Not only does this award honor us, but also the residents, families, and the community. It brings joy to the staff to see that we are providing more than just the average activity to our residents. WE ARE BRINGING THEM THE WORLD!!”

— Sherrie Salinas, “I’m Still Here” Activity Specialist, Carillon Memory Care

“Thank you for recognizing us with this award. Caregiving can be hard and challenging work. But it gives back a love we didn’t know possible. Thanks to iN2L + LifeLoop for providing us with so many creative options and allowing our program to SHINE!”

— Tyshuna Robinson, “I’m Still Here” Activity Specialist, Carillon Memory Care

Winner Highlights
Why They Shine:

Incorporating iN2L allows Carillon Memory Care to provide a level of dignity to residents and focus more in-depth on each one’s individuality in their day-to-day activity involvement. The use of iN2L affords staff the capability to provide new experiences, deviate from the typical “norm,” and offer activities that challenge residents’ skills and promote excitement about the new experiences awaiting them at Carillon.

How They Use iN2L:

Group programming, trivia, religious services, holiday celebrations, reminiscing, individual engagement, differentiation

Sparks of Brilliance:
  • Families are always impressed by the level of dignity with which the iN2L programs are delivered. The programs are not simplified and do not play down to the residents just because of their memory issues. Residents are still interested in learning and being challenged cognitively. The Brain Fitness and the Paint by Number options are something that is utilized with residents and families.
  • The iN2L gives the residents and the staff the chance to learn about a variety of topics, such as different cultures, dance, art, and music. It is so satisfying to hear our residents say, “We need to learn more about that.” We have captured their attention and made them curious…goal accomplished!!

BRILLIANCE IN STAFF EFFICIENCIES

Jackson Creek Senior Living

Monument, CO

“Thank you so much for recognizing our community. I am so proud of my team and the work we do to engage our residents with such meaningful opportunities. iN2L + LifeLoop helps us reach those goals each day! Our Life Enrichment program has been taken to new heights at Jackson Creek Senior Living with the help of iN2L + LifeLoop. Both platforms have transformed how we engage with families and residents and allow our staff time to focus on what’s important, time and relationships with our residents.”

— Melinda Sukle, Life Enrichment Director, Jackson Creek Senior Living

Winner Highlights
Why They Shine:

By using both iN2L and LifeLoop, Jackson Creek Senior Living can provide its residents and staff with a multitude of benefits. The topics, images, videos, and questions in iN2L’s engaging content guide meaningful conversation and the opportunity to laugh and share stories, while the efficiency of LifeLoop’s time-saving features help staff save hundreds of hours a month, which allows them more time to spend with their residents.

How They Use iN2L + LifeLoop:

Staff support and efficiency, calendars and programming, person-centered engagement, family communications and updates

Sparks of Brilliance:
  • We have been using LifeLoop for four years to connect our residents with their families. We encourage families to upload photos regularly and our staff in turn shares those with our residents. We use family photos as conversation starters and the Announcement feature to share all the amazing programs that are going on each day so families can join in and/or encourage participation.
  • By using the ‘Likes’ feature with each resident, we can export a list of people who enjoy WWII history, Uno, dancing, painting, or any activity and we can personally invite them to our program that we’ve spent time planning. Our attendance is so much higher due to LifeLoop’s robust platform and lets our staff spend more time with people than in the office.

BRILLIANCE IN NURTURING FAMILY CONNECTIONS

Provision Living at Fenton

Fenton, MI

“We are thrilled to have been selected as a 2022 Community That Shines. We take great pride in all aspects of our community, from our welcoming atmosphere to our amazing care team and staff. This award is a reflection of the incredible work that our dedicated team does for residents each day.”

— Michael Scully, Executive Director, Provision Living at Fenton

Winner Highlights
Why They Shine:

Provision Living at Fenton uses LifeLoop to help residents, families, and staff stay connected and informed, and to feel like part of the community. Utilizing LifeLoop also allows Provision Living at Fenton to provide data-driven care, which drives better outcomes for residents. The activity director is able to speak definitively about resident programming data instead of it being a “hunch” or a feeling.

How They Use LifeLoop:

Family connections, community updates and communications, calendars and planning, activity attendance, data-driven care

Sparks of Brilliance:
  • Family members have raved about LifeLoop Express, loving the mailed postcard! A family member was hovering around the lobby waiting to see it show up on the digital display. When the activity director explained that it was a mailed postcard, the family was surprised and delighted! It was a WOW moment for sure!
  • The Fenton team also provides graphs of attendance at regular family meetings to keep families in-the-know about what engagement and events their loved one is attending.

BRILLIANCE IN ENGAGEMENT INNOVATION

Anthology of Olathe

Olathe, KS

“Anthology of Olathe is beyond grateful for the incredible team we have and that we have access to such an incredible program like iN2L to help make activities and engagement so much more universal and interactive for our residents. It has been a challenging time with staffing changes and this award is so reassuring and confirmation that what they do really makes an incredible difference. I can never say thank you enough to them or for this recognition of their dedication and hard work.”

— Jessica Deterding, Director of Elements, Anthology of Olathe

Winner Highlights
Why They Shine:

Anthology of Olathe has found a way to involve the local community to enhance their resident engagement programming by having staff from the local library speak with residents once a month about various locations around the world. Staff then use iN2L to pull up video flyovers, information, and even sometimes trivia that go along with the locations.

How They Use iN2L:

Learning about residents’ histories and interests, purposeful engagement, social gatherings like Casino Night Prom, physical therapy, reminiscing

Sparks of Brilliance:
  • The residents have such fun not only having the books from the library to look at but also feeling like they are flying over the country and seeing it from the sky in a way they have never been able to before. These are trips they may not have taken before or that they have taken and now are able to remember and share special stories about.
  • Their therapy staff uses iN2L to help residents follow along with programming more easily, enrich daily activities, and work on memory games like matching sets and others.

BRILLIANCE IN ENGAGEMENT CONTINUITY

Brookdale Valparaiso Memory Care

Valparaiso, IN

“We have amazing teamwork here at Brookdale Valparaiso, and I am so thankful for the wonderful staff who take excellent care of our residents. I feel honored to work with our Brookdale Associates. The CNAS and Nurses help with programming/activities and do so by using the iN2L machine daily with our residents. Thank you for choosing Brookdale Valparaiso Memory Care as one of the winners.”

— Jennifer Bailey, Memory Care Program Coordinator, Brookdale Valparaiso Memory Care

Winner Highlights
Why They Shine:

With an intentional approach to utilizing engagement technology, Brookdale Valparaiso Memory Care has implemented iN2L in its programming to help engage its memory care residents throughout the day with music, trivia, and games, and facilitating continuing engagement in activities that residents enjoyed throughout their lives, such as religious services and family gatherings that they can participate in via video calls and live streams.

How They Use iN2L:

Memory care, music, staff support, video calls, religious services, family connections

Sparks of Brilliance:
  • Music on the iN2L is a favorite for many of my residents. You can see the twinkle in their eyes, maybe a tapping toe, humming, clapping hands, or a big smile on their face. My residents may not be able to talk in full sentences most days, but play their favorite songs and their faces light up!
  • The iN2L is so incredible and we can take it ANYWHERE in the building. During COVID, we had a resident for whom attending his religious ‘meetings’ was very important to him, as well as to his family. We would take the iN2L system into his apartment for him to be a part of his ‘meeting’ every Sunday. He could see and hear his friends and family, and they could see and hear him too. I love this story because iN2L kept him connected with his faith, family, and friends during COVID.

BRILLIANCE IN PERSON-CENTERED ENGAGEMENT

Westmont at San Miguel Ranch

Chula Vista, CA

“In 2022, when families were able to reunite after the pandemic, there was an increased demand to not only maintain greater contact but to also increase the ways in which they felt connected to their loved one. Having technology such as iN2L + LifeLoop, we had the tools to give families the peace of mind that they were seeking. And, to show how much fun we were having along the way.”

— Michelle Morales, Regional Director of Lifestyles & Memory Care Programs, Westmont at San Miguel Ranch

Winner Highlights
Why They Shine:

By utilizing iN2L + LifeLoop’s technology, Westmont at San Miguel Ranch’s staff can enhance and cultivate person-centered programs effortlessly, providing a robust calendar with the six dimensions of wellness presented within the context of a structured day. Additionally, family members near and far can remain involved through real-time updates, photo and video sharing, and more.

How They Use iN2L + LifeLoop:

Person-centered engagement, family connection, memory care

Sparks of Brilliance:
  • Westmont’s Navigator Memory Enrichment Program is designed to fit the needs and abilities of people who are experiencing memory loss. With iN2L + LifeLoop’s state-of-the-art technology, we are not only able to provide personal and meaningful content to our residents, but now we can interactively share these richer experiences with our residents’ families.
  • Through the attendance and photo-sharing features, our families have a window into our communities to see firsthand all the fulfilling programs and events.

BRILLIANCE IN INDIVIDUAL ENGAGEMENT

LifeStream Services

Yorktown, IN

“The iN2L tablet and platform have been a wonderful addition to the services and support that LifeStream is able to provide for the individuals we serve in the community who are working to maintain their independence at home. Participants report feeling more engaged in their daily activities, more connected to friends and family, and less isolated and depressed after emerging from the pandemic. LifeStream is grateful to partner with iN2L to deliver this wonderful product to so many deserving seniors.”

— Mandy Williams, Vice President of Programs, LifeStream Services

Winner Highlights
Why They Shine:

As a AAA, LifeStream provides services and supports to older adults, people with disabilities, and caregivers that allow these individuals to remain at home and in community-based settings. Coming out of the pandemic, LifeStream used iN2L tablets, with their cellular capability and ease of use, to provide a tool to these individuals to promote connection and lessen feelings of isolation and loneliness.

How They Use iN2L:

Reminiscing, social connection, virtual therapy programs, reducing loneliness

Sparks of Brilliance:
  • Participants use iN2L tablets to connect with friends, family, and other program participants via the Zoom feature and special programs offered by LifeStream.
  • LifeStream, in conjunction with partners at Agape Therapeutic Riding, offered a virtual reminiscing program delivered through the iN2L platform, with instructors and volunteers at Agape broadcasting from their stables at the same time each week. Every session had a different discussion topic (i.e., weather, seasons, nature, etc.) that encouraged participants to reminisce and talk in an open, healthy way. Use of the trained ponies provided both an entertainment and engagement aspect to the program that encouraged participants to log in each week. One participant said she really liked “getting the girls together” and “seeing the ponies,” because it was something that she didn’t get to do every day.

Honorable Mention

Advanced Rehabilitation and Healthcare of Athens

Avamere at Sherwood

Brookdale Hartwell

Brookestone Gardens

Brookestone Meadows

Burr Ridge Senior Living

Chateau Madeleine

Clarendale of St. Peters

Fieldstone Memory Care Marysville

GenCare Lifestyle at Scriber Gardens

GenCare Lifestyle at The Lodge

Heritage of Emerson

Laurel Heights Home for the Elderly

Masonic Village @ Burlington

Midland Care PACE – Topeka, KS

Pelican Landing

St. Leonard

Valley View Rehabilitation and Health Care Center

Vitality Living Village

Wedgewood Nursing & Rehab

Westminster Oaks

Westminster Towers of Orlando

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