Friendship Village has been named as one of three recipients of the 2018 NuStep Pinnacle Award in the Senior Living Division. The international award, presented by NuStep, Inc., recognizes excellence in programming for older adults. This is the second consecutive year that Friendship Village has earned the honor.

The judging criteria took into consideration the implementation of the seven dimensions of wellness: social, vocational or occupational, spiritual, physical, intellectual, emotional and environmental. 

“We have recognized for a long time, that the development and growth in all seven of these dimensions are crucial to enjoying long-term health and happiness,” said Jessica Enriquez, manager of wellness services at Friendship Village. “Consequently, we make sure that every resident has many opportunities to attain the proper balance of these areas in their life. Each month, we offer more than 500 programs and activities.”

The application process to earn the award included extensive documentation of the community’s commitment to wellness. A review team from NuStep visited Friendship Village and interviewed the lifestyles team about programming, leadership, and organizational structure.

“We are very excited to have been recognized by receiving this prestigious award for two years in a row.,” said Enriquez. “We have a long-standing commitment to wellness and this award acknowledges our efforts as well as our success. “

"In the nearly 20 years since NuStep launched the Pinnacle Award, wellness for older adults has moved from a novel concept to standard practice for many senior communities and senior centers. Even so, the 2018 Pinnacle Award winners demonstrate how wellness programming for older adults continues to evolve,” said Linda Wojciechowicz, NuStep vice president of sales and marketing. "Rather than a static approach to wellness programming, our winners encourage and embrace ideas and input from residents and members. The result is relevant, meaningful programming that adjusts to the changing interests and needs of participants and supports them on their wellness journey."