2. Why Conduct This Study?
Provide evidence of the impact and benefits of living in a Life Plan Community on multiple dimensions of wellness

3. What We’re Trying to Learn
Does living in a Life Plan Community lead to better health and well-being?
What are residents’ beliefs about the impact that Life Plan Community Living has on their health and well-being?
Which factors predict which residents will thrive?
Responses from residents of Life Plan Communities will be compared to data from demographically similar participants (i.e., a control group) from the Health and Retirement Study database.

4. Why Should You Participate?
Study findings will help you understand how living in a Life Plan Community may affect your health and wellness.
Study findings will help you articulate the benefits of living in a Life Plan Community to prospective residents with evidence to back it up.

5. Additional benefits
will have a chance to be part of an effort that can improve Life Plan Communities nationwide
will receive annual reports that provide a better understanding of the impact of living in a Life Plan Community
will be entered into a raffle to win one of four $25 gift certificates (per community) each year.
Will be entered into a raffle to win one of four $25 gift certificates each year.
Have a chance to be part of an effort that can improve Life Plan Communities nation-wide
Will receive annual reports that provide a better understanding of the impact of living in a life plan community

6. The Process is Easy
Look for the study to begin in January (Your community representative will let you know when it becomes available.)
Complete a paper and pencil survey annually.
In Year 1, return the survey to your community representative.
In Years 2 through 5, use the pre-paid, pre-addressed envelope provided and drop it in the mail.
Staff distribute surveys to residents in Year 1.
Options for distribution include:
Leave surveys in mailboxes
Discuss the survey at a monthly updates meeting
Discuss with your community wellness committee and enlist their help in disseminating the survey
Hold an informational meeting for the Age Well Study and disseminate to all interested residents at the meeting
Residents complete the survey. Each survey packet includes a cover letter for residents explaining the following steps for participation:
Sign the attached consent form
Complete the survey
Seal the survey in the envelope provided and return it to the designated staff member
Our contact information is included on the cover letter and residents are encouraged to call us if they have any questions.
In subsequent years, we will mail surveys directly to participating residents. Residents may opt out of participating at any time.
With your commitment we will distribute information to residents and support ongoing promotion

7. Confidentiality and Privacy - Residents
Protection of resident contact information is critical.
Researchers from Mather LifeWays Institute on Aging and Northwestern have taken federally approved training in methods to protect study subjects, as well as HIPAA training. We strictly adhere to these guidelines and regulations.
This study has been approved by the Institutional Review Board, which ensures that plans are in place for the protection and privacy for study subjects.
A cover letter will be attached to each resident survey describing the study purpose, steps to protecting their privacy, and other key points.

8. Timeline
Surveys will be mailed to participating communities by January 30.
Residents complete and return surveys by March 15.
April–November: ongoing resident communication
January 2019: first annual reports published and distributed
Life Plan Community Recruitment: open until December 15th.
Each year
Mailing of surveys to participating communities: last week in January
Residents complete surveys: February/March
April – November: we will provide ongoing communication to keep residents engaged in the study
December/January: annual reports published and distributed to participating communities and residents
Jim, let me know if you’d like to discuss/revise above
Subsequent years will follow the same timeline.