Curated News
By: NewsRamp Editorial Staff
October 17, 2025
Balfour & CU Anschutz Launch Living Lab to Transform Aging Research
TLDR
- Balfour Senior Living gains a competitive advantage by partnering with CU Anschutz to integrate cutting-edge aging research directly into resident care and community operations.
- The living lab creates an interactive environment where CU Anschutz researchers conduct studies on hearing, hypertension, and neurophysiology while residents participate and serve on advisory boards.
- This partnership empowers older adults to contribute to meaningful healthcare advancements, fostering purpose and improving future senior care for generations to come.
- Residents at Balfour's Louisville campus can now participate in groundbreaking aging research studies while helping shape innovations in senior living and healthcare.
Impact - Why it Matters
This partnership represents a paradigm shift in how aging research is conducted by moving studies from isolated laboratories into real senior living communities. The living lab model ensures that research directly addresses the actual needs and experiences of older adults, potentially accelerating the development of more effective aging-related healthcare solutions. For the broader population, this approach could lead to more practical, resident-informed innovations in senior care that improve quality of life for aging individuals and their families. The collaborative nature of this initiative also empowers older adults as active contributors to scientific advancement rather than passive subjects, challenging ageist stereotypes and demonstrating the value of including diverse perspectives in healthcare research.
Summary
Balfour Senior Living, a distinguished Kisco collection community, has forged an innovative partnership with the University of Colorado Anschutz Multidisciplinary Center on Aging to establish a groundbreaking research community living lab at their Louisville campus. This collaborative initiative merges CU Anschutz's cutting-edge academic research with Balfour's extensive expertise in resident care, creating an interactive environment where scientific studies directly engage older adults within their actual living spaces. Residents gain unprecedented opportunities to participate in various research studies, serve in advisory capacities, and actively contribute to shaping meaningful advancements in aging and healthcare practices.
The living lab offers residents diverse research participation opportunities, including studies focused on hearing and hypertension, neurophysiology related to walking patterns, and developing more efficient methods for nurses and associates to support skilled nursing residents. According to Dr. Cari Levy, Head of the division of Geriatrics at CU Anschutz, this partnership represents a transformative approach to aging and healthcare by creating a collaborative space where research and real-life experiences converge to drive innovation. The program allows residents to join studies and serve on advisory boards where they help evaluate research programs to ensure alignment with community needs and values, making this initiative particularly significant for advancing senior care.
Resident feedback highlights the program's profound impact, with Mary Stamp noting how participation keeps residents informed about research developments and contributes to future health improvements, while Jean Bedell emphasizes the value of having input rather than simply receiving predetermined decisions. The partnership enhances services by fostering empathy, strengthening engagement, and providing associates with better tools to support residents and their families. As Michael Sell, business development director at Balfour Senior Living, explains, this collaboration extends their mission of providing exceptional care by bringing cutting-edge research directly into communities and empowering residents to help shape the future of aging research and senior living innovation.
Source Statement
This curated news summary relied on content disributed by citybiz. Read the original source here, Balfour & CU Anschutz Launch Living Lab to Transform Aging Research
