Patients and elders from across Signature HealthCARE’s footprint will participate in Senior Olympics events this month and defy traditional ideas of aging. From a cornhole tournament to a free-throw challenge and halftime challenge, Senior Olympics proves to both patients, volunteers and stakeholders that no matter your age, fun and new memories can happen.

“Some of our elders feel like a kid again at Senior Olympics,” Angie McAllister, Signature’s Director of Cultural Transformation, said. “Life doesn’t stop when you come to a nursing home. We’re all about celebrating what they can do, rather than what they can’t do.”

Instead of looking back at their life, patients and elders at Senior Olympics look to their friendly competition and say, “I’ll get you next year.” The annual competition pushes aside the aging clichés of nostalgia and frailty for fierce competition, perseverance and teamwork.

“It’s important for our patients and elders to continue to have fun and to live an active life, not only because not only does it create a fun life and improve their quality of life, but it also helps with their overall health,” McAllister, said.

In Signature’s Hometown Appalachia region, the event centered around destinations where elders have traveled on vacation and more destinations where they dream of traveling. Spring City Care and Rehabilitation Center took home first place prize within Hometown Appalachia, and Signature HealthCARE of North Hardin took home first place in the Urban North region.

Senior Olympics is one of several one-of-a-kind Quality of Life initiatives at Signature HealthCARE including taking long-term care patients on vacation, infusing art into healthcare and recognizing elders’ accomplishments in the Hall of Fame.

To follow live Senior Olympics updates from the event at Signature’s headquarters in Louisville, Kentucky, follow Signature HealthCARE on Facebook.