ThomsonAdsett’s Chairman Chris Straw and Business Development Manager Judy Martin recently joined Retirement Village Association (RVA) CEO Andrew Giles to lead the Global Retirement Communities Study Tour in San Francisco. Following on from the success of similar tours for the aged care industry, this new initiative brought together a partnership of two prominent leading organisations in the field of retirement living (RVA and ThomsonAdsett) to give senior executives in the industry unprecedented access to the latest and greatest in international retirement living developments.
Judy Martin, Study Program Leader, in collaboration with AAHSA/IAHSA members Ginger Nussle, (IAHSA), Jerry Brown (Bethany Centre) and Marilyn Kennedy (Episcopal Homes) planned a program of visits to seniors living facilities in San Francisco, the SF Bay Area, Sacramento and Palo Alto, hosted by a range of leading US Seniors living organisations including Episcopal Senior Communities, Bethany Centre, Mercy Care, Eskaton, AgeSong and On Lok.
Over the course of the week, the delegates were given access to seniors living facilities, programs and developments, each with a specific feature or element worthy of inspection, consideration, discussion and debate. The program was very full with the group visiting ten facilities in total. The main highlight was the amicable interaction with and collegial support from the US colleagues who took time out to host and accompany them on the tour for each development. The delegates were amazed by the wonderful hospitality and support given to them by their hosts.
A highlight of the tour was Win Marshall, Chair of the American Association of Homes and Services for the Ageing (AAHSA) who met with the delegation for a roundtable discussion. Win spoke to the delegates about the national environment of the industry within the US and AAHSA’s vision as an organisation.
The Global Retirement Communities Study tour was a huge success, with 100% of delegates stating their attendance on the tour was a wise professional decision. The tour cemented the professional relationship between AAHSA/IAHSA and RVA Australia and all look forward to staying in touch and networking across the oceans.
The Australian SAGE study tours www.sagetours.com are an industry first partnership between architecture firm ThomsonAdsett and aged care peak industry bodies Aged Care Association Australia (ACAA) and Aged & Community Services Australia (ACSA). The RVA will be joining the SAGE initiative to make a collaborative approach to International SAGE study tours. A number of the tours have been conducted in association with IAHSA.
The tours will provide health & aged care industry professionals with a unique opportunity to gain valuable insights in the delivery of seniors living from key professionals in the international health and aged care fields. Participants will receive valuable insights from some of the world’s most highly respected aged care professionals and have the opportunity to evaluate the advancement of senior living options from a global perspective.
ENDS
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