← Back to Blog

Westminster Awarded Beacon Award for ‘Best in Wellness’

Best Nursing Homes U.S. News & Rating

Westminster senior living community has won the 2020 ICAA NuStep Beacon Award, which recognizes and honors the Top 25 ‘Best in Wellness’ senior living communities in North America. Westminster is among those recognized as best-in-class for successfully fostering a wellness-centered environment to benefit residents and associates who live and work in their community. The award was created as a joint effort between International Council on Active Aging (ICAA) and NuStep, LLC, a major manufacturer of recumbent cross-trainers used in healthcare, senior living and fitness.

According to Westminster’s executive director, Chuck Borst, the community has placed an emphasis on healthcare and wellness for decades. During an especially challenging year, he is pleased to receive this recognition, calling attention to the need to balance all aspects of wellness within a community, from mental health to physical fitness. 

“This award reaffirms our long-standing commitment to wellness,” says Robin Akins, Westminster’s director of resident health services for Independent Living. Akins interacts with hundreds of residents as they transition to different levels of care. She also works with nurse practitioners and oversees an in-house Wellness Clinic that treats residents and staff. “Westminster has a lot of perks that make our community a great place to live and work, and we are honored that wellness is receiving the attention it deserves.”     

Wellness is typically defined by seven key dimensions: emotional, physical, intellectual, social, spiritual, vocational and environmental. When each of these dimensions is equally nurtured and prioritized, it can enhance a sense of well-being among residents.  It is this commitment and acknowledgement of how important wellness is for older adults that elevates resident health to new heights.

The ICAA is responsible for leading, connecting and defining the active-aging industry. CEO and founder Colin Milner says, “Senior living communities have long been aware of how important wellness is for the health and well-being of their residents, but in recent years, wellness has evolved from being a programming option to becoming a way of life.”

Westminster was selected among leading North American communities for successively partnering with its residents and staff to create relevant, meaningful opportunities and inspire participants to improve their quality of life. 

As the older adult population continues to grow and more individuals seek a better, longer life, where they choose to live is becoming increasingly important. How communities structure their wellness culture can have a significant effect on health and longevity. It’s more than just practicing wellness; it’s about having it permeate all aspects of life. As winners of the Beacon award, Westminster is leading the way. 

About Westminster:

Established in 1967, Westminster is one of Austin’s first and most established retirement communities.  Operating as a not-for-profit community, Westminster is managed by Life Care Services LLC and provides modern residences, state-of-the-art health care and other wellness amenities to residents seeking comfortable and culturally enriching lifestyles in Central Austin.  www.westminsteraustintx.org

Best Nursing Homes graphic top places to work 2020 graphic